Actuality 2/2010
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=> Link to the SAVE eNews archive (former editions of 'actuality')
eNews:
June
18, 2010
"Arca-Net" - Experience the European Ark Network!
Discover traditional livestock breeds and cultivated plants and experience them first hand! They still exist, those places where the diversity of agriculture can be found in small portions, where it is conserved, bred, cared for and the fine products can be bought. In every day life, most people have little contact with agricultural biodiversity. This is why SAVE Foundation have built up the internet portal Arca-Net. Here one can find out where one can go to find rare livestock breeds and cultivated plants, perhaps on an Ark Farm, in an open air museum or other, similar places. And not only when you are at home - you can also experience the local breeds and plants of your holiday des-tination! Perhaps you are even interested to create a holiday route that takes in some of these interesting places on offer. With only a few clicks of the mouse, you can find out which Ark Centres you can find on your holiday - including directions and opening times - what there is to see and if there are products for sale. Your souvenirs will be of a unique kind with the range: from wool and leather products through food products such as salami and jams to seedlings, scions and seeds. Arca-Net is open to all: people interested in nature and the environment, those interested in agricultural heritage as well as experts. As an openly accessible portal, Arca-Net will be widely linked through tourism associations, nature protection associations etc. With this, Arca-Net can be seen as active publicity for the live conservation of agrobiodiversity and its custodians: http://www.arca-net.info.
Arca-Net is
international
Originally, Arca-Net was only a virtual travel guide for
the German speaking countries. Now, Arca-Net is available in
four languages (English, French, German and Italian) and
contains over 500 publicly accessible places in 43 European
countries - from Iceland to Malta, North-South and from the
Azores to the Ukraine, West-East. A map with all the
locations and categories of the centres makes searching in
specific regions or countries in Europe easy. All the
centres are open to the public and exhibit livestock breeds
and cultivated plants. Arca-Net profiles these centres and
gives relevant details and directions. For many of the
livestock breeds, there is also a comprehensive description.
A refined search function makes it easy to select topics of
interest, such as places offering accommodation or
educational facilities. The website is created to be
user-friendly. Sometimes, easily understandable symbols have
been used. Even inexperienced internet users should have no
problems when using Arca-Net.
Arca-Net is up to
date
Plans to expand Arca-Net, especially in the plant sector
are already in preparation. Data is kept up to date by the
Ark Centres themselves, through the use of password
protected access. It is their responsibility to keep their
data current. Arca-Net is, thus, a pan-European network for
on-farm conservation that is rapidly expanding. As is
fitting for a serious portal, criteria for inclusion are in
place, such as, open to the public, pure bred animals with
herdbook entry, plant collections of regional importance.
The basic criteria for inclusion can be found on the
Arca-Net website under the menu point 'Guidelines'
(http://www.arca-net.info/).
Arca-Net offers more
Themes such as the ideal presentation of animals and
plants, service offers, promotion of the centre to tourists,
marketing of products etc are of great interest to many of
the owners of centres listed in Arca-Net. Thus, the next
project phase will see seminars and workshops for these
owners to enable them to exchange knowledge and experience
and to promote regional and international networking.
Improved networking and knowledge exchange is particularly
important in those countries where experience is still
small, for example, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. A
development of didactic materials for ark centres is also
planned.
Arca-Net is diverse
The database underlying Arca-Net can be extended for
other purposes, which can be either published on Arca-Net or
be used for other purposes. Some institutions can, for
example, also be listed (with their permission) as potential
rescue stations. Some individual elements such as the breed
descriptions can also be used in other contexts. Why not
have a look at the portal: http://www.arca-net.info.
Is your farm or centre already listed? If not, please get in
touch! If you have any questions, the SAVE Team will be
happy to help you: office@save-foundation.net.
The development of Arca-Net was possible by the support of the Margarethe & Rudolf Gsell-Stiftung, Basel and the European Union (in the frame of the ELBARN project). SAVE Foundation is grateful for this support!
