A Model for Cooperation and Management

against Abandonment of an Alpine Pasture

Albin Blaschka, Thomas Guggenberger, Petra Haslgrübler Reinhard Huber, Ferdinand Ringdorfer

AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Austria

A cultural landscape is the product of human

use of natural resources to make a living.

Changes in land use alter character and

perception of the environment as a cultural

landscape.

Landscape … Land use

Multifunctionality Multifunctionality is the basis for the perception of a

cultural landscape. There is a deep connection

between land use, agriculture and landscape

The Project Innovative High-Pasture Management with Sheep for a Sustainable Land-Use of an Alpine Cultural Landscape

Styrian Sheep and Goat Breeding Association - LEADER+ project AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, National Research Project

An economically viable landscape management,

combining ecological restoration of alpine pastures,

traditional agricultural practises and needs of

tourism, helping to restore and preserve an alpine

cultural landscape.

Project Aim

Study area Austria, Styria, Town: Haus im Ennstal,

Hauser Kaibling Mountain

• ca. 110km SE of Salzburg,

• Size: 11,3 km², Altitude: 1300 – 2150 msm

• Pasturing area

– 253 ha, ski runs, rough pastures, sub-alpine heaths (high pasture)

Methods & Implementation Agricultural – Agronomy

Standards and marketing of a Premium Product “High Pasture Lamb“

Participatory approach

Stakeholder involvement: Users of the area: e.g. Skiing company, hunters

Landscape level / Management

Manage pastures/habitats Multifunctional use – Ecosystem services Restoration/Preservation of a cultural landscape

Restoration Restoration targets are reached through selection

of areas and duration of stay on specific patches,

leading to a trade-off between nutritional status and

restoration targets: Targeted Pasturing

Mission accomplished?

• Landowners: Preservation, management and

restoration of their land

• Skiing company: Cost-reduction with

management of the ski runs;

Marketing as an environmental friendly company

• Tourism (summer): New attraction - “Sheep

Hiking Trail” (watching sheep, contact with

shepherd, information about alpine landscape)

• Gastronomy: New regional products as a unique

selling point, with and a “sweet story” behind

It‘s a Socio-Ecological System Management of a Cultural Landscape needs a multifunctional/multiscale approach

– Restoration of habitats?

– Restoration of ecological processes?

– Restoration of landscapes?

– Restoration of socio-ecological processes?

– Restoration of land use patterns!

• A question of concepts:

– Ecosystem goods and services

– Adaptive Management

Picture Credit: Schäfermeister Martin Winz (Halle/Saale, Germany)

Conclusion Within the project, it was possible to create a system consisting of agriculture, tourism and ecology, fulfilling requirements of all stakeholders, because everybody involved identified himself with the project and its aims and was willing to contribute, but also to make compromises.