Mountain pasture management in the Sölktäler Nature Park

15.07.2015

  • SUBMITTED ORGANISATION :

  • University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), in collaboration with the Sölktäler Nature Park

  • DATE OF SUBMISSION :

  • 15/07/2015

  • REGION :

  • Western Europe

  • COUNTRY :

  • Austria (Styria)

  • SUMMARY :

  • In Austria, being a very mountainous country, central elements of the cultural landscape (= SEPLs) are mountain meadows and pastures. They not only have a very rich biodiversity, with a large number of (endangered) species and diverse habitats, but are also important sites of agricultural production, tourism, culture, tradition, knowledge, and sustainable land use. For both locals and tourists, mountain pastures represent Heimat (identity, homeland), comparable to the Japanese satoyama. Due to socio-economic reasons, however there is a general trend of abandoning the extensive use of high mountain pastures, which then develop into forest land. In the Sölktäler Nature Park (two trough valleys in the Niederen Tauern/Styria), mountain pasture farming is still practised in a traditional way. Once the food of poor people, the strong smelling Styrian cheese (produced during the summer on the mountain pastures) is nowadays a culinary standard-bearer and a delicacy renowned countrywide. The management body of the Nature Park promotes public relations to strengthen public awareness of the relevance of mountain farming for the conservation of bio-cultural diversity and mountain pasture landscapes, and supports sustainable tourism, local mountain pasture products, re-valorisation of old customs, traditional knowledge and trading routes, organizing training courses (e.g. to hand on mountain farmers´ traditional knowledge and skills), volunteers´ activities for nature conservation, botanical/faunistic excursions and lectures and related scientific research.

  • KEYWORD

  • Almwirtschaft (mountain pasture management); Alps; Austria; mountain farming; Sölktäler Nature Park; sustainable land use; Styria.

  • AUTHOR：

  • Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Pia Regina Kieninger studied Landscape Planning and Landscape Protection at the BOKU and completed her PhD on rural development in Japanese rice-terrace landscape. Expertise: rural development; transformation processes in rural areas; landscape governance; environmental management; overaged societies; socio-ecological production landscapes (satoyama); bio-cultural diversity; visual anthropology. Ao.Univ. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Marianne Penker is associate professor and deputy head of the Institute for Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, BOKU. Expertise: regional development; implementation research; property rights; regional governance; landscape governance; institutional analysis; collective action; local food systems; geographical indications. Dipl.-Ing. Volkhard Maier, studied Forestry at the BOKU. Since 2009 he has been manager of the Sölktäler Nature Park. He develops and manages projects in the fields of regional development, nature conservation, education and tourism.

  • LINK：

  • Nature Park Soelktaeler in the Steiermark,　University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Austria is a country of mountains. Around 70% of its federal territory, more than 50% of its total agriculturally utilised land (BMLFUW 2014A) and 38.4% of the agricultural holdings (STATISTIK AUSTRIA 2012) are located in mountainous areas. Mountain farming therefore is highly relevant from an economic, social, ecological and cultural point of view.

Central elements of the Austrian cultural landscape (SEPLs) are mountain meadows and pastures.

The European Alps (with a 1,200 km west-east expanse from Nice in France to Vienna in Austria) are one of the largest and highest mountain chains of the world and listed by the WWF among the 200 most important ecological regions worldwide with high relevance for the conservation of biodiversity (WWF 2005). Mountain pasture management Almwirtschaft) is therefore supported by diverse activities from the state and civil society.

After the Ice Ages, the influence of big mammalian herbivores prevented the forest from spreading out area-wide (see HOLZNER 2007B & C; MANDL 2002). For about 4,000 years,humans have used these “natural” pastures to graze their domestic animals and thus enlarged grassland areas and repressed both, wild big herbivores, as e.g. the wisent, and the forest (IBID.). Without the human influence, today’s timberline would be actually much higher (= potential timberline) (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Mountain zones and the potential timberline in the Sölktäler Nature Park (©Wolfgang Holzner).

