Landscape changes in the history of the Austrian Alpine Regions: ecological development and the perception of human responsibility.

Abstract

Forest grazing and litter harvesting are examples of close interrelationships between arable land, pastures and forests, tracing back to the first colonization of the mountainous regions. Vegetable manure had a high value for the farmer whose economy was based mainly on stock breeding, and it was as indispensable for the existence of the farm as fuel wood. However, unrestricted practice could not only greatly damage mountain forests but even endanger their existence. This chapter deals with the measures taken by local populations in order to secure the available natural resources on a long term basis, for the benefit of subsequent generations. In particular, the results of measures aimed at sustainable management have been reviewed and the impact of agroforestry on the preservation of soil fertility, the health of forest stands and the distribution of tree species has been investigated.

Using Oral History and Forest Management Plans to Reconstruct Traditional Non-Timber Forest Uses in the Swiss Rhone Valley (Valais) Since the Late Nineteenth Century

“…66 Reuter 1920, 40. 67 Glatzel 199067 Glatzel , 1991Johann 2000Johann , 2004aJohann , 2004bBürgi 1999a;Bürgi 2001, 2002;Bruckbauer 2003;Waldmeier-Brockmann 1941. 68 Bürgi 1999a, 573.…”

Traditional forest management under the influence of science and industry: The story of the alpine cultural landscapes

“…Previous studies have documented land use changes and their effects on vegetation patterns. (Johann, 2004b;Johann et al, 2004). When comparing the history of human impacts on woodland and landscape, several driving forces have to be taken into account and discussed.…”

Weather and human impacts on forest fires: 100 years of fire history in two climatic regions of Switzerland

“…Thus, an investigation of the fire regimes in Ticino and Valais should be particularly interesting given the changing climate and changes in land-use practices. As in many other parts of the European Alps, Valais and Ticino have both experienced noticeable increases in temperature and frequency of drought periods as well as major changes in the socio-economy and land cover/use, which are likely to become more pronounced in the future (Rebetez, 1999;Mather and Fairbairn, 2000;Zierl, 2003;Bader and Bantle, 2004;Johann, 2004;Rebetez and Dobbertin, 2004;Reinhard et al, 2005;Gellrich, 2006). Moreover, it has been forecast that there will be substantial changes in the fire regime in the European Alps with the projected future climate (Schumacher and Bugmann, 2006).…”