Rescue Station for endangered pig breeds in the Buna-Delta, Albania
Within the framework of nature observations and the SAVE Balkan project, pigs of the "Siska type" were found at the Albanian Adriatic coast. They very closely resemble the European primeval pig. Apart from these primeval pigs there are two other highly vulnerable, indigenous pig breeds in the region: the spotted Shkodra pig and the "Albanian landrace" race. With the generous support of Heidehof Foundation, Stuttgart, Germany, and with funding from the GEF Small Grants Programme, SAVE Foundation could initiate a rescue station for these pig breeds in Baks Rrjoll near the Natural Park Velipoje.
Siska type pig
Together with representatives of the local government, the national partner organization of SAVE, ALBAGENE and with the support of state agencies and the FAO National Co-ordinator Animals, Prof.Dr. Kristaq Kume, the interest of local people could be strengthened through discussions, seminars, and meetings on farm. In addition to animal emergency purchases, procurement of feed and veterinary services, a new barn was built, in which the three autochthonous pig breeds of the Bojana-Buna Delta can be kept in separate groups as a nucleus. The need for networking of the breeders and the development of small stocks has also been discussed. Through the mix of theoretical explanation and practical work, the project was anchored in the local population. Meanwhile, six farming families are involved and the interest is growing. Overall there are 29 sows, 6 boars, 11 gilts and 7 young boars (December 2009) included in the conservation program. Local marketing is noticeably worthwhile for the farmers, as the selling price of the animals over the regular price has increased by 80-90%. The low subcutaneous fat and the tastier meat of the local races when compared to the conventional meat has become known among consumers - not least through the project work. This increases the interest of farmers to benefit from the market prices and to breed the local breeds. Currently there are already three other farmers from Baks Rrijoll on the "waiting list" to be involved in the project. Meanwhile, according to this model, breeding groups of other local breeds such as Busha cattle or Velipoje goats are also kept in the region. Baks Rrijoll was therefore recorded in the Arca-Net (www.arca-net.info). Unfortunately, the Albanian government has been unable to pay subsidies up to now. Therefore, it is important to build upon and to strengthen the high motivation of the farmers and the newly launched market interest. A wider genetic support of the rearing is also necessary to preserve the breeds in small populations. Thus, the search for additional animals needs still to be continued. Faced with empty coffers, the implementation, however, is still difficult.
4th European Seminar on Agro-Biodiversity with SAVE Annual Meeting, 3 - 5 September, in Criewen, Germany
The Annual Meeting 2010 of SAVE Foundation and the SAVE Network will take place in Criewen, Germany in collaboration with VERN (Verein zur Erhaltung und Rekultivierung von Nutzpflanzen in Brandenburg e.V.) and the German &endash; Polish Academy Castle Criewen in the National Park Lower Oder Valley (http://www.nationalpark-unteres-odertal.de/en) in Brandenburg, Germany (northeast of Berlin). In the context of the UN year of Biodiversity the meeting includes the 4th European Seminar on Agro-Biodiversity with guest speakers under the topic 'AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity'. An excursion to the public variety garden of VERN at Greiffenberg will show the diversity of plant varieties kept in Brandenburg and will provide an insight to the work of VERN. A visit to one of the oldest established semi-reservations of feral horses at the ark farm Liebenthal will demonstrate the synergies between nature protection and agrobiodiversity. The meeting will be held at Castle Criewen with the Academy Castle Criewen. The nearby variety garden, which can be visited individually during the meeting is in the park area of the castle and shows vegetables and also some rare sheep. This 2010 annual SAVE meeting provides interesting views on agrobiodiversity for experts and also for other interested people.