Mountain pastures lie above the permanent human settlements. According to their altitude above sea level, they are divided into Niederalmen, Mittelalmen and Hochalmen. Depending on the area, Niederalmen (lower pastures) are at an altitude of 900 – 1,400 m, Mittelalmen (middle pastures) located just below or in the range of the actual timberline) between 1,400 – 1,700 m and Hochalmen (high mountain pastures) starting from 1,700 m (WALLNER ET AL. 2007). The high mountain pastures are also located above the potential timberline (in the alpine zone) – however only under very favourable conditions (HOLZNER 2007B). Therefore, Mittelalmen and most of the Hochalmen are located at an altitude which is favourable for tree growth and will transform to forests without human interventions, such as grazing, mowing, or removal of shrubs and trees.

Farmers bring their livestock in May/June (when the snow has already melted there, but not yet in the higher mountain regions) to the lower and middle pastures, later than to the high pastures, where they – sometimes with parts of or all members of the farm family – spend the summer. In autumn, before returning home, the same migration occurs downwards again. This semi-nomadic way of management reduces the intensity of grassland use on the farmsteads down the valleys and enlarges the available grazing area.

Some of the alpine farm land is also used as alpine meadows (Bergmähder). Due to their steepness, they are often not suitable for grazing, but mown by hand. Bergmähder support the important production of winter fodder (hay), which is predominantly produced on meadows down the valleys. Due to farm abandonment and specialisation on grassland management (much arable land in mountain areas was transformed to permanent grassland), nowadays abundant grassland (for hay, silage and grazing) is available in the valley floor. Therefore, not only the alpine meadows, but also the mountain pastures have lost their economic importance.

23 % of the pastures in Austria are Niederalmen, the majority (50 %) Mittelalmen and 27 % (BUNDESANSTALT FÜR BERGBAUERNFRAGEN 2010). The extent of mountain pastures has been changing through history, with a zenith in the Late Middle Ages (14th to 15th century) (MANDL 1 2002). Due to socio-economic transformation processes, however, we can observe an accelerated decline, abandonment and reforestation of the pastures in the last decades (e.g. KIENINGER ET AL. 2011; MANDL 2002; ALMSTATISTIK 2009).

Why are mountain pasture regions perceived as important?

Mountain pastures have a very rich biodiversity with a high number of species and of different (micro-) habitats. The pastures in the subalpine zone (Mittelalmen and Hochalmen) are of particular ecological relevance (HOLZNER 2007B). As “high altitude steppes”, they represent refuges, where Ice Age relicts, e.g. the edelweiss (see Figure 2), ptarmigan, and marmot (see Figure 3) have survived until today (IBID.). After the Ice Ages, as already mentioned, at first big herbivores, later humans with their grazing animals have helped to keep these areas forest-free. With their low vegetation they provide optimal conditions for “edelweiss & co”. In the lower areas, the vegetation pressure is too strong and in the alpine zone, the climatic conditions are unfavourable. The sub-alpine zone is also a refuge for species from lower (montane) areas, which are threatened by intensified agriculture practices or afforestation (IBID.).

Furthermore, mountain pastures are habitats for game, with hunting being a strong economic and socio-cultural factor in Austria. The tourism industry valorises the picturesque flair of the mountain pastures. For the inhabitants and tourists, mountain pastures represent places of culture, identity, traditional knowledge, festivals and sustainable land use. They are Heimat (identity, homeland), comparable to the Japanese satoyama [please refer to the IPSI homepage]. Another argument posed in favour of alpine pastures is the irreversibility of once reforested mountain pastures (see Figures 3 and 11). It is nearly impossible to bring the old status back within a reasonable time frame. However, who can be sure, if not times might come when we will need these pastures again?

Figure 2: The Edelweiss (Leontopodiumalpinum) in the European Alps is the only species from the genus Leontopodium. In Central and East Asia, from where it migrated west during the Ice Ages, there being many different species (DR. BERNHARD DICKORÉ, CITED IN HOLZNER 2007B). The Edelweiss is protected by law. It is a very well-known plant in society and a symbol of the Alps, pictured i.a. on coins and stamps, used as a logo (e.g. for sport and alpine clubs, airlines and bus companies), coat of arms and emblem of the army. Traditional clothes or pieces of jewellery are also sometimes decorated with an illustration of the Edelweiss.

