How can agriculture, water protection, energy supply and climate adaptation work together to contribute to the future of rural areas? Answers to these questions were discussed last week during two field days and a workshop in the Wurzener Land region. At the Böhlitz agroforestry system and the restored Tauchnitzgraben, experts from municipalities, agriculture, water management, science and nature conservation, as well as members of the public, learned about innovative approaches to cultural landscape development that combine ecological and economic objectives. Furthermore, the further development and transferability of these approaches were discussed. The events took place within the framework of the FNR AGROfloW (AFaktive sibling project) and LIFE-IP ZENAPA funding projects.
Citizens as an important piece of the puzzle
On the evening of 2 June 2026, around 20 citizens, including members of the Thallwitz and Lossatal local councils as well as landowners, met to find out more about the Böhlitz agroforestry planting. During a guided tour of the agroforestry system at Tauchnitzgraben, Thomas Pöge (Mayor of the municipality of Thallwitz) and Frank Wagener (Institute for Applied Material Flow Management, IfaS) explained, among other things, how the project came about in the region and emphasised that it would not have been possible without the support of the local councils and the consent of the landowners – they too are vital building blocks on the path to a sustainable cultural landscape. During the subsequent discussions over refreshments, numerous questions were answered, and the project’s positive reception in the region became evident.
Different perspectives – one solution
The following day was dedicated to the expert audience. Around 100 participants from municipalities, agriculture, water management, science and nature conservation learned about the Tauchnitzgraben restoration project and the adjacent agroforestry system.
The field day opened with a welcome address by Ulrich Menke, State Secretary at the Saxon State Ministry for the Environment and Agriculture, who praised the achievements of the project partners. He emphasised that the projects in Böhlitz and at the Tauchnitzgraben had carried out important pioneering work, which could help make it easier to implement similar projects at other locations in the future. He then took part in the field excursions to gain a more detailed understanding of the measures being implemented on site.
During six themed tours, participants were given an insight into the project from the perspectives of agriculture, municipalities and the energy sector, water management, planning, nature conservation and science. This underscores the central message of this project, which is unique in Germany: when everyone works together, it is possible to develop sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.
The tours were led by project participants Alexander Krebs (Agrargenossenschaft Böhlitz e.G.) and Tobias Peschel (Lignovis GmbH), Dr Andreas Stowasser (Stowasserplan GmbH & Co. KG) and former mayor Uwe Weigelt (Lossatal), Stefanie Kleine (Wurzener Land-Werke GmbH) and Thomas Pöge (Mayor of Thallwitz), Katrin Dachsel (Stowasserplan GmbH & Co. KG), Clara Thoma (IfaS), Frank Wagener (IfaS) and Dr Wolfgang Zehlius-Eckert (DeFAF e.V.), as well as Martin Pesch (IfaS).
Practical steps
After the tours, there was plenty of time for in-depth discussions and exchanges, which the participants made full use of. The topics were as varied as the participants themselves: alongside the legal and bureaucratic hurdles encountered during the process for the restoration concept, which began back in 2017, very practical aspects were also discussed, such as the mechanical maintenance of the agroforestry system, illustrated by a machinery demonstration.
Overall, the field day demonstrated not only the successful outcome of the collaborative work between the parties involved, but also just how much perseverance is still required to bring such an innovative concept to fruition.
This was precisely the focus of a workshop held in the afternoon. A small group of around 15 experts discussed what is needed to make the concept practical and transferable, which adjustments still need to be made, and what the next steps are needed to ensure that this pioneering project at the Tauchnitzgraben can reach its full potential.
The three events were organised primarily by the municipalities of Thallwitz and Lossatal, Wurzener Land-Werke GmbH, the Porphyrland Geopark and the Institute for Applied Material Flow Management (IfaS), with support from the LIFE-IP ZENAPA and AGROfloW projects, funded respectively by the EU and by the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity – in collaboration with Department 44 of the Saxon State Ministry for the Environment and Agriculture.
MDR was also on site and reported on the project in two video features: