The land and the lake

Agriculture has always been the vocation and the pride of the territory. Since Etruscan times, the “rich land of Etruria” evoked by Livy has produced high quality products such as olive oil, wines (including the famous Est! Est!! Est!!! of Montefiascone, the Cannaiola of Marta and the Aleatico of Gradoli), pulses (such as ‘Purgatory Beans’ and lentils of Onano) and grains such as spelt.

What is grown today in the lake basin?

Agriculture in the Lake Bolsena basin is very varied – olive groves, vineyards, fields of grain and fodder that characterise the countryside. Growing of vegetables occurs almost everywhere while the plant nurseries are found mostly to the north and east. Hazelnut plantations are expanding. And although for some time it has been on the decrease, there is still some rearing of livestock.

What is the condition of the soil and the climate?

The soil is generally loose and well-drained. Its volcanic origin renders it rich in nutrients and it is very fertile.
The climate is sub-Mediterranean, temperate and mild. The micro-climate of the lake valley benefits from the protection of the surrounding hills and mountains, good ventilation and the mitigating action of the volume of water. Thanks to these favourable conditions, the biodiversity of our area is one of the richest in Europe.

So, does agriculture pose a risk to the lake?

The loose dry nature of the terrain means that, by way of irrigation and rain water, substances present in, or added to, the ground penetrate easily into the subsoil, and then make their way into the waters of the lake.
Mineral substances in the soil enter the waters of the basin via the action of pouring rain and surface runoff water. Material transported in this way into the lake due to erosion is greater, the more the natural forest barriers are reduced and the land is worked with unsuitable cultivation techniques.

What is the impact of agriculture on the lake?

Products used in conventional farming practice such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and weedkillers can enter the lake.

Data has not yet been collected on how much of these substances are to be found in the lake or subsoil; what is certain is that phosphorus distributed with manure contributes to the level of phosphorus in the lake waters, increasing the risk of eutrophication.

Furthermore, weedkillers and pesticides present a grave threat to the flora and fauna of the lake and their biodiversity, and can also cause a decrease in typical lake vegetation. The different species of vegetation that grow along the shore are very important, not only for the shelter they offer to fish, animals and birds, but also because they act as a purifying filter for the lake itself. The decline of these different species of vegetation adds to the decline in the overall health of the lake.

What can we do?

Encourage the development of farming methods which are eco-friendly and, by reducing their impact on the environment, contribute to the healing of the land and the protection of the lake. Particularly advisable are biological and biodynamic methods which use neither synthetic fertilisers and pesticides nor weedkillers, but increase the organic matter (or humus) of the land and its fertility. This increases the biodiversity and the environmental balance contributing to the restrengthening of the health of plants and animals.

The synergy between the protection of the lake, the development of sustainable tourism and of sustainable agriculture constitutes a unique opportunity for the local economy. In order to realise this synergy we are committed to promote the constitution of a bio-district in our territory.