Alps
Many physical similarities exist between the European Alps and the Southern Alps of New Zealand. This may be the reason why European settlers (re)named Ka Tiritiri o te Moana—the Maori name for the long stretch of alpine country that crosses Te Wahi Pounamu or the South Island from southwest to northeast— the Southern Alps. But both major mountain ranges have very different...
The current status of alien plants in the alpine and sub-alpine areas of the Australian Alps is assessed in this article. The number of alien species has increased following the region's use by non-indigenous Australians over the last 170 years. One hundred and seventy-five alien plant taxa have been recorded above 1500 m in the Australian Alps. These taxa are mainly perennials from Europe,...
The European Alps are among the world's most densely populated mountain regions. To date, towns have played a subordinate role within this area. Due to the marginal position of Alpine towns within national urban systems, they do not constitute an interrelated urban system, and no primary centre exists. The current degree of urbanisation cannot be measured by adding up the population of the...
This paper explores endogenous development as a strategy for Swiss mountain communities. Endogenous development refers to self-determined participatory development based on regional needs and the use of endogenous potentials. Data from two case studies, Urnäsch and Schamserberg, show that endogenous development cannot be detached from its national and global context and that local...
Risk assessment of new technologies such as the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agricultural production is enormously complex. It cannot be limited to analysis only from the perspective of the natural sciences; socio economic factors need to be considered as well. Active promotion of GMO-free areas is discussed here as an alternative means of technological development....
MRD asked Susanne Wymann von Dach, geographer and MRD Assistant Editor, to interview Engelbert Ruoss, a biologist and museologist who is project manager of the Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve (Projekt Biosphärenreservat Entlebuch, Chlosterbüel, 6170 Schüpfheim, Switzerland) and lectures at the Institute for Environmental Research (NLU), University of Basle. The interview was...
In many Western European mountains, ancient irrigation practices have been the basis for sustainable subsistence-based mountain agriculture, especially up to the beginning of the 20th century. These mountain zones have proved popular sites for the development of hydroelectric power (HEP). Few attempts have been made to measure the impact of HEP on traditional indigenous irrigation...
Special difficulties and high costs are frequently incurred when sources of energy such as kerosene or dry-cell batteries are transported to mountain areas. Moreover, use and disposal of these sources of energy pose risks to health and the environment. On the other hand, the use of local, renewable sources of energy such as wind, water, or solar power ensures that mountain communities can...
Hydropower is a renewable source of energy of which ecological benefits include very low average greenhouse gas emissions. As a result of dams, however, more than 20% of all freshwater fish species are now considered threatened or endangered. Such negative ecological impacts are a focus of broad public concern in Alpine regions where hydropower production is most intense. The liberalisation of...
Natural mixed forests of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and silver fir (Abies alba) were widely replaced by spruce-dominated stands in the montane belt of the northern Calcareous Alps in historical times. This accounts for changing forest structure, diversity, and hemeroby. Observations in other parts of Europe suggest that this development should...
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