The renovations in Turtmanntal, Maiggen and Illalpe were carried out as part of landscape conservation projects. Community service groups and volunteers took part.
"Stone borders are contemporary witnesses to the earlier management of the Alps. During pasture maintenance (annual clearing of stones and branches from pasture areas) they emerged along owner or pasture boundaries. But they also served to separate the cattle (Chrommu), corral them or herd them. Stone borders are also ecologically valuable structures because they serve as a habitat for various small animal species.
The landscape conservation missions in the Alps are very popular because the participants can immerse themselves in another world."
With landscape conservation efforts, chain-link fences are being removed and replaced with living fences made of green clippings, so-called Benje hedges, at 4 locations along the Illgraben.
A multi-year school project for the ecological enhancement of the vineyard parcel is being implemented in collaboration with the community of Salgesch.
The removal of invasive neophytes to promote biodiversity is extremely important. Along the Meretschi stream, large stands of Butterfly bushes, North American goldenrod, Daisy fleabane and black locust were removed.
Interested school classes can spend a project week in the nature park area and help alpine farms with the ongoing work. On the Feselalp, fences were dismantled, pastures cleared of bushes and stones collected, among other things.
A Benje's hedge is a living fence and is made from green clippings. It offers habitat and shelter for small mammals and insects. This Benje hedge was created as part of a landscape conservation project.
The Pfyn-Finges Nature Park manages the extensive grazing of the rocky steppe near Leuk with various animal species, coupled with manual shrub removal.
By removing wire pasture fences, the risk of injury to livestock and wild animals is reduced and at the same time the cultural landscape is visually enhanced. The old pasture fences are being removed as part of landscape maintenance operations.
New habitats for plants and animals were created as ecological replacement measures for the SBB Salgesch Leuk double-track line extension. The Pfyn-Finges Nature Park maintains these hedges, dry meadows and wetlands on behalf of the SBB
Together with the participants, heavily overgrown pasture areas were reopened, hedge structures maintained and old wire fences removed.
