eco.mont – Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management, Vol. 15 / No. 2
No.:
15
Year of the volume:
2023
Issue:
2
“eco.mont – Journal of Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management” was founded as a joint initiative of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR), the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Innsbruck. “eco.mont” offers a platform specifically for scientists and practitioners working in and on protected mountain areas in Europe and overseas. Target audiences of the journal are scientists from all related disciplines, managers of protected areas and an interested public including practitioners, visitors, teachers, etc.“eco.mont” is available by open access under CC BY-NC-ND-Licence from the Austrian Academy Press and in a printed version from Innsbruck University Press. Alpine protected areas play a key role in biodiversity conservation, but also in monitoring species and habitats. Since its first issue, eco.mont has published articles on long-term monitoring programmes in different areas of the Alps.
The current issue covers a wide range of topics concerning protected areas globally. Geographically, the articles cover protected areas in the Alps, the Himalayas, Southern Siberia and the Italian island of Sardinia. The subjects discussed include anthropogenic sounds and their influence on outdoor recreation, sacred larch trees as cultural monuments, firewood as a natural resource, sustainable regional development in a natural park and Biosphere Reserve on Sardinia, a glimpse into the EuroMAB Conference 2022 in Carynthia, Austria, the influence of historic and current land-use changes on wetland habitats, the development of the small-mammal fauna in the Swiss National Park in the last 100 years, and the conservation of endemic species in the Yarlung Zangbo river basin in Tibet.
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Alpine soundscapes: sounds and their consequences for perceived recreational quality – A case study of two Regional Nature Parks – Beverin Nature Park and Parc Ela in Switzerland
Regional Nature Parks (RNPs) such as the Parc Ela and Beverin Nature Park are popular destinations for outdoor activities and recreation in the Alpine areas of Switzerland. As in many other mountain and peripheral regions, their soundscapes are being increasingly influenced by humans. Little is known about which sound types are perceived positively or negatively by visitors in Alpine areas and how sounds affect visitors’ perceived recreational quality. To better understand this relationship, surveys were carried out in four areas of two RNPs, Beverin Nature Park and Parc Ela. Each area included two or three sites with different anthropogenic sound levels. Sounds with anthropogenic origins were found to be rated significantly more negatively than sounds with biophonic and geophonic origins. Using linear mixed models, this study confirmed that sound levels had the strongest effect on the perceived quality of visitors’ recreation at sites with similar visual landscape features. Sites with low levels of anthropogenic sounds were perceived as having the least impact on recreational quality. However, no significant difference in the impact of sounds on perceived recreational quality was found between medium and high sound levels, indicating that there could be a threshold between 33.7 and 38.6 dBA above which noise has a negative impact on recreational quality.
Keywords:
Ricarda Ferrari - Reto Rupf - Birgit Reutz
Page 4 - 12 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s4
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Ancient larch trees in the Tuva Republic, land of the oldest trees in Russia
The ancient trees in the Tuva Republic have both cultural and scientific significance. Our study provides a synthesis of the results of the dendrochronological research carried out by the Siberian Dendrochronological Laboratory over the past 16 years in the Tuva Republic, Russian Federation. By applying state-of-the-art dendrochronological analysis, we identified the oldest dead larch tree (Larix sibirica Ldb.) in the study region, which had reached 1,307 years old. Living larch trees from the forest-steppe zone (1,000–1,500 m asl) and at the upper treeline (2,000 m asl) are known to have reached 779 and 662 years respectively. Such old trees are of great interest for the scientific community and society. Old living larch trees have witnessed the rise and fall of great nomadic civilizations and agricultural changes. Their identification and protection increase their attraction for tourists and enrich the cultural significance of the region. Until now, however, these trees have remained unprotected and are not registered in international and national registers of long-living trees. In this study, we aim to raise awareness of the need to develop forest protection policies and to preserve ancient living larch trees in the Tuva Republic.
Keywords:
Anna V. Taynik - Vladimir S. Myglan - Valentin V. Barinov - Orlan Ch. Oidupaa - Olga V. Churakova (Sidorova)
Page 13 - 19 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s13
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Dependency on national park resources of people living in a mountain protected area
National Parks can provide diverse benefits to those living in and around them, supporting livelihoods and providing opportunities to harvest natural resources and to participate in nature-based tourism. To explore the direct benefits to local people, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in four villages in Langtang National Park, Nepal. Firewood and fodder / grasses were the main resources harvested by local people. Household size and the total number of livestock units were the only significant predictors of resource use (firewood and fodder). These findings suggest that local people are dependent on national park resources. Strategies to reduce firewood dependency and hence pressure on the national park forests are recommended.
