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Perspectives on knowledge and management integration: from plant ecology
Georg Grahberr |
In a global perspective the mountains of the world
extend over a wide range of climatic zones, from the
tropics to the polar region. All are biodiversity
hotspots compared to the surrounding lowlands.
Ecological heterogeneity is the reason for the general
high diversity of mountain regions that of plant
diversity in particular. It is this heterogeneity which
makes mountains a true challenge for management.
Humans have settled in many mountain regions for very
different reasons impacting the mountain environments in
various ways. However, compared to the forelands, and
surrounding lowlands, the interior of mountain regions
are generally sparsely settled and sometimes the last
remaining wilderness areas. Even in the Alps, the most
heavily affected mountain region in the world, remote
ranges with little human impact are scattered
throughout. The true challenge for conservation today is
to maintain wilderness and to maintain, or restore,
their remoteness.
On the other hand, diversification of the landscape has
been an attractive byproduct of mountain farming in many
mountain regions of the world, increasing biodiversity
as well as cultural diversity. Its maintenance depends
on the opportunitiesto improve living standards.
Mountain people are not different from many others, and
they do not necessarily think in terms of
sustainability. However, early integrative research such
as the MAB-project Obergurgl in the Tyrolean Alps has
shown that stakeholder-oriented research can provide
accepted - and environmentally friendly - visions and
guidelines, though no perfect solutions. |
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