Closed Projects:
Nachhaltige Suburbanisierung? Entwicklungstrends und Steuerungsmechanismen der Siedlungstätigkeit im Biosphärenpark Wienerwald
Project Management:
Dr. Robert MUSIL, Institute for Urban and Regional Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences
Duration:
2 years (beginning 2006)
Abstract
Sustainable Suburbanisation? Suburban development and instruments of spatial planning in the biosphere reserve Wienerwald
This research project follows the intention of the so-called "Sevilla-Strategy", which understands the "Biosphrenpark Wienerwald" as a model region. Successful strategies aimed at building up a sustainable natural and cultural area are developed and implemented. Most important will be the question of settlement in this area - especially with regard to the tendencies of suburbanisation. The "Wienerwald" is the focus point of different interests. On the one hand, a natural park has been set up to protect the richness of this natural and cultural landscape under the concept of sustainability. On the other hand, the ongoing processes of suburbanisation indicate an increasing pressure on this area with regard to land use and settlement, especially on the "Wiener Becken" (i.e. the areas detached from the core centre). The aim of this project is to estimate the potential of settlement by determining development areas, as well as judge the local strategies with regard to their effectiveness and impact. In other words: which measures, under which conditions, allow for a sustainable development of settlement (following the principles of the declaration of the Wienerwald, which lie down compact built-up areas and moderate population growth)? According to the principle of a "learning" region, the outcome should not exclusively be a scientific one. The results should be presented to the decision-makers in the municipalities/communities as well as to the public.
Contact:
Dr. Robert Musil
Institute for Urban and Regional Research
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Postgasse 7/4/2, 1010 Vienna
T +43 1 51581-3524
F +43 1 51581-3533
robert.musil@oeaw.ac.at
Monitoring of environmental pollutants (NOx and SO2, deposition of heavy metals and PAH´s) by bryophytes in the "Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald"
Project Management:
Dr. Harald G. ZECHMEISTER, Zechmeister & Zechmeister-Boltenstern OEG
Duration:
2 years (beginning 2005)
Abstract
Monitoring of environmental pollutants by bryophytes in the Biosphere Reserve "Wienerwald"
Recording the biodiversity of epiphytic bryophytes in the Biosphere Reserve "Wienerwald6#34; and the evaluation of the vitality of selected species by internationally acknowledged methods (line method according the IM-Programme; IAP-method), clear statements can be made on the current environmental condition. Chemical analyses of moss samples for 14 heavy metals and 16 PAH´s will give information on the load with air pollutants and therefore ecosystem health. Furthermore, this work can serve as a basis for long-term monitoring programs observing global change and will be linked clearly in method and content to several international programmes (e.g. UN-ECE CLRTAP Integrated Monitoring; UN-ECE ICP-Vegetation; EU-FP6 NoE ALTER).
The aimed work is a multilayered concept which will combine the assessed data in several steps to an overall framework giving information on the biodiversity status and the ecosystem health of the Biosphere Reserve "Wienerwald".
Online project report
Contact:
Dr. Harald G. Zechmeister
Zechmeister & Zechmeister-Boltenstern OEG
Fleschgasse 22, 1130 Vienna
T +43 1 8792994
F +43 1 8792994
Harald.Zechmeister@univie.ac.at
Installation of GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) summit sites in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Harald PAULI, Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation- and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments;
www.gloria.ac.at
) is a long-term observation network to assess the effects of climate change on alpine vegetation and biodiversity. Currently, the existing European network of alpine summit sites is extending to the world-wide level, e.g., in New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. In North America, the network is rapidly expanding.
This project focuses on South America and Asia, where the establishment of observation sites is expectedly more difficult but indispensable for a global network. By a co-operation with the UNESCO, the setup of GLORIA sites in MaB Biosphere Reserves (in Chile, Peru, and the Siberian part of the Altai) is in progress. Moreover, the GLORIA network will be established in China (Yunnan and Sichuan) in 2005 and 2006.
This project is co-financed by UNESCO-MaB (Paris) and by the Austrian Federal Agricultural Ministry (BMLFUW). In Sichuan, the Chinese Academy of Sciences can take full responsibility for the site setup, whereas in Yunnan, establishing is underway by a co-operation among US-organizations (Missouri Botanical Garden; The Nature Conservancy) and Yunnanese institutions.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Harald Pauli
Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation- and Landscape Ecology
University of Vienna
Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna
T +43 1 4277-54383
F +43 1 4277-9542
harald.pauli@univie.ac.at
Design and support for the Austrian Biosphere reserve website
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Karl REITER, Institute of Ecology and Conservation Biology, University of Vienna
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
The aim of the project is the design and the support of a website for Austrian biosphere reserves. The webpage provides portraits of all Austrian biosphere reserves as well as information about ongoing activities in the biosphere reserves.
