Almost all protected areas nowadays rely on the sound support of the local population. More than for every other type of nature reserve, this might be the case for UNESCO biosphere reserves. A participatory and transparent approach that takes into consideration the views of all stakeholders involved is crucial for the successful progress of the project. In 2007 we interviewed 191 residents and 178 visiting tourists in the Val Müstair (Canton of Grisons, Switzerland) with standardized questionnaires to analyse acceptance of the – at that time – proposed biosphere reserve (BR). Both groups perceived the landscape of the study region similarly but had different demands regarding the BR. While tourists had a rather emotional approach, residents clearly had more hopes for economic benefits generated through the project. However, the way the residents intend to attain these benefits fits in well with the ideas of sustainable tourism promoted by BRs. Therefore we consider this gap to be easily bridged, with both groups agreeing on a successful regional marketing for the Val Müstair BR – Swiss National Park in the future.

Schlagworte: acceptance perception attitude, protected areas, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Va Müstair, Swiss National Park, residents, tourists

The rapidity at which global landscapes are being transformed by environmental change has revived the importance of biological monitoring. Protected areas harbour some of the most biodiverse assemblages on the planet, typically show the least historical impacts from humans and likely represent areas showing natural patterns, process dynamics and fluctuations that can be compared with areas more directly impacted by humans, especially as the human population grows. This paper provides examples of different biomonitoring programmes in three protected areas in Switzerland, ranging from a large experimental flow program and recent land annex in the Swiss National Park, to a historical analysis of a designated floodplain of national importance. The data (1999 – present) from the experimental flood study have documented substantial changes in biota that have occurred 7–10 years after the initial flood results as the system enters new ecological states. Monitoring of the land annex in the national park since 2000 has allowed documentation of temporal shifts in physico-chemistry and diatoms that were related to environmental changes in Alpine landscapes. The analysis of historical photo’s of the protected floodplain showed the effects of earlier impacts on floodplain structure and function that are evident today. The results demonstrate the kinds of data that can be generated from biomonitoring programmes with different objectives and goals and how these data can be used to understand eco-evolutionary and ecosystem processes better in the face of rapid landscape transformation.

Schlagworte: bioassessment, Swiss National Park, macroinvertebrates diatoms stream

Outdoor activities may have serious consequences for wildlife species that are sensitive to human disturbance. The pressure of outdoor activities on natural landscapes has increased dramatically in recent decades. However, we generally lack information on the spatial and temporal patterns of outdoor activities – a fact that makes it difficult to quantify the impact on wildlife and thus to implement and justify measures to constrain outdoor activities. In the winter seasons 2008 / 2009 and 2009 / 2010, we equipped 303 recreationists in the Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve, eastern Swiss Alps, with GPS loggers to record their spatial and temporal pattern of landscape use. We then analysed how the resulting pattern of spatial use overlapped with the habitat of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, an endangered woodland grouse species that is highly sensitive to disturbance. For our study we used the official capercaillie core winter habitats observed by the game wardens of the Canton Grisons. The recorded 319 trips of 188 backcountry skiers and snowboarders and 231 trips of 115 snowshoers combined show an inhomogeneous use of subareas in the region. With one exception, the trips are located in the main valley and the adjoining southern and northern slopes and peaks. The trips of snowshoers result in a dispersed use pattern across the main valley, while the trips of the backcountry skiers and snowboarders are concentrated more on official and popular routes. Rarely did recreationists trespass official wildlife sanctuaries or cross capercaillie habitat patches. However, one official, very popular backcountry skiing route crosses one of the largest capercaillie habitats. Here the recorded trips show wide-ranging spatial use with many connectors to the main route. As a consequence, this capercaillie habitat patch is dissected into smaller undisturbed patches. GPS logging in combination with camera trap data provides detailed information on the spatio-temporal land-use pattern of outdoor activities. Based on these data, we identified a conflict of interest in the Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve that has to be resolved by management in a joint participatory process with the main stakeholders. Our methods and results could be transferred to other Alpine regions and be used for any land cover types. In this way we hope to contribute to mitigating conflicts between human outdoor activities and wildlife populations.

Schlagworte: GPS-logging, backcountry-skiing, snowshoeing, Tetrao-urogallus, wildlife management, visitor management, recreation ecology, human wildlife conflict, Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve

The UNESCO listing as World Heritage Site confirms the outstanding qualities of the high-mountain region around the Great Aletsch Glacier. The region of the World Heritage Site now faces the responsibility to make these qualities visible and to preserve them for future generations. Consequently the qualities of the site must not be regarded in isolation but in the context of the entire region with its dynamics and developments. Regional monitoring is the observation and evaluation of temporal changes in target variables. It is thus an obligation towards UNESCO, who demands regular reports about the state of the listed World Heritage assets. It also allows statements about sustainable regional development and can be the basis for early recognition of threats to the outstanding qualities. Monitoring programmes face three major challenges: first, great care must be taken in defining the target qualities to be monitored or the monitoring would remain vague. Secondly, the selection of ideal indicators to describe these qualities is impeded by inadequate data quality and availability, compromises are inevitable. Thirdly, there is always an element of insecurity in the interpretation of the results as to what influences and determines the changes in the target qualities. The first survey of the monitoring programme confirmed the exceptional qualities of the region and also highlighted problematic issues.

