Monitoring of crop diversity and the related local knowledge in the valley "Pustertal" (district of Lienz, Tyrol, Austria)

In the Pustertal a multitude of traditional crops, their location-adapted varieties, as well as knowledge about seed conservation, reproduction and cultivation techniques about these traditional crops can no longer be found. The project deals with: i) the monitoring of the diversity of crops of vegetables, cereals, medicinal and aromatic herbs in the Pustertal (Lienz district), ii) the documentation of the associated local knowledge, iii) the status of conservation measures for the diversity of crops in the Puster Valley iv) the management practices necessary for sustainable conservation of the diversity of crops. Dealing with the diversity of crops in the Pusteria Valley makes a contribution to the preservation of the material and immaterial heritage of the Pusteria Valley, offers the chance to preserve genetic resources and associated knowledge from loss, as well as a contribution to strengthening resilience. This information forms the basis for educational measures that are intended to communicate the essential information to selected stakeholders on the subject of conservation & biological management of the diversity of cultivated species and the associated plant diversity of wild species. Through a variety of cross-border measures, a network of conservators is being built up and maintained in the Pustertal in order to create a system for the long-term preservation of the varieties and the knowledge associated with them.