Freiburg region

 

Description of the German study region (districts of Emmendingen, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald and Freiburg im Breisgau)
 
The study area is located at the southwestern part of the federal state (Bundesland) of Baden-Württemberg (NUTS 1) within the administrative district (Regierungsbezirk) of Freiburg (NUTS 2) and is composed of three districts (NUTS 3) (see Fig. 1). The districts of Emmendingen (rural), Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald (rural) and Freiburg im Breisgau (city) present heterogeneous characteristics and provide the study with contrasting situations (the Annex presents detailed information about each district).
 
Fig. 1: Districts in Baden-Württemberg
 
 
Climate
 
The region has a continental climate with oceanic influence due to the predominant wind blowing from west to east. The Rhine valley has an average temperature of 11°C and an annual rainfall of about 900mm. The temperatures decreases and the precipitations increase with the altitude as we move from the Rhine towards the Back Forest (see Fig. 2).
 
Fig. 2: Precipitation and temperature diagrams in 3 climate stations of the area: Vogtsburg is located along the Rhine in the Kaiserstuhl area; Freiburg sits by the foothill of the Black Forest; and Feldberg in the southeast of the Black Forest.
Source: Klimadiagramme, 2009
 
The district of Emmendingen
 
The district of Emmendingen spreads over 67,988 ha and included 158,755 inhabitants in 2011. Up to 45% of the territory is covered by forest, which represents 31,000 ha (Landkreis Emmendingen, 2011). The 22,305 ha of utilized agricultural area (UAA) is composed of 46% permanent grassland and 42% arable land (Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg, 2012). The area has a very heterogeneous topography and offers a great variety of agro-ecosystems.
The flat and fertile land along the Rhine river is cultivated for the major part with maize, rape, potatoes and tobacco. The Kaiserstuhl area is a famous wine producing area with a microclimate and specific soil type which gives a unique taste to the wine. Strawberries and cherries are alternatively part of the agricultural landscape. Highways and railways along the Rhine valley permit an important transit of goods and persons every day and industries have developed in small towns settled along these infrastructures. Additionally, the proximity to the city of Freiburg provides conditions for a high quality of life and makes it a demanded living area.
 
The foothill of the pre-mountainous zone is covered by viticulture. Breisgau produces wine of good reputation as well and overall, around 10% of the wine produced in Baden-Württemberg comes from this area. Finally, the entire zone between the Rhine and the Black Forest offers a large array of recreational activities which are of primary importance to the inhabitants. In addition, the region is a popular destination for tourisms and therefore appropriate structures are in place.
 
Finally, the mountainous area going up to 1,500 m altitude is mostly covered by forest and grasslands. The nature reserve of Südschwarzwald located in the south of the Black Forest spreads over a surface area of 333,000 ha and is home of an important biodiversity. Within the park, high quality cow milk and meat production are the main farming activities and maintain a typical landscape of grazed hills with forest patches (Naturpark Südschwarzwald, 2012).
 
Overall, the region has a particularly high number of organic farms, 8.8% in 2010 (LEL, 2012) compared to Baden-Württemberg as a whole (6.8%).
 
The district of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald
 
Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald spreads over 137,833 ha and had a population of 252,327 in 2011 (Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg, 2012). Half of the territory is covered by forest, that is 65,531 ha, and the 48,698 ha of UAA are composed of 48% permanent grassland for milk and meat production and 39% arable land.
 
Three distinct zones are present in the district. From west to east we find the Upper Rhine area which has fertile soils and is intensively farmed; the higher elevations of the Black Forest; and the Baar-Wutach area, a farmed and very touristic small region at the southeast of the Black Forest.
 
As for the district of Emmendingen, the valley bordering the Rhine river is composed of loess and clay soils up to the hilly and mountainous area of the east and is intensively farmed. This area is particularly famous for its orchards and many fruit varieties. Strawberries, drupes, walnuts, hazelnuts etc. are typical products. Nevertheless, most of the surfaces are used for intensive production of maize, rape, tobacco and potatoes but also for the production of asparagus and diverse other vegetables (Abel O., 2011). Water protection zones are also a major issue in the Rhine plain and a total of 8,425 ha of agricultural area are regulated under a water protection framework.
 
