Nomination - Water meadows to be included on Unesco list
Farmers in Franconia have been irrigating their meadows for centuries using an ingenious network of water wheels, ditches and small weirs. Now the knowledge of traditional meadow irrigation passed down from generation to generation is to be declared an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The relevant Unesco committee is meeting in Botswana, Africa, next week. A decision could be made on December 6.
Nuremberg and the district of Forchheim in particular are eagerly awaiting the decision. The two municipalities, together with the Quechwiesen in Rhineland-Palatinate, had promoted the application from the German side. Traditional irrigation cultures in Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland are also involved. The committee will also decide on two further contributions with German participation: midwifery and manual glass production.
According to the German Unesco Commission, all three nominations have received a positive preliminary assessment. Roland Lindacher, who is responsible for the Wässerwiesen project in the district of Forchheim, said that Franconia therefore had a good chance. He hopes that this ancient knowledge will be better preserved and become better known once again with its inclusion on the UNESCO list. "Like many cultural forms, water meadows are threatened by technological development."
This cultural technique was once widespread along the Rednitz, Regnitz and Wiesent rivers in Franconia and provided food for the rapidly growing population in the Middle Ages. In the course of industrialization, however, it became less important because electric pumps, irrigation systems and artificial fertilizers made the laborious manual work unprofitable.
In the face of global warming, however, this cultivation technique is once again gaining importance. The water meadows in the Rednitz Valley near Nuremberg cooled the temperature in the surrounding area and provided fresh air in the city, explained Gisa Treiber from the Environmental Agency. "The water used for irrigation remains in the area." This is also important due to the increasing drought and falling groundwater levels. Water can also be stored in the ditches during heavy rainfall, which can protect the surrounding area from flooding, added Lindacher.
The district of Forchheim is therefore not only working to preserve water meadows, but is also trying to reactivate dormant ditch systems. "This is not something that a farmer can do alone," said Lindacher. In the past, a cooperative was founded for this purpose. The authority is now trying to revive this by approaching farmers and local authorities and providing them with financial support.
Traditional irrigation of the water meadows in Franconia Meadow irrigation in the Queich meadows between Landau and Germersheim Meeting Intergovernmental Unesco Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage worldwide
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Source: www.stern.de
