On 21st November 2024, the AFaktive project team from the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (Trier University of Applied Sciences) met with the initiators of the project “Schwammlandschaft Naturpark Soonwald-Nahe” (Spongelandscape Nature Park Soonwald-Nahe) at the Walderlebniszentrum Soonwald (Forest Experience Centre Soonwald). The primary goal of the meeting was to identify synergies between the two projects and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
The “Schwammlandschaft Naturpark Soonwald-Nahe” project, set to launch on 1st January 2025, was initiated by Prof. Dr. Eckhard Jedicke, Professor of Landscape Development at Geisenheim University and Head of the Kompetenzzentrums Kulturlandschaft, KULT (Competence Centre for Cultural Landscapes), together with Dr. Jörn Schultheiß, Research Associate at Geisenheim University.
Through constructive discussions, agroforestry was identified as a key connection between the two projects, particularly as a tool for enhancing water retention in landscapes. Both teams recognised the promising potential of a partnership to address shared objectives in this field.
For the AFaktive team members – Jörg Böhmer, Frank Wagener, and Martina Mayus – the meeting presented an invaluable opportunity to identify prospective collaboration partners as part of the efforts to scale agroforestry systems from pioneering farms to regional applications.
This collaboration marks an important step toward innovative, sustainable approaches to landscape development and improved water management in the region.
Links:
- Prof. Dr. Eckhard Jedicke
- Dr. Jörn Schultheiß
- Kompetenzzentrum Kulturlandschaft (KULT)
- Walderlebniszentrum Soonwald
- AFaktive – Agroforestry as a Key to improve Water Management & Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events
- Institute for applied Material Flow Management
© Photo: IfaS