Figure 3: The habitat of the marmot is the area just below the potential timberline: the vegetation period is long enough to enable the young marmots to mature, there is sufficient nutritive fodder, the underlying soil is deep enough in order to build frost-free holes for hibernation, and the vegetation height is short enough to provide an open view to see predators in time (HOLZNER 2007B). Without grazing management, however the habitat of the marmot will become overgrown with krummholz and the marmot will disappear (IBID.). (©Pia Kieninger, in HOLZNER 2007B, modified).

The Sölktäler (Sölk valleys)

The Sölktäler are two trough valleys, the Greater and Lesser Sölk Valley. They are located in the Niederen Tauern (the “Low Tauern”, mountain chains of the Central Eastern Alps), in the Austrian province of Styria (see Figures 4 & 5). By 01 January, 2015, due to a municipal structural reform, the former three communities of Grosssölk, Kleinsölk and St. Nikolai were merged into one single municipality called Sölk with about 1,550 inhabitants (STATISTIK AUSTRIA 2013).

Figure 4: Mössna, in the Grossen Sölktal (Greater Sölk Valley).

Figure 5: Map of the Sölktäler Nature Park.

Due to siliceous bedrocks, the landscape is characterized 1 by very steep slopes, deep rivers and numerous waterfalls (see Figure 6). The highest peak reaches up to 2,747 m (THE NATURE PARKS OF AUSTRIA S.A.A).

Figure 6: In the Grossen Sölktal (Greater Sölk Valley), on the way to the Sölk Pass. In the background, the Kaltenbach pasture.

The livelihood strategies focus on agriculture (dairy farming), forestry and (summer) tourism, very often in combination, e.g. farm holiday (see Figure 7). In 2010, 161 agricultural and forestry holdings were counted for Sölk (STATISTIK AUSTRIA 2013). More than half of the holdings are organic farms (HOLZNER 2007C; MILESTAD & HADATSCH 2003), a very high proportion, even for the Austrian average (16.9 % organic farms in 2013, see BMLFUW 2014B) and particularly for the European benchmark (around 1.6 % organic farms in the EU in 2010, see DG AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2013).

Figure 7: The organic Ederbauer Farm in Fleiss in Grosssölk (Greater Sölk Valley): A student helps to bring the cows back to the pastures near the farmstead, after milking in the evening.

Mountain pasture management in the Sölktäler (see Figure 8, 10, 11) has a long tradition. In 2000, archaeologists found a ritual bonfire site on the Sölk Pass (at around 1,780 m), where shepherds had sacrificed their goats and sheep to deities in around 1000 B.C HEBERT 2002). Today several farmers from the two valleys and from the municipalities nearby, e.g. Gröbming, or Mitterberg-St. Martin still bring their animals up into the mountain pastures of the Nature Park over the summer. Some of them do not hold land titles to individual mountain pastures, but have since generations had certified rights to graze a certain number of cattle and sheep on communal pastures. In 25 alpine cabins (NATURPARK SÖLKTÄLER 2013), traditional alpine dishes (cheese, buttermilk, bread with butter, fresh milk, etc.) are offered to visitors, representing an additional income for farmers and being an important element for a quaint “Heidi feeling” for visitors (see Figures 9 & 10).

Figure 8: Young cattle.

Figure 9: Guests of the Gumpenalm in Grosssölk (a middle mountain pasture in the Greater Sölk Valley) learn from the woman farmer how to cook the traditional dish Steirerkrapfen (Styrian doughnut), which is filled with Steirerkas (Styrian cheese, see Figure 12) and sauerkraut.

However, the general trend of abandoning extensively used mountain pastures (see Figure 11) is also remarkable in the Sölktäler.

