Pro Specie Rara certification for rare fruit trees
In early 2024, the Golf de Lavaux was awarded the Pro Specie Rara label for its activities to conserve and promote the diversity of rare fruit trees. Pro Specie Rara (PSR) is a Swiss foundation dedicated to safeguarding the genetic heritage of plants and animals (www.prospecierara.ch).
The Golf de Lavaux is home to over 200 fruit trees (apple, pear, plum, quince, cherry and sour cherry), many of them very tall. Some of these fruit trees belong to ancient varieties that have become rarer in recent decades with the disappearance of most of the high-stem orchards in our countryside. Pro Specie Rara certification confirms that the Golf de Lavaux contributes to preserving the genetic diversity of fruit trees grown in Switzerland.
In recent decades, changes in agricultural practices and consumer habits in Switzerland have led to the disappearance of two-thirds of traditional orchards. This phenomenon has been even more marked in French-speaking Switzerland. Because of their size and longevity, the tall fruit trees that made up the bulk of these orchards are of great ecological value. They provide shelter for many species of birds and small mammals, and are home to various types of lichen and moss. High-stemmed fruit trees, made from old and rare varieties, represent a precious genetic reservoir.
Fruit trees planted on the course are protected, with the Golf de Lavaux offering them a safe environment in designated areas of the course. Measures are taken to ensure that these trees remain in good health or, if necessary, are replaced. In fact, it was to replace some of the fruit trees lost due to the drought in summer 2018 that, in collaboration with the "Rétro pomme" association, which is responsible for the conservation of local fruit trees for French-speaking Switzerland (www.retropomme.ch), a dozen trees of different varieties were grown in a dedicated nursery from seeds collected from rare species. These trees were then replanted on the course.
The preservation of local and ancient fruit varieties, to which the Golf de Lavaux contributes, ensures that future generations will have a wider choice of fruit in a variety of shapes, colors and flavors.
