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French winemakers regret loss of "firebreak" vineyards as blazes spread

Farmers in the sun-drenched Aude region of southern France have reluctantly dug up vines. They were motivated by declining wine consumption, and state subsidies. This has removed a natural moisture-filled brake that would normally prevent wildfires.

This week, the loss of vineyards (nearly 5,000 hectares alone in Aude over the last 12 months) and its impact were made clear as the largest wildfire to sweep through France since 1949 was stoked by strong winds and parched foliage.

Around 2,000 firefighters fought to contain a fire that scorched homes, forests and farmland and killed one person.

The frontlines of the fire were pushed hundreds of meters across the landscape, at times at 5 km/h. Local winemakers and mayors blame the rapid spread of the fire on the loss vineyards.

On Wednesday, French Prime Minister Francoise Bayrou visited the fire zone and told the growers that the fire had largely been stopped in the vineyards.

Wildfires have charred vineyards. In many places, the neatly-manicured vines and soils remained intact, even though their grapes were destroyed.

Baptiste Cabal, whose family cultivates 60 hectares in Saint-Laurent-de-La-Cabrerisse, at the epicentre of the blaze, said ripped-up vineyards were often left fallow, overtaken by scrub and brush.

It would be better to have less idle land, and more vines.

"THE LAST BARRIERS"

Aude, which is part of the Corbieres wine region, known for its aromatic, rich reds, lost 7% its vineyards in this year, continuing a decline that has been ongoing over recent decades.

The government pays growers 4,000 Euros ($4,661.60), per hectare, to destroy their vines in order to reduce production and curb the excess supply due to changing drinking habits.

Local growers in Aude say that while it is encouraging other crops such as olives and pistachios, which can survive the Mediterranean summer heat, there are few alternatives to sheep farming on the parched hills.

Europe is warming twice as fast as the average global rate. It is also the fastest-warming of all continents. Climate change causes hot, dry conditions which help fires to spread faster and burn longer. Aude has experienced a drought for three years in a row.

"Nothing can replace vines," says Ludovic Roux a winegrower and the president of Aude’s chamber of agriculture. "Vines are our last line of defense against fires."

Local growers reported that hundreds of hectares were destroyed, while other grapes could be rendered unusable if they are covered with fire retardant chemicals or if smoke spoils their taste.

Cabal, the head of a local wine cooperative, which produces wine for about 30 growers' families, predicted a "catastrophic harvest," with at least 50% of his family’s vines being damaged.

Farmers in the area are concerned that they will not be able to recover without government assistance, making them even more vulnerable.

Jerome Despey is a farmer in the Herault region, and vice-president of the FNSEA union. He said that when there's an uprooting, there must be diversification. "But it's important to maintain vines that are adapted to a Mediterranean climate."

(source: Reuters)