Final event of the research project AlmWaal
On January 21, 2013, the results of the project AlmWaal were presented in Dietenheim, South Tyrol. Main issue were historical cultural techniques of irrigation in alpine pastures by use of channels (Waalen).
Headed by the Umweltbüro GmbH (Klagenfurt), the survey was financed by the programme Sparkling Science of the ministry of science. Various investigations dealt with the effects of the Almwaal-irrigation on the soil, on feed value and biodiversity. Surprisingly it turned out that in the investigated area (Pustertal, South Tyrol; Pinzgau, Salzburg and Carinthia) this irrigation technique was once widespread; some facilities are moreover currently still in use. Results show that this technique of enhancing alpine pastures is a gentle way to increase the feed quality and discourage the growth of heaths, without decreasing the biodiversity of animal and plant species. Besides its transborder activities this project stands out by its intense cooperation between researchers and students from three different agricultural professional schools as well as many alpine farmers.