Link:
www.biosphaerenparks.at
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Karl Reiter
Institute of Ecology and Conservation Biology
University of Vienna
Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna
Karl.Reiter@univie.ac.at
Grazing effects in the alpine environment of the Biosphere Reserve Gurgler Kamm: a long-term monitoring project in alpine grasslands and bogs
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Brigitta ERSCHBAMER, Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
In the Biosphere Reserve Gurgler Kamm grazing took place since the neolithic period and also today thousands of sheep and an increasing number of horses are grazing in the inner Oetz Valley every summer. The effects of the grazing will be analysed in a long-term study evaluating effects on species diversity and biomass production. The basic project runs since 2000 along an altitudinal gradient from 1950 to 2650 m a.s.l. within 10 exclosures on the sites Obergurgl, Schönwieskopf, and Hohe Mut. The monitoring of the exclosure and control plots will be continued. A new monitoring was started at the Rotmoos bog in 2005 with three additional exclosures. The project has pilot character in the Alps because in the alpine belt hardly any exclosure experiments have been carried out.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Brigitta Erschbamer
Institute of Botany
University of Innsbruck
Sternwartestr. 15, 6020 Innsbruck
T +43 512 507-5954
F +43 512 507-2715
Brigitta.Erschbamer@uibk.ac.at
Trampling effects and seedling recruitment in grazed areas of the BR Gurgler Kamm
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Brigitta ERSCHBAMER, Institute of Botany, University of Innsbruck
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2006)
Abstract
In the Biosphere Reserve Gurgler Kamm (Obergurgl, tztal, Tyrol) sheep, goat and horse grazing increased during the last decades. Therefore, a long-term monitoring programme was started in summer 2000 to check the effects on subalpine and alpine vegetation along an altitudinal gradient from 1950m to 2650 m a.s.l. Exclosure and grazed control plots of 1m² are compared. In 2005, three new research areas were installed in an alpine bog at 2300 m a.s.l. Different intensities of horse trampling were simulated and a sowing experiment was started in the bog and in the alpine grassland using a multi-factorial design. The experiment should clarify the following questions: (1) the effects of trampling intensity (i.e. creation of microsites) on diversity and seedling recruitment, (2) the effects of seed sowing, (3) the effects of microsites x sowing.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Brigitta Erschbamer
Institute of Botany
University of Innsbruck
Sternwartestr. 15, 6020 Innsbruck
T +43 512 507-5954
F +43 512 507-2715
Brigitta.Erschbamer@uibk.ac.at
Future Development Strategies for the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal - A Regional Economic and Perceptional Analysis
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Martin COY, Department of Geography, University of Innsbruck; Prof. Dr. Norbert WEIXLBAUMER, Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
According to the Sevilla strategy biosphere reserves have to fulfil a development function in order to guarantee regional sustainability. Consequently, the design of future development strategies for a Biosphere Reserve (BR) has to be based on regional economic and perceptional analyses. The fifth anniversary of the BR Großes Walsertal takes place in November 2005. Therefore, it is a convenient time to analyse, on the one hand, the acceptance of the BR idea among regional stakeholders, the local population, visitors etc., and on the other hand, to investigate the first regional economic effects of concrete projects which were initiated within the framework of the BR Großes Walsertal in order to develop the regional economy in an adequate and sustainable way.
The study focuses mainly on the concrete development projects of the BR Großes Walsertal with respect to their strategy, implementation and regional stakeholder-acceptance as well as regarding their contribution to a regional sustainable development. Furthermore, the image of the park, the qualities of the social construct BR, which are manifest in the population, are to be examined.
The methods to be applied in the project come mainly from empirical social and economic research (e.g. expert interviews, surveys, mappings) and perceptional research (e.g. association techniques, semantic differentials, mental maps etc.).