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Cinturón Andino is the largest biosphere reserve of Colombia, located in the southernmost region of the state, the so-called Macizo Colombiano. For years threatened by guerilla activities and internal conflicts between indígenas and campesinos, the farmers have now initiated new attempts to adapt to climate change, to implement organic farming in order to secure the water quality and supply for the large cities in the vicinity of the park, to improve their livelihood and to strengthen the social and human capital. This article describes the chosen path to sustainability and provides suggestions for the adaptation of the park to the UNESCO Seville Strategy for biosphere reserves.

Schlagworte: Biosphere Reserve, Seville Strategy, climate change adaptation, organic farming, Colombia

Communication for projects about protected areas is essentially the same as for other research projects. Unfortunately that means that social media are not often used. But they can add value to communication about protected areas as social media are very suitable for engaging stakeholders and for seeking their contribution. This could take the form of, for instance, creating a Facebook group about sustainable transport or asking for best practices of sustainable tourism via Twitter. This article is to give you an idea of what you can post where and to point out a few things to keep in mind when starting on social media. It is meant to lower the threshold and get you started. You will also find a few examples of protected areas that do use social media.

Schlagworte: Social Media, Twitter, Facebook, science communication

Our paper starts by sketching the historical and cultural background as well as characteristic features of the landscape around the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympics. It continues by pointing out spatial aspects of ecology, economy, demography and culture in the run-up to the olympics as well as the social tensions that have already emerged in this context and the potential for future conflict. Greater Sochi has a tradition as a spa and holiday destination that goes back to the foundation of the Soviet Union. The Olympic Games add the winter season to the existing tourist spectrum. At the same time, they provide the Moscow government with an opportunity for a new international positioning. A key problem is the exclusion of the local population from the preparations. This is most apparent in the resettlement of inhabitants from Imeritinska Bay (Olympic Village). Moreover, the games are held inside a national park area, albeit in a zone that permits leisure activities. The games will, however, stay largely clear of the territory of the biosphere reserve and at most affect it at the edges.

Schlagworte: XXIIth Winter Olympics, Russia, Caucasus, Sochi

With the growing demand for renewable energy, the conflict potential between energy production from renewable sources and maintaining protection targets is likely to increase. The study “Energy production from renewable sources in Alpine protected areas” examined the situation in Alpine parks today and the need for action from the viewpoint of park managements. Based on interviews with 21 Alpine protected areas in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, the study shows the conflicts and the conflict potential as well as possible strategies. The interviews revealed that there is no remedy that applies to all parks. The need for action varies depending on the potential for conflict. Thus only some of the parks would prefer stricter rules, and energy targets or concepts are judged differently. Regardless of the path that a park chooses to follow, it will be unavoidable to deal with the issue. The study was devised by the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAS) with the support of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC) and was funded by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The report “Energy production from renewable sources in Alpine protected areas” has recently been published and can be downloaded on the internet. The following article summarizes the most important findings.

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Urban forests fulfil various functions, among them the restoration process and aesthetical needs of urban residents. This article reflects the attitudes towards different managed forests on the one hand and their influence on psychological well-being on the other. Results of empirical approaches from both fields show some inconsistency, suggesting that people have a more positive attitude towards wild forest areas, while the effect on well-being is more positive after a walk in tended forest areas. A discussion follows on the link between perception and the effect of urban forests. An outlook on necessary research reveals the need for longitudinal research. The article concludes by showing management implications.

Schlagworte: urban forest management, well-being attitude, wilderness

Reference: Lupp, G., F. Höchtl & W. Wende 2011. ‘Wilderness’ – A designation for central Europeanlandscapes? Land Use Policy 28: 594–603. Reference: Schindler, S., N. Curado, S.C. Nikolov, E. Kret., B. Cárcamo, G. Catsadorakis, K.Poirazidis, T. Wrbka & V. Kati 2011. From research to implementation: Nature conservation inthe Eastern Rhodopes mountains (Greece and Bulgaria), European Green Belt. Journal for NatureConservation 19: 193–201. Reference: Bisi, F., M. Nodari, N.M. Dos Santos Oliveira, E. Masseroni, D.G. Preatoni, L.A. Wauters,G. Tosi & A. Martinoli 2011. Space use patterns of mountain hare (Lepus timidus) on the Alps.European Journal of Wildlife Reasearch 57: 305–312. Reference: Gracia, M., N. Meghelli, L. Comas & J. Retana 2010. Land-cover changes in andaround a National Park in a mountain landscape in the Pyrenees. Regional Environmental Change11: 349–358.

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