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The wind carries pesticides from fruit crops in South Tyrol to Val Müstair in Graubünden, as demonstrated by a joint measurement campaign by the Canton of Graubünden and the Val Müstair Nature Park.
This is all bad news, says David Spinnler, Managing Director of the Val Müstair Biosphere Nature Park: “It is not at all gratifying that pesticides are measured in the air in a nature park.” But he’s happy to have the facts on the table.
It is not at all gratifying that pesticides are measured in the air in a nature reserve.
The measurements were made last year by the Graubünden Office for Nature and Environment. It turned out that the pesticides used in fruit growing in South Tyrol are carried by the wind to the town of Valchava in Grisons, 14 kilometers away.
Load decreases with distance
With a view to the concentration of the detected substances, the spatial distance to the orchards plays an important role, says Remo Fehr, director of the Office of Nature and Environment.
“Pollution from pesticides entering the Val Müstair decreases dramatically with distance to apple orchards,” he explains. In addition to agents from South Tyrol, pesticides from Münstertal arable agriculture have also been identified, albeit in smaller quantities.
No danger to health
With the concentrations measured in Val Müstair, the probability of harmful effects is low, writes the canton. In terms of human health, the results would not be cause for concern.
10 percent of European apples are grown in South Tyrol and large amounts of pesticides are used.
RTR
However, the canton sees the need to act. Even the smallest amounts of pesticides are harmful to aquatic life, for example.
Hope for parliament and local efforts
You can’t tell South Tyrolese what to do and what not to do, says nature park manager David Spinnler. “We do know, however, that an organic region or biosphere reserve in South Tyrol is being discussed,” says Spinnler. They want to support these efforts towards greater sustainability.
A project was started in Val Müstair to reduce the use of pesticides on the doorstep. The goal is to sensitize farmers, communities and individuals to use as few pesticides as possible, says Spinnler.
The canton is looking forward to Bern, says Remo Fehr from the Nature and Environment Office. “At the parliamentary level, there is a downward path for pesticide use on roads,” says Fehr. You have to bet on that.
