Swiss Alps
The wind of change is blowing in the Swiss and Austrian Alps! The refreshing breeze was induced by the Memorandum of Understanding on ‘Research collaboration in the Alps’ that has been signed by the Swiss State Secretary for Education and Research and the Austrian Minister for Science and Research in Fall 2011. Lets capitalize on the concentrated forces and embrace...
The Alps offer some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe - and some of the finest hiking opportunities, from the shadow of the Matterhorn to the idyllic vineyard country of Kahlenberg, Austria. Here is the first complete guide to outdoor recreation opportunities in all the Alpine countries, outlining 43 of the...
This issue of cc.alps-compact presents an overview of spatial planning-related measures in the Alps to ameliorate the effects of climate change and promote adjustments to it. The second chapter explains CIPRA‘s key concerns: If spatial planning is to play a key role in climate protection, a number of things have to change, because in the case of conflicts of goals regarding the interests...
Mountainous soil erosion processes were investigated in the Urseren Valley (Central Switzerland) by means of measurements and simulations. The quantification of soil erosion was performed on hill slope scale (2·20 m) for three different land use types: hayfields, pastures with dwarf shrubs and pastures without dwarf shrubs with three replicates each. Erosion...
Tourism is a business. Despite attractive brochures that advertise international understanding and exchange between local people and tourists, tourism is clearly a business proposition for those who supply tourist services and those who market these services world-wide. It is also clear that tourists themselves are more interested in relaxation, a change of scenery, and their own enjoyment...
The future of Swiss alpine winter tourism must be reassessed in view of global climate change in order to determine possible strategies for overall development of mountain regions. At present, 85% of all Swiss ski areas still have sufficient snow cover. A 300-m rise of the snow line, however, would reduce this to about 63%. As a consequence, skiers will expect more artificial snow, go on...
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...
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...
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...
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