We see a decline of the traditional way of pastoral 1 life: a dairy maid spending the summer with the animals in the mountains, organizing an optimal grazing management and serving self-made cheese and butter to the visitors (see Figures 9 & 10). 41 pastures, with approximately 150 alpine cabins, were registered in 2010 (EXPERT INTERVIEW, MANAGEMENT BODY NATURE PARK SÖLKTÄLER 09 JUNE, 2011). 20 of the chalets are actually inhabited the whole summer by herder personnel and are touristically farmed (IBID.).The former “pastoral animal” diversity (sheep, goat, cattle, dairy cow, pigs, and horses)¹ is decreasing, due to specialization (EXPERT INTERVIEW, REGIONAL MANAGER MOUNTAIN PASTURES 20 JUNE, 2011). The dominant use focuses on young cattle (without the need for work-intensive milking and milk processing) (see Figure 8); the farmers come to look after them about once a week. For clearing pastures from tall forbs and shrubberies, which is hard work, albeit an important investment for the long-term existence of the pastures, no or only little work capacity is left (EXPERT INTERVIEW, MAJOR 3, 21 SEPTEMBER, 2010).

¹ Only on one mountain pasture can all pastoral animals still be found (EXPERT INTERVIEW, REGIONAL MANAGER MOUNTAIN PASTURES 20 JUNE, 2011).

Due to the socio-cultural, ecological and economic relevance of mountain farming and mountain pastures, subsidies are given by local (EXPERT INTERVIEW, MAJOR 3, 21 SEPTEMBER, 2010; PERSONAL INFORMATION, MANAGEMENT BODY NATURE PARK SÖLKTÄLER, 11 JUNE, 2015), regional, national and EU authorities. Qualitative interviews with mountain pasture managing farmers (in the study “Goat-Grazing and Biocultural Diversity – A transdisciplinary system approach. How to optimize pastoral land use from an ecological and socioeconomic viewpoint?”, see Projects) however showed that even more important than these subsidies are the socio-cultural relation to and passion for this particular landscape, the pride of sustaining traditions and culture inherited from one’s ancestors for the next generation (see thereto also HOLZNER ET AL. 2007D) and the esteem they perceive from society: “It is important to think in terms of generations. We have to take our children to the high mountain pastures now so that they can start to establish a relationship with them and strike roots. We have to infect them as soon as possible with the mountain herdsman’s bug.” (EXPERT INTERVIEW, MAJOR 2, 22 SEPTEMBER, 2010). “Totally unknown people hug me sometimes and say: `Thank you, that I can experience this nice day here. Please continue keeping this unique landscape´” (EXPERT INTERVIEW, FARMER 6, 05 SEPTEMBER, 2010; IPSI/IGES 2014). Furthermore, the health of animals, promoted through a mountain pasture summer (see thereto also WALLNER ET AL. 2007), one’s own joy to stay in Nature and – in case of serving cheese, milk, etc. – the additional income are relevant reasons.

Figure 10: Tuchmoaralm, in the Kleinsölktal (Lesser Sölk Valley), with farm cabins used for milking and milk processing, as well as offering home-made dairy products to visitors.

Figure 11: Lafenbergalm in Kleinsölk (Lesser Sölk Valley), overgrown with alder and rhododendron.

Nature Parks

Nature Parks are valuable protected cultural landscapes formed and shaped by human influence (agriculture) over a long time span. The Nature Parks in Europe have existed since 1932. They are regulated by the nature conservation laws of the respective countries.

In Austria the first Nature Park was founded in 1962 (NATURPARKE 1 STEIERMARK S.A.). The Austrian concept of Nature Parks, anticipating the idea of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves – combines sustainable regional development with nature conservation and has four pillars (THE NATURE PARKS OF AUSTRIA S.A.B.):

  • Conservation
  • Recreation
  • Education
  • Regional development

“A Nature Park is a protected landscape which was created by the interaction of people and nature. Very often these landscapes took many centuries to form into their current shape, and they thus need to be conserved and maintained by the people who live there. In Nature Parks this cultural landscape of special aesthetic appeal is opened up for the visitors through special arrangements and accessed as an area for recreation.” (THE NATURE PARKS OF AUSTRIA S.A.B.).