=> Link for information & registration: www.save-foundation.net/pdf/SAVE_2010.pdf
Prov. Agenda:
"AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity"
Friday 3rd September
14.30 &endash; 15.00 Registration
15.00 &endash; 15.45 Welcome & Introduction - current
projects and future activities of SAVE Foundation and the
European SAVE Network - Coffeebreak
16.15 &endash;17-45 Combined Meeting Project Commission
& Council of Cooperation Partners (CCP) (discussion of
project activities & recommendations to the Board of
Directors)
18:00 &endash; 19:15 Closed Session I: SAVE Board of
Directors - Dinner
20.30 &endash; 21.30 Closed Session II: SAVE Board of
Directors
Saturday 4th
September
08.30 &endash; 11.45 Excursion to the public variety
garden of VERN at Greiffenberg
11.45 &endash; 13.45 Lunch (Gut Kerkow) and transfer to
Criewen
14.00 &endash; 14.15 Welcome MUGV/VERN
14.00 &endash; 18.00 4th European Seminar on
Agrobiodiversity - Dinner and social evening
Sunday 5th September
08.30 &endash; ca. 10.00 Transfer by minibus from Hotel
to Ark Centre Liebenthal
10.00 &endash; ca. 12.00 Ark Centre Liebenthal and farewell
(www.wildpferdgehegeliebenthal.de)
12.00 Transfer to railway station Bernau
Network for the Management of Feral Populations in Europe
In many European countries and regions populations of feral animals exist. Mostly little notice is taken of these populations unless they interfere with the regulated activities in agriculture and forestry by diseases, damage to trees, crossbreeding, fodder and water competition. Traditional cultural landscapes, the "Traditional Agro Ecosystems, TAES" accommodate a wide diversity of wild species. The conservation of such "landscapes of high nature value" is essential for the conservation of wild flora and fauna in many areas of Europe. Research has shown that interaction between the environment and management of indigenous livestock breeds in TAES is of great benefit for the conservation work on both levels of biodiversity, the wild and domesticated species. Semi-wild animal populations exist in different countries and from almost all livestock species. A classic example of the productive coexistence between wild and semi-wild indigenous livestock breeds is the New Forest National Park in Hampshire in England, where since the 16th Century, pigs, cattle and horses are kept semi-wild and grazed. The management of large natural areas by grazing with large herbivores is of increasing importance. But in many places large herbivores no longer exist in the wild.
Carmargue horses in France
Feral livestock populations may also be a model for extensive conservation of important gene pools. First experiences show that semi-wild populations of goats, sheep, cattle or horses often can be kept alive in outlying areas in a cost-effective way, if certain conditions are met. For research, most notably for population genetic approaches, population dynamics and ethology, feral populations are of growing interest. The semi-wild populations may have mutual benefits: for nature conservation and agriculture, particularly in marginal areas, which are of less interest for farming and are difficult to manage for nature conservation. Like the wild relatives of our crops, the "crop wild relatives", the semi-wild populations of animals such as the well known "Camargue" horses in France, the Giara-horses in Sardinia, or the cattle in Coto Donana National Park in Spain have a similar importance for the conservation of animal genetic resources. A first, incomplete recording shows that there are very many such semi-wild populations.
Where feral populations (especially in goats) have a large effect on their natural surroundings, as is observed in South and South-Eastern Europe, investigations into population dynamics and possibilities of better management concepts are urgently needed. In the frame of the project work of SAVE-Foundation many examples of such semi-wild livestock keeping could be found. But up to now, no systematic recording of breeds, types and systems in which these animals exist, have been undertaken. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to begin recording the populations and their habitats.
Cattle in the Coto Doñana National Park, Spain
Since this area has hardly been addressed first principles need to be created, based on fur-ther steps to be taken:
- Research into the available information and data (Internet, libraries, etc.)
- Record and describe the (known) wild and semi-wild populations
- Publication of results, preparation for a network of stakeholders
Initial priority should be given to the large animals (horses, donkeys, cattle).
