A Bordeaux based non-profit is working with local wineries to improve and protect their own vineyard environments whilst building awareness of the fragility of our shared natural environment. Since 2011, HISA (Human InitiativeS for Animals), have been promoting agricultural and viticultural practices that build biodiversity with a social and educational focus. 

Over 75% of Bordeaux vineyards are under sustainable certification, thanks to HISA and their Bordeaux partners, these sustainability initiatives are reaching a broader public. 

Resilience 

Their ‘Projet  Résilience’ helps vineyards integrate biodiversity into their viticultural practices, involving local populations and organisations. They work with volunteer producers auditing existing wildlife and creating an inventory that leads to a tailored plan that encourages wild species, including pollinating insects, bats, birds and even small mammals. 

Tools 

They plant trees and hedgerows that create cooler micro climates, fix carbon and offer homes to birds, bees and more. They preserve and create wet zones, also contributing to temperature regulation, water preservation and creating the perfect environment for amphibians and aquatic insects such as dragonflies. 

Finally, they install bird boxes for swallows, other small birds, bats and more. These insect devouring species are very welcome amongst the vines, they eat damaging moths, reducing the need for insecticides and pesticides. It’s a  win-win for the environment at large and the vineyards in particular. 

Breaking down barriers

HISA‘s expertise includes identifying and sourcing indigenous plant material as well as dealing with admin and permits of behalf of wineries. A parallel part of their philosophy, is engaging with the local community, working with local schools and residents to share the concepts behind these installations and create awareness around the fragility of the natural environment in which they all live and work. Sharing these mutually beneficial activities breaks down barriers between vineyards and the local population.

Bordeaux Beginnings 

This initiative started in Bordeaux but their vision is to reach across the vineyards of  Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and further afield to help combat climate change, and biodiversity loss. This voluntary Résilience Project wants to help a wider environment, and Bordeaux vineyards are signing up. `

Urban nature

Chateau Fayat in Pomerol is a 16 ha urban vineyard in the heart of the town of Libourne, it’s the ideal location to address both the environmental and social challenges of making wine surrounded by people. HISA’s wildlife audit identified eight species of bat, including the common pipistrelle in the attic of the château and  several ‘vulnerable’ species of birds, the Cinereous Serin, the European Greenfinch. With the Fayat team they decided to protect this natural environment by reducing monoculture.

They sacrificed a 0.5 ha plot of vines as a haven for biodiversity, sourcing a diversity of local fruit species with ‘Le Conservatoire Régional d’Aquitaine’ to plant an edible garden and orchard of local species. The team spent 4 days learning to prune fruit trees – not the same technique as vines! A pond will soon be laid out in an unused area rather than plant it to vines. Ecological corridors of indigenous species now run along the roads and railway tracks, increasing the attractivity for local residents as well as the local wildlife.

The proximity to the local population makes Château Fayat a perfect showcase for the initiative, enabling the team to communicate with and reassure the neighbours about their 100% organic agricultural treatments and frost prevention. 

Creating a vision for the future

The programme also plays an educational for the town. Welcoming school groups to the property helps children understand the fragility of their environment and the role they can all play in protecting it. Events at the chateau include treasure hunts in the vines, art workshops, wild seed bombs and even building nesting boxes for birds. 

They are not alone in wanting to create closer links with the local community. Château Fayat has joined town of Libourne and neighbouring Château Quinault l’Enclos and Château Mazeyres in creating a round table to answer questions and explain environmental  responsible viticulture they are practicing. 

Nearby, the Entre deux Mers is one of the most biodiverse regions of Bordeaux, with 94% of vineyards under environmental certification. Here, HISA worked with the town hall of Saint-Germain-du-Puch and the village school children to create a communal orchard. Putting children in touch with the nature that surrounds them, sharing the importance of the local fauna in maintaining a its balance and encouraging them to record the local wild life found there.  

Eco tourism

Education isn’t only for children, in the same village, organic vineyard Château Lestrille worked with HISA to encourage local wildlife on this family vineyard. They  planted hedges and 300 local plants in a mini Miawaki forest, created a pond and sowed wild flower seeds on fallow land to attract pollinators (Lestrille is certified Bee Friendly).

The wine labels reflect the philosophy, featuring insects, birds and plants from the vines. It works. On her early morning walks to inspect the vines, owner wine maker Estelle Roumage, often come across, deer, hare, hedgehogs and sometimes wild boar. A pioneer of wine tourism it’s an initiative she loves to share with visitors even taking them through the vineyard in her original 2CV!

Nearby, Château Bellefontaine is one of the original HISA projects in Bordeaux, the ruined château is being renovated to welcome guests where the surrounding preserved woodland will be a major attraction thanks to the audit carried out by HISA. Together they built and tested a ‘swallow hotel’ to protect the local fragile barn swallow population. 

In the Médoc, Barton Family Wines is supporting the HISA Martin’et Hirondelle project. This protects swallows and swifts threatened by the disappearance of their nesting sites and the insects they rely on for food. The Médoc, with its many water features, is the perfect environment for them. Together they are creating and restoring ecological corridors of hedges, lakes and flowering meadows and installing nesting boxes specifically adapted to these species across several properties.

Out to Africa 

Part of this financing has come from an ecological innovation at Chateau Langoa Barton.  Since the 2021 vintage, bottles from the are shipped in 100% French cardboard cartons, reducing six-fold the carbon footprint of shipping. Wooden cases are still available upon request, but at a premium. A premium that is donated to two environmental charities HISA and Wild Tomorrow. These two organisations converge in Africa, where they both work to protect, restore and re-wild land in strategic, ecologically important areas and where HISA also works with local populations to encourage this symbiosis between man and nature. 

From Bordeaux to Africa, biodiversity is an international priority all vineyards and their neighbours can get behind. 

A longer version of this post is available at Great Wine Capitals Stories

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