In Austria, there are currently 48 nature parks, on an area of 500,000 ha, with over 20 million visitors per year (THE NATURE PARKS OF AUSTRIA S.A.B.). The Sölktäler Nature Park (277 km2) was founded in 1983 (NATURPARKE STEIERMARK S.A.; THE NATURE PARKS OF AUSTRIA S.A.A.).

The role of the Sölktäler Nature Park in mountain pasture management The Nature Park definitely has improved public awareness of the relevance of mountain farming for the conservation of bio-cultural diversity and of mountain pasture landscapes. Nowadays, the mountain pastures are regarded as the flagship of regional summer tourism (due to lacking ski lifts, winter tourism is only of minor relevance). The Nature Park managers promote sustainable tourism based on local mountain pasture products, such as the very intense, low-fat grey cheese Steirerkas (see Figure 12). Once a food of the poor, the traditional handmade Steirerkas is nowadays a precious delicacy and culinary emblem of the area. Annual volunteers´ activities for nature conservation, such as the clearing of overgrown pastures (removing shrubs) by the youth of the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV) and the Nature Park are a big support for the maintenance of the mountain pastures. Furthermore, the Nature Park management organizes botanical and faunistic excursions and lectures as well. They support and are involved in scientific research. TheNature Park managers also arrange specific courses for tourists on mountain farmers´ traditional knowledge and skills (see Figure 13). In 2013, a brochure of all mountain pasture cabins open for visitors was edited by the Nature Park to support tourism and farm income (NATURPARK SÖLKTÄLER).

The re-vitalisation and re-valorisation of traditional skills, old customs and trading routes across the Sölk Pass is of course an attraction for the tourists, but also very relevant for local identity.

Figure 12: One of the most famous local products: the Steirerkas (Styrian grey cheese) has a – Japanese tourists: pay attention! – very strong taste! As the demand is higher than the supply, the cheese is only sold to visitors to the cabins and not available in the valleys’ stores or local markets.

Figure 13: The Mountain Pasture Management Diploma (Almdiplom) is awarded to participants successfully finishing their entertaining course on mountain pasture skills, such as milking, cheese making, cutting firewood, etc.

Conclusion

Mountain pastures and meadows are central elements of the Austrian cultural landscape, and are highly valued not only by locals, but also by visitors from far away. The future existence of these peripheral and steep grazing areas at high altitude however depends on agricultural land use, which though is hard and time-consuming work with few economic incentives. In order to motivate farmers to continue mountain pasture management, regional, national and EU authorities provide financial support. Results from the study “Goat-Grazing and Biocultural Diversity – A transdisciplinary system approach. How to optimize pastoral land use from an ecological and socioeconomic viewpoint? in the Sölktäler Nature Park” (see Projects) and in other areas in Austria (see HOLZNER ET AL. 2007D), show that for mountain pasture managing farmers, immaterial values also play an important motivating role. This includes their pride in and passion for the traditional mountain pasture landscape, its bio-cultural diversity and uniqueness, its typical products and traditions as well as the responsibility to hand over a holding and the use rights inherited by a long succession of many ancestors to the next generation. Mountain pasture management is part of their self-concept and inseparable from their life. Subsidies have helped to increase the awareness among not only farmers themselves, but also in society for the ecological and cultural relevance of mountain pastures and the farmers’ worthwhile contribution to nature conservation. The societal appreciation and recognition of the mountain farmers´ achievements hold great significance for them. For several years, the local Nature Park managers have been strengthening this awareness of mountain pastures by means of educational, conservation or recreational activities and public relations. The promotion of regional products (e.g. by a Sölktäler Nature Park local brand) supports the local farmers and is an additional attraction for tourism, which is an important source of income for the Sölktäler. Due to its proximity to and good contacts with the local population, the Nature Park management can provide a variety of promising approaches for the sustainable development of the mountain pastures.

Research in the Nature Park Sölktäler

Several scientific studies, participatory research projects, surveys, documentaries, master theses, excursions, etc. cover a diversity of topics, such as the local flora and fauna,ecology, geology, sustainable land use management, tourism, forestry, or biomass for renewable energy production. They have been supported by the Nature Park management body and the local population of the Sölktäler.

+) Projects:

  • Mountain project. Project leader: BIOEUPARKS; 2013-2016.
  • Successional studies after debris flows on alpine pastures in the nature park of the community Kleinsölk. Project leader: Holzner, W., BOKU – Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research; 2012-2014.
  • Documentary: Two years after the landslide event 2010 in the Kleinsölk valley (Sölktäler Nature Park, Styria). Project leader: Kieninger, P., BOKU – Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research; 2012-2013. Trailer
  • Green Mountain – A Sustainable Development Model for Green 1 Mountain Areas. South-East-Europe-Program project. Project leader: Province Macerata; 2011-2014. www.greenmountain-see.eu
  • Integration and implementation of a landscape plan. Project leader: Sölktäler Nature Park, Maier, V.; 2011-2013.
  • Goat-Grazing and Biocultural Diversity – a transdisciplinary system approach. How to optimize pastoral land use from an ecological and socioeconomic viewpoint? Project leader: Holzner, W., BOKU – Institute for Integrative Nature Conservation Research; 2010-2011. https://forschung.boku.ac.at/fis/suchen.projekt_uebersicht?sprache_in=en&menue_id_in=300&id_in=8293
  • Integrative Nature Protection. Project leader: Maurer, B. & Maier, V., Sölkäler Nature Park; 2008-2011.
  • Cultural Landscape Management. Project leader: Ressel, M., Sölkäler Nature Park; 2004-2007.
  • Centre Nature Park-Landscape. Project leader: Ressel, M., Sölkäler Nature Park; 2001-2004.

+) Master theses:

  • Bilovitz, P.O. (2001): Epiphytische Flechten im Naturpark Sölktäler [Epiphytic lichen in the Sölktäler Nature Park]. Supervisor: Mayrhofer, H., University of Graz. [in German]
  • Greimeister, W. (2003): Botanische Untersuchungen von Grünflächen im Naturpark Sölktäler in Abhängigkeit von Konservierungsform und Höhenlage [Botanical studies of green areas in the Sölktäler Nature Park according to the form of conservation and altitude]. Agricultural Research & Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein. [in German]
  • Königshofer, I. (2004): Erhebung von Heilkräutern im Naturpark Sölktäler [Investigation of medicinal herbs in the Sölktäler Nature Park]. Supervisor: Guttenberger, H., University of Graz. [in German]
  • Winter, S. (2005): Einfluss der Bewirtschaftung auf die Pflanzenvielfalt der Almen im Schwarzenseebachtal (Niedere Tauern) – Geschichte und Gegenwart [Management influence on plant diversity of high mountain pastures in the Schwarzenseebach-valley (Niedere Tauern) – History and present]. Supervisors: Holzner, W. & Kriechbaum, M., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. [in German]
  • Poelzl, M. (2007): Wiesen im Naturpark Sölktäler [Meadows in the Sölktäler Nature Park]. Supervisor: Holzner, W., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. [in German]
  • Tobias Köstl (2010): Landscape and vegetation succession of an abandoned alpine pasture – Perspectives for recultivation of the Lafenberg Alm, Styria. Supervisor: Holzner, W., University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) was founded in 1872. The acronym is from its German name “Universität für Bodenkultur” [soil culture] and refers to its original focus on agriculture and forestry. The BOKU has 15 departments, ranging from natural sciences, engineering to economics and social sciences. 12,126 students study there in 9 Bachelor’s, 25 Master’s and PhD programmes; 18% of the students are from abroad, 4% from outside of the European Union (as at 31 December, 2013, see BOKU S.A.). The BOKU “perceives 1 itself as a teaching and research centre for renewable resources”, wants to help to “make a considerable contribution to the conservation and protection of resources for future generations” and “to increase knowledge of the ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural reso

In remembrance of Emer. Univ.Prof. Dr.phil. Wolfgang Holzner (see Figure 14), botanist, ecologist, Japanologist and pioneer of Austrian cultural landscape conservation. Among other things, he was also very active in pastoral management research, not only in Europe, but also in Asia. The direct involvement of people in nature conservation research and practical conservation projects was his chief concern, and he was very interested in the different cultural approaches towards conservation activities worldwide. His attachment to the Sölktäler Nature Park was based on an intensive long lasting cooperation and friendship. The Sölktäler, being a case study for IPSI, would be very much in his spirit. Wolfgang Holzner passed away on 29 October, 2014.