Keywords:
Kamal Thapa
Page 20 - 27 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s20
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From the mountains to the sea: The Tepilora Natural Regional Park, Sardinia
Protected areas are no longer focused solely on conservation and protection needs but play a central role in promoting sustainable development in local socio-territorial systems. The Tepilora Natural Regional Park (TNRP) in Sardinia offers an example of this phenomenon. This paper highlights the significance of the TNRP in balancing conservation needs with the sustainable development of local populations – an effort that resulted in the establishment of the Tepilora, Rio Posada and Montalbo Biosphere Reserve.
Keywords:
Domenico Branca - Andreas Haller - Marianna Mossa
Page 28 - 34 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s28
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EuroMAB Conference 2022: “Tying cultures. Crossborder cooperation between societies and generations”, Salzburger Lungau und Kärntner Nockberge Biosphere Reserve, Bad Kleinkirchheim, 12–16 September 2022
From September 12 to 16, 2022, the 13th EuroMAB meeting took place in Bad Kleinkirchheim in the Carinthian part of the Salzburg Lungau and Carinthian Nockberge Biosphere Park in Austria. This conference of the UNESCO-EuroMAB regional network, originally planned for 2021 but postponed due to the covid pandemic, was attended by about 150 delegates from 27 countries.
Keywords:
Günter Köck - Heinz Mayer
Page 35 - 39 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s35
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Protected Areas in the Middle Styrian Enns Valley – From the past to the future
Rare habitats and animal and plant species in the Middle Styrian Enns Valley are protected in sites belonging to the EU-wide Natura 2000 network. The area at the foot of Mount Grimming has changed considerably over the centuries. For a favourable conservation status of the protected habitats and species to be achieved, consistent measures are required. The Rekult Iris project shows how agriculture and nature conservation can work together to create multifunctional areas, for agriculture, local recreation, education and research, through collaboration between regional services, practitioners, and educational and other bodies.
Keywords:
Renate Mayer
Page 40 - 46 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s40
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Small mammal Fauna in the Swiss National Park – developments over the last 100 years
When the Swiss National Park was founded, taking stock of the fauna and flora was a major goal. Various efforts were made to investigate insectivores and rodents, but little was published about the findings. In this article I will analyse the existing data in terms of how the small mammal fauna has developed over the last 100 years. The data reveal that species that are rare today were rare then and the common ones were quite numerous then too. The protection status has meant that former pasturing animals, mainly sheep, were replaced by wild animals like the red deer, so that the environment of the small mammals in this distinctly dry area has changed little.
Keywords:
Jürg Paul Müller
Page 47 - 50 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s47
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Status, threats and the conservation of endemic species in the Yarlung Zangbo river basin
The Yarlung Zangbo river extends through the southern area of the Tibet Plateau at the highest elevation of any large river in the world. It supports many unique and endemic species, but global warming, proposed and existing hydropower developments, and the invasion of non-native species are significant threats to its native aquatic biodiversity. Some endemic species, including fishes (Glyptosternum maculatum, Schizothorax oconnori, Schizothorax macropogon, Schizophygopsis younghusbandi, Ptychobarbus dipogon and Oxygymnocypris stewartii), water birds (Grus nigricollis and Haliaeetus albicilla) and mammals (Lutra lutra), have experienced great ecological and physical challenges. To ensure a sustainable development pathway, some specific conservation measures should be undertaken, including the establishment of natural reserves in sensitive areas, and more research and ecological monitoring. This study is a significant reference and example for managers developing strategies to conserve aquatic biodiversity in large, highaltitude river basins within mountainous settings.
Keywords:
Wen Xiong - Zhigang Wu - Hui Wang - Jianjian Cai - Peter A. Bowler
Page 51 - 54 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s51
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News
Page 55 - 55 | doi: https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-2s55
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Edition:
978-3-7001-9441-5, eJournal, PDF, limited accessibility , 14.06.2023
Pages:
55 Pages
Language:
English
DOI (Link to Online Edition):