The Annual European Agrobiodiversity Day (EAD): 29th September 2010
In 2010, the main theme is Biodiversity. All over the world there will be events taking place that celebrate the enormous biological diversity of the planet Earth. Under the banner of this theme the SAVE Foundation wishes to promote
to celebrate
agrobiodiversity and the work of SAVE and the network
partners. Public awareness is important! There is still very
little awareness of the enormous di-versity of breeds and
varieties found in European agriculture - public awareness
of our subject helps on all levels: it helps producers of
traditional produce find a market for their products or, it
reminds our politicians about their international
obligations to create strategies to protect the national
agrobiodiversity. We are interested to hear about your
activities to promote Agrobiodiversity in the International
Year of Biodiversity. Perhaps you have an event for the
eNews event calendar or a newsletter or website that might
be interesting to our readers? Don't forget to promote the
date 29th September - European Agrobiodiversity Day -
because conservation of Agrobiodiversity needs to be
remembered every year, not just in 2010!
More information: http://www.save-foundation.net/EAD/EAD_en.htm
Maintenance and breeding of the old breed Angler cattle
About 340 cows of this extremely endangered dual purpose breed could be found in a national inventory of 42 German farms. In 1993 the population was at 12.000 cows. It is hard to understand why there was such a big decrease in 17 years. This breed is marked by very good health, long levity, alertness and their milk is rich in solids. Their efficiency on roughage feed is 15% higher than other breeds. All this makes them a perfect fit in the environmental and sustainable agriculture. The old Angler cattle are very adaptable and were introduced to many climatic zones over the world. The meat is short fibered and rich in intramuscular stored fat, that makes it to a real delicacy.
At the beginning of 2009 the project ''action for the maintenance and breeding of the Angler cattle old breed'' was founded by Wilhelm Bertram (Hof-Luna.de). The Demeter farmer is already breeding these cattle for 20 years and has a herd of 33 dairy cows, 1-2 breeding bulls and some young stock on his farm. Backer and supporter of the project is the association ''LandLeben e.V.''. This association is supporting environmental education, the preservation of landscape, nature and endangered livestock. For the national inventory all adult cattle were recorded with picture, line, yield, build, weight and size. An Angler cow is a pedigree old breed if it has a minimum of 62.5% old Angler blood and less than 12.5% Red Holstein blood. The recordings are a foundation for tracking down potential breeding stock to preserve as many bloodlines as possible.
A national breeders' meeting
was held in January 2010 at Hof Luna, it showed the first
directions of a common breeding focus. The information
exchange and the growing network about the Angler cattle old
breed seemed to be a very important aspect for all breeders
at this meeting.
For further information, available bulls or cattle for sale,
see: www.anglerrind-az.de
Book review
The Rodope Shorthorn
cow
In 1999 Fokko Erhart, an employee of ARK foundation from
the Netherlands, visited the Eastern Rodopes for the first
time. Together with Hristo Hristov he started a project on
natural grazing in Madjarovo in 2002 with Rodope Shorthorn
cattle. This book shows a selection of the pictures he made
on the eleven trips he did since then and tells a story
about cattle, beautiful nature and some relations between
these two. The book is available for EUR 15,- (including
postage), please order from info@wildernisfoto.nl.
Newsflash
Agrobiodiversity in the
Carpathians (ABC) Workshop 15th September 2010
The ABC Workshop, run by SAVE Foundation, will take
place as a part of the 1st Forum Carpaticum in
Kraków, Poland, 15-17th September 2010. The ABC
workshop will address issues concerning cross-border
cooperation in the Carpathian region for sustainable
conservation of agricultural biodiversity. The expected
outcomes for participants of the workshop are an
understanding of the topics and goals within the SAVE
Carpathian programme and motivation to join a cross-border
stakeholder network for conservation of agrobiodiversity in
the Carpathian region. SAVE will use this workshop to aid
identification of partners for closer future
cooperation.
Please see www.forumcarpaticum.org
for the full conference programme and to
register.
Livestock Biodiversity
Workshop
The Livestock Biodiversity Workshop jointly run by the
GLOBALDIV and EuReCa projects was held at the FAO
headquarters in Rome, 5-6 May 2010. Presentations were made
on various subjects: results from both projects were
presented in detail and guest speakers expanded upon
subjects such as livestock and climate change, risk status,
economic decision making tools as well as presenting other
projects run under the GENRES work programme. SAVE was
pleased to be given the opportunity to present the results
of the ELBARN project at the workshop. The full programme
and the presentations are available on the project websites:
http://www.globaldiv.eu/
and
http://www.globaldiv.eu/Livestock_Biodiversity_Workshop/Presentations.html
Marketing of Fruit Plant
propagating Material and Fruit Plants
The revision of the Council Directive 2008/90/EC of 29
September 2008 on the marketing of fruit plant propagating
material and fruit plants intended for fruit production
(http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:267:0008:0022:EN:PDF)
which was mainly neglected in the NGO scenery of rare fruits
is a threat to the work of all conservation initiatives. The
breeding work will be overregulated and overburdened with
charges in the future, that a free - not only commercially
oriented - work in the field of fruit-permanent crops will
no longer be possible. In future the obstacle of such a
licence can only be overcome for new varieties with a
commercial background. The directive itself is only the
"frame" - the execution of this directive, which then will
be binding for all member states, are discussed in the EU at
the moment and should be adopted by the summer. The German
Pomology Association therefore calls for associations,
organizations and initiatives in the field of biological
diversity in fruit trees to study the directive carefully
and to confront their respective governments with their
opinions.
For more information: http://www.pomologen-verein.de/
FMD in Japan
The current outbreak of FMD in Japan has been a topic of
discussion within the European Livestock Association's
working group on animal diseases. There is concern about the
fact that the Japanese government appears to be making the
same mistakes as were made in the 2001 outbreak in Europe,
which lead to massive economic and social consequences for
the livestock sector and the wider community as well as the
culling of thousands of healthy animals. The good management
of genetic resources relies on good decision making, also in
times of emergency. Reacting to FMD with mass slaughter does
not seem to be an example of good decision making.
Consequent to these concerns, a letter has been written to
the Animal Health Division of the Japanese Ministry of
Agriculture and copies have been sent to the OIE and the
European Commission. In order to raise awareness for this
issue, copies of the letter are being disseminated amongst
other stakeholders. A link to the letter can be found on the
ELA website http://www.ela-europe.org/read/Latest%20news
20 Years of European
Federation of City Farms
The European Federation of City Farms (EFCF) is
celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The EFCF was
founded in 1990, after meetings of the European City Farms
and their national organizations since 1983. The Board has
published a brochure with pictures of the first 20 years.
Many of the mutual visits and meetings lead to very
successful projects in Europe and beyond. The idea of
building a bridge between urban and rural life was
implemented through personal contacts, official meetings and
much hard work by dedicated volunteers who believe in a
sustainable future.
More information: http://www.cityfarms.org/
.
20 Years Arche Noah
Austria
Out of the two organizations "Fructus" and "Seed Care
Association", the Society for the Conservation of crop
diversity and their development "Arche Noah", was formed in
1990 in Austria. The society now has over 8,000 members,
supporters and active conservationists. With a series of
events this anniversary will be celebrated.
Congratulations!