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Coy
Department of Geography
University of Innsbruck
Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck
T +43 512 507-5420
F +43 512 507-2895
Martin.Coy@uibk.ac.at
Prof. Dr. Norbert Weixlbaumer
Department of Geography and Regional Research
University of Vienna
Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Vienna
T +43 1 4277-48624
F +43 1 4277-9486
norbert.weixlbaumer@univie.ac.at
Introducing Social Science into Biosphere Reserve Integrated Assessment (BRIA): Conceptual Framework and Indicators
Project Management:
Dr. Simron Jit SINGH, Institute for Social Ecology, University of Klagenfurt
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Contact:
Dr. Simron Jit Singh
Institute for Social Ecology
University of Klagenfurt
Schottenfeldgasse 29/5, 1070 Vienna
simron.singh@uni-klu.ac.at
Research and Monitoring Concept Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal
Project Management:
Mag. Birgit REUTZ-HORNSTEINER, Biosphärenparkmanagement Großes Walsertal; Mag. Michael JUNGMEIER, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology Jungmeier GmbH
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
In the previous study "Austrian Biosphere Reserves - basic investigations and status quo of research" an urgent need with respect to different MAB-research issues in Austrian Biosphere Reserves has emerged. Research in the BR Großes Walsertal and the BR Wienerwald is due to its young history currently inexistent. But it is a matter of fact, that there is a well structured concept necessary above all in the present phase, in order to have an adequate frame in which co-ordinated research and monitoring can proceed. The two studies thus aim for the elaboration of an individual Research and Monitoring Concept taking into account both scientific driven and public driven requirements.
As the preconditions for such a challenge are very different (the two sites vary in most relevant aspects), the projects have similar methodologies but are adapted to the special regional requirements. One of the advantages we educe is the evolution of two models showing the different paths two very opposed Austrian Biosphere Reserves can strike and subsequently the range in which such a process can take place.
Online project report
Contact:
Mag. Birgit Reutz-Hornsteiner
Biosphärenparkmanagement Großes Walsertal
Jagdbergstr. 272, 6721 Thüringerberg
T +43 5550 20360
F +43 5550 24174
reutz@grosseswalsertal.at
Mag. Michael Jungmeier
E.C.O. Institute of Ecology Jungmeier GmbH
Kinopl. 6, 9020 Klagenfurt
T +43 463 504144-0
F +43 463 504144-4
jungmeier@e-c-o.at
Research and Monitoring Concept Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald
Project Management:
Mag. Günther LOISKANDL, Biosphärenpark Wienerwald Management; Mag. Michael JUNGMEIER, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology Jungmeier GmbH
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
In the previous study "Austrian Biosphere Reserves - basic investigations and status quo of research" an urgent need with respect to different MAB-research issues in Austrian Biosphere Reserves has emerged. Research in the BR Wienerwald and the BR Großes Walsertal is due to its young history currently inexistent. But it is a matter of fact, that there is a well structured concept necessary above all in the present phase, in order to have an adequate frame in which co-ordinated research and monitoring can proceed. The two studies thus aim for the elaboration of an individual Research and Monitoring Concept taking into account both scientific driven and public driven requirements.
As the preconditions for such a challenge are very different (the two sites vary in most relevant aspects), the projects have similar methodologies but are adapted to the special regional requirements. One of the advantages we educe is the evolution of two models showing the different paths two very opposed Austrian Biosphere Reserves can strike and subsequently the range in which such a process can take place.
Online project report
Contact:
Mag. Günther Loiskandl
Biosphärenpark Wienerwald Management
Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg
T +43 2236 71225-15
F +43 2236 72730
gl@biosphaerenpark-wienerwald.org
Mag. Michael Jungmeier
E.C.O. Institute of Ecology Jungmeier GmbH
Kinopl. 6, 9020 Klagenfurt
T +43 463 504144-0
F +43 463 504144-4
jungmeier@e-c-o.at
Kriterienkatalog zur Bewertung von Biosphärenpark-Neuanträgen und zur Evaluierung der effektiven Umsetzung der Internationalen UNESCO-Richtlinien für Biosphärenparks
Project Management:
Prof. Dr. Axel BORSDORF, Department of Geography, University of Innsbruck
Duration:
1 year (beginning 2005)
Abstract
Within the scope of the project specific criteria will be elaborated for the evaluation of the existing biosphere reserves as well as for the decision on new proposals for biosphere reserves in Austria. Basing on the Seville Strategy, the criteria will correspond to the specific geographical, social-economic and environmental conditions in Austria. During an interdisciplinary workshop international experts of policy, science and protected areas will discuss on adequate criteria with the goal to establish principles that strictly has to be fulfilled by each biosphere reserve and actions that are only recommended for Austrian MAB-regions.
As a tool for the members of the MAB Committee, the criteria will facilitate the decision on the nomination of new biosphere reserves and support the development of existing reserves. This is quite important as at the moment Austria faces a biosphere reserve boom: While many regions are interested in becoming a new member of the UNECSO network, the biosphere reserves of the "old generation" are facing the problem how to fulfil the modern UNESCO standards valid since the Seville Strategy in 1995.
Online project report
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Axel Borsdorf
Department of Geography
University of Innsbruck
Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck
T +43 512 507-4940, 4901, 5400
Axel.Borsdorf@uibk.ac.at
