“Welcome to the bush. Frédéric Lienard exaggerates a bit as the first brambles and other brooms appear. They are everywhere, in the middle or on the edge of these large clearings which border Thannenkirch, its village nestled at an altitude of nearly 600 meters.
The place, on the heights of the Alsace Wine Route and not far from the famous Haut-Koenigsbourg castle, is known to tourists. Mainly hikers and other cyclists who like to face the winding paths that lead there. But behind the postcard, the town is now experiencing little-known concerns, linked to landfill.
“The agricultural lands which were exploited fifty years ago in a more or less family way are now abandoned, or almost”, summarizes the one presents himself as “a concerned citizen, environmentally friendly of course”. With a dozen people, Frédéric Lienard has especially launched since 2016 in the project to restore his plots to their original agricultural destinations. And therefore to stop, or at least slow down, this enrichment.
“Because it harms the landscape, which is more and more closed. We have no more views! Another reason is the biodiversity, specific to each space and which is lost in places, notably with dead fruit trees, ”he explains. I am also thinking of global warming. One day, we will necessarily be affected by forest fires and it is not good to be surrounded like that. Finally, it would still be good for a farmer to produce food here, it would allow the development of short circuits. “
Rather a herd of sheep or goats
The breeder in question, with a herd more of goats and sheep given the typography of the place, is wanted. On July 28, the collective launched a call for applications which has already had a certain echo. “We received three expression of interest forms,” confirms Pauline Thomann, project manager at the Terre de Liens Alsace association, which has been supporting the Thannenkirch working group from the start. “Those interested have until October 31 to make themselves known. “
Next ? Installation and operation will not happen overnight. The initiators plan to create a pastoral land association (AFP). The system already exists in Alsace and facilitates a grouping of land (and therefore of different holders), allows the farmer to have a single point of contact and… to obtain subsidies for clearing. Here, 27 hectares of land would be affected, which represents “a hundred owner accounts, perhaps 150 people with joint ownership”.
The project divides
Problem, not all agree with the possible establishment of this AFP. In any case among those who can be reached “because many letters have already returned to us, some heirs do not know that they have these lands”, explains Pauline Thomann. The town hall, it does not really say. “The town supports the objectives of opening up the landscapes, safety vis-à-vis fires and the idea of a farmer coming”, qualifies the city councilor Angélique Dieuaide. “But as to the modalities, I can’t say anything. We have invited all the stakeholders and we will then decide. “
“There are three cases among the refractory”, explains Geneviève Witz, a resident of Thannenkirch. “Hunters don’t want too much because game likes wasteland; some owners would prefer to keep their land because, for example, they have horses; finally, others, often elderly, have not really understood the issues and just don’t want their property to be touched. “
“It’s incredible how the landscape has been able to close”
She also in possession of a plot of one hectare concerned in the 27 to be exploited, the sexagenarian sees only advantages to this AFP. “At my age, I no longer have the strength for the motor mower or the brush cutter… For someone to exploit them and we can buy their products, that would be great. It would revive the village and everyone would be a winner. I found a photo the other day from here in the 1950s, it was beautiful with orchards everywhere! It’s incredible how the landscape has been able to close so much in seventy years… ”
A public inquiry, led by the services of the prefecture, could begin in the coming months. If a majority of owners are in favor – those who do not answer are considered to agree – AFP will see the light of day. “We are counting on a consensus, the goal is not to divide”, indicates Frédéric Lienard. “Let people be reassured, they will not lose their meadows, they will still be able to go there to pick fruit, collect fodder, everything will be clear. Like, perhaps, the future landscape around Thannenkirch.