The district of Freiburg im Breisgau
In March 2012 the city of Freiburg had a population of 229,808 (Stadt Freiburg, 2012). In 2011, 106,254 employees distributed among different sectors (see Fig. 3) maintained the local economy.
Each week, 17 farmers’ markets are held in different parts of the town.
 


Summary
 
The overall zone studied has a surface of 221,127 ha and a cumulated population of 640,226 inhabitants. Approximately half of the surface is covered by forest, one tenth by settlements and infrastructures, and forty percent by agricultural land (see Fig. 4). The very heterogeneous topography, climate and soil conditions offer a great variety of agro-ecosystems.
 
Within the farming sector, diversification into renewable energies, direct marketing and tourism activities are popular. Although agriculture represents an important land use activity, its economic importance is very restrained which might jeopardize its development in the future (see Fig. 5). The cohabitation of all sectors of the economy and the attractive landscape for living and tourism presents critical issues for land use planning and governance.
 
 
Among the transition factors that can be considered to be relevant for the Freiburg administrative district as a whole, beyond the RWAG initiative level, the following are central: The main drivers of change are high pressure on land (in areas directly adjacent to agglomeration areas) for settlement, industry and transportation as well as recreational areas, and the economic pressure on farmers. Potentials of the region are: the highly productive and specialized agricultural area (Kaiserstuhl); high-value cultural landscape produced by agriculture in the hilly areas contributing the provision of public goods; close location of economically viable urban centers and agriculturally dominated rural areas; high level of awareness among consumers regarding ecological and social issues related to farming; availability of capital for investments.
 
 

References
Abel O., 2011. Grünlandwirtschaft und Ackerbau im Landkreis Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald. LRA Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, AidPresseinfo 5/2011, 11p.
Landkreis Emmendingen, 2011. 21. März ist Frühlingsanfang und ‘Tag des Waldes’. http://www.landkreisemmendingen.de/index.phtml?object=tx|1385.10.1&ModID=7&FID=1406.11302.1&sNavID=1406.38&La=1 (Accessed 31/10/2012)
LEL, 2012. Ökologischer Landbau in Baden-Württemberg. Ministerium für Ländlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, Germany, 48p.
Naturpark Südschwarzwald, 2012. Landwirtschaft. www.naturpark-suedschwarzwald.de/mensch/kulturlandschaft/landwirtschaft (Accessed 29/10/2012)
Stadt Freiburg, 2012. Bevölkerung und Wohnen. http://www.freiburg.de/pb/,Lde/207904.html (Accessed 29/10/2012)
Klimadiagramme, 2009. Stationskarte: Deutschland. www.klimadiagramme.de/Frame/indexeu.html. (Accessed 31/10/2012)
 
Annex: Selected set of information for the districts of Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Emmendingen and Freiburg im Breisgau

District
Breisgau-Hoch-schwarzwald
Emmendingen
Freiburg
Total

Land use in 2011 (ha)
Total
137,833
67,988
15,306
221,127

Settlements and infrastructure
14,226
7,398
4,864
26,488

Utilised agricultural area
54,911
27,611
3,641
86,163

Forest
65,531
31,125
6,532
103,188

Water area
2,030
979
207
3,216

Other land use
1,136
875
62
2,073

Inhabitants in 2011
252,327
158,755
229,808
640,890

Employment in 2009 per sector of the economy
Total
104,000 
63,800
149,800
213,600

Primary sector
5,300
2,900
700
8,900

Secondary sector
29,800
22,500
20,000
72,300

Tertiary sector
68,900
38,400
129,200
236,500

Unemployment rate in 2011 (all civil employees) in %
3.5
3.2
6.1
 

Agricultural enterprises in 2010
2,885
1,422
214
4,521

Agricultural land use in 2010 (ha)
Total
48,698
22,305
3,446
74,449

Arable land
19,255
10,287
1,619
31,161

Permanent grassland
23,403
9,545
1,036
33,984

Orchards
813
629
76
1,518

Other land use
5,142
1,705
703
7,550

Protected area in 2010 (ha)
5,555
3,873
683
10,111

Protected landscapes in 2010 (ha)
63,164
10,699
6,992
80,855

Water protection area in 2010 (ha)
17,219
8,039
1,786
27,044