More information: http://www.arche-noah.at/
Important Dates (excerpt):
13-18 June: BGCI 4th Global Botanic Gardens Congress, Dublin, Ireland. Web: http://www.4GBGC.com
28 June - 1 July: Internat. Symposium "Innovation & Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food - ISDA 2010"; Montpellier, France, http://www.isda2010.net
4-7 July: Workshop "Mountain food products: A special system of provision", Vienna, Austria. Contact: markus.schermer@uibk.ac.at
22-27 August: 28th international Horticultural Congress "Science and Horticulture for People", Lisbon, Portugal. Web: http://www.ihc2010.org
23-27 August: 61st Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP),Heraklion, Island of Crete, Greece. Contact: info@eaap2010.org, Web: http://www.eaap2010.org
29 August: 14th Rare Breeds Expo in the "Living Heritage Park" in the Provincial Domain Puyenbroek in Wachtebeke, Belgium. Contact: staf.vandenbergh@skynet.be
29 August - 2 September: 23rd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Kiel, Germany: Contact: egf2010@email.uni-kiel.de, Web: http://www.egf2010.de
1 September: Day of prayer for the environment of the Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople). Web: http://patriarchate.org/environment
3-5 September: 4th European Seminar on Agrobiodiversity: "AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity"; Annual meeting of SAVE Foundation and the European SAVE-Network (together with VERN e.V.) on Castle Criewen, Brandenburg, Germany. Contact: office@save-foundation.net
7-9 September: High Nature Value grasslands: "Securing the ecosystem services of European farming post 2013"; Sibiu, Romania. Contact: info@efncp.org, Web: http://wwwefncp.org/events
13-16 September: ECP/GR Meeting "On-farm Conservation and Management WG" Madeira, Portugal. Contact: bioversity-ecpgr@cgiar.org
15-17 September: Forum Carpaticum "Integrating Nature and Society towards Sustainability" with special Workshop "Agricultural Biodiversity in the Carpathians (ABC)"; Krakow, Poland. Contact office@forumcarpaticum.org, Web: http://www.forumcarpaticum.org
15-17 September: VIIth European Mountain Convention "European Mountain Regions - A spirit of innovation"; Lillehammer, Norway. Contact: conference@euromontana.org, Web: http://www.euromontana.org
15-19 September: Conference 2010 of the European Federation of City Farms and celebration of the 20th anniversary of EFCF at Bokkleslot City Farm, Kortijk, Belgium. Contact: efcf@vgc.be, Web: http://www.cityfarms.org
16 September: Workshop "What comes after 'Organic'? Innovations in Food - Who are the pioneers of the future"; Munster, Germany. Contact: iSun@fh-muenster.de, Web: http://www.fh-muenster.de/iSun
20-24 September: International Workshop on large-scale extensive grazing systems in Europe: "Ecological uniqueness and importance, threats and policy options"; Isle of Vilm, Germany. Contact: norbert.wiersbinski@bfn-vilm.de, Web: http://www.bfn.de
22-25 September: 2nd Conference on "Native Breeds and Plant Varieties as part of natural and cultural heritage" with international participation; at Porec (Istria), Croatia. Contact: kaps@dzzp.hr, Web: http://www.dzzp.hr/News-012010KAPS_Announcement.htm
27 September - 2 October: European Days of "Strewing Fruit Cultivation" in connection with the "European Cultural Village" Kirchhein, Austria. Contact: info@landobstland.org, Web: http://wwwlandobstland.org
29 September: European Agrobiodiversitäy Day EAD; Topic 2010: "AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity". PR event for AgroBiodiversity with various activities of all kind of stakeholders in their respective countries. Contact: info@monitoring.eu.com, Web: http://www.save-foundation.net/EAD/EAD_en.htm
14-16 October: 7th International Symposium on Mediterranean Pig, Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain. Contact: Emiliano.DePedro@uco.es, Web: http://www.uco.es/congresos/cerdomediterraneo
21-25 October: "Terra Madre 2010" and "Salone del Gusto" (the food communities network), Torino, Italy. Contact: terramadre@slowfood.it, Web: http://www.terramadre.org
27-29 October: Symposium "Animal Farming and Environment Interactions in Mediterranean Region" at Zadar, Croatia. Contact: medit.zadar2010@unizd.hr, Web: http://www.unizd.hr/zadar2010
28-29 October: National Congress "The pure breeds: Source of Wealth for the Spanish Livestock", Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Contact: feagas@feagas.es, Web: http://www.feagas.es
=>
Further information is available
from:
SAVE Foundation, Head Office, Joseph-Belli-Weg 5, D-78467
Konstanz / Germany
E-mail:
<office@save-foundation.net>
18-6-10
office(at)save-foundation.net
SAVE Head
Office
Joseph-Belli-Weg 5
D-78467 Konstanz
Germany
