Alp-area-analysis for a sustainable future
Abstract
The alpine pastures in the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal, as in many other high regions of the Alps, build its economic and socio-cultural backbone. They have a thousand-year-long history and are still very important today because they represent the most important form of cultivation in the high altitudes of the Alpine region. The change in agriculture and especially in alpine pasture management already started in the 19th century with industrialization. In many cases, the decisive factors in the Alps were the conversion of valley farms from mixed farms to pure dairy farms; associated with this was the abandonment of mountain mowing (since there was enough grassland in the home farm), and that alpine pastures and alpine areas that were difficult to access and hardly developed were abandoned. In addition, alpine areas are very emotional for both visitors and locals and are a major building block of regional identity. We want to get to the bottom of the changes, the systematics behind them, and prospects in the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal and we want to determine whether the developments in comparable areas are different. In which dimension, in which technical aspects, for which reasons changes take place, and which further consequences are to be expected will be researched with three methodical work packages. 1. Detailed mapping of all alpine pastures of the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal at the target scale of 1:5.000, using remote sensing methods based on true color and infrared orthophotos in combination with terrain surveys. Comparative mapping in related areas in Montafon and Engadin. 2. Socio-economic and demographic analysis, as well as network analysis of factors influencing landscape and economy in alpine areas. 3. Synthesis, development of scenarios, and link to control options of a biosphere reserve.
Project staff
Markus Immitzer
Dipl.-Ing.Dr. Markus Immitzer M.Sc.
markus.immitzer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85732
Project Leader
01.06.2023 - 31.10.2025
Ardalan Daryaei
Dr. Ardalan Daryaei M.Sc.
ardalan.daryaei@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85740
Project Staff
01.06.2023 - 31.10.2025
Michael Lechner
DDipl.-Ing. Michael Lechner B.Sc.
michael.lechner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85734
Project Staff
01.06.2023 - 31.10.2025
Noah Mihatsch
Dipl.-Ing. Noah Mihatsch
noah.mihatsch@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-85738
Project Staff
01.06.2023 - 31.10.2025
BOKU partners
External partners
georaum GmbH Consulting Engineer for geography and landscape analysis
Hannes Hoffert-Hösl
partner
Naturraumplanung Egger e.U.
partner
Land is Water
Rosemarie Hösl
partner