Contributions for the sustainability of steep slope vineyards – good agricultural and environmental practices in the upper Douro vineyard world heritage

Abstract

The Upper Douro Vineyard (ADV) passes on to this generation and most certainly to the following, the History of Men who worked this land and transformed it in his favour.  Here, the cultural landscape is unique, prevailing the cultivation of vineyards in the many forms of land settings. The ADV was recognized and added to the list of World Heritage by UNESCO in 2001; it was classified as a live and evaluative cultural landscape, an “extraordinary example of a traditional region that produces European wine, reflecting the evolution of this human activity over time” (UNESCO, 2001).

The ADV’s cultural and evolutive landscape limits its traditional maintenance, thus being necessary to find the best technical solutions, technically efficient and environmental sustainable.

Because terraces and schist stone walls are the most remarkable elements of ADV’s landscape there was care in finding financial support in the various Community Aid Frames which would allow farmers to maintain the largest possible area of vineyards, olive plantations and almond orchids on terraces with schist stone walls.  Simultaneously, it was necessary to find the best technical solutions to protect the landscape values of the Douro Vineyards.

In synthesis, we aim to present the principles and orientations that should be observed in any intervention, as well as rules and good agricultural and environmental practices, concerning:  1) vine framing techniques on terraces; 2) maintenance and reconstruction of stone walls; 3) access to the terraces; 4) superficial water and or rainfall drainage systems.