Figure 14: Prof. Wolfgang Holzner (right) with the mountain farmer Franz Reiter, visiting his high mountain pasture Moditzen in the Grossen Sölktal (Greater Sölk Valley) in 2011.

References

  • BMLFUW (2014a): Mountain farmers in Austria. http://www.bmlfuw.gv.at/en/fields/agriculture/Rural-development/Mountainfarmers.html. (last visited 09 March, 2015)
  • BMLFUW (2014b): Grüner Bericht 2014. Bericht über die Situation der österreichischen Land- und Forstwirtschaft [Green Report 2014. Report about the situation of the Austrian agriculture and forestry]. www.gruenerbericht.at (last visited 13 March, 2015) [in German]
  • BOKU (s.a.): Profile and Strategy. http://www 1 .boku.ac.at/en/oeffentlichkeit/ (last visited 07 March, 2015)
  • Bundesanstalt für Bergbauernfragen (2010): Almstatistik 2009 – Zahlen und Fakten zur österreichischen Almwirtschaft [Mountain pasture statistics 2009 – facts and figures]. http://www.agrar.steiermark.at/cms/dokumente/11492441_12115817/566b9dea/Almstatistik%202009.pdf (last visited 17 July, 2015) [in German]
  • DG Agriculture and Rural Development (2013): Facts and figures on organic agriculture in the European Union. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets-and-prices/more-reports/pdf/organic-2013_en.pdf (last visited 13 March, 2015)
  • Hebert, B. (2002): Die frühesten Sölkspuren – Archäologisches rund um den Sölkpass [Earliest Sölk-traces – Archaeology around the Sölkpass]. In: Sölkspuren III. Eine Kulturgeschichte der Sölktäler im Vergleich zum Bauern- und Hirtenleben in Tibet und dem Himalaya [Sölk-traces III. A cultural history of the Sölktal valleys compared to farmer’s and shepherd’s life in Tibet and the Himalayas]. Ed.: A. Loseries-Leick & Naturschutzbund Steiermark. Gnas: Weihaupt Verlag. 68 – 75.
  • Holzner, W. (2007b): Naturvielfalt durch Almwirtschaft [Diversity of nature through mountain pasture management]. In: Almen – Almwirtschaft und Biodiversität [Mountain pastures – Mountain pasture management and biodiversity]. Ed.: W. Holzner. Grüne Reihe des Lebensministeriums, Band 17. Vienna, Cologne, Weimar: Böhlau Verlag. 61 – 120. [in German]
  • Holzner, W. (2007c): Wiesen und Weiden [Meadows and Pastures]. Ed.: Naturpark Sölktäler. [in German]
  • Holzner, W., Kieninger, P., Jahrl, I., Kriechbaum, M., Thaler, F. (2007d): Die Alm auf dem Hochschneeberg als (Öko-)System [The mountain pasture of the Hochschneeberg as an (Eco-) System]. In: Almen – Almwirtschaft und Biodiversität [Mountain pastures – Mountain pasture management and biodiversity]. Ed.: W. Holzner. Grüne Reihe des Lebensministeriums, Band 17. Vienna, Cologne, Weimar: Böhlau Verlag. 61 – 120. [in German]
  • IPSI/IGES (2014): IPSI Case Study Experts Workshop. Yokohama 2014. Organized by IPSI Secretariat and IGES. Workshop Report. https://satoyama-initiative.org/old/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Report_CS-Expert-WS-at-ISAP_IGES_UNU2_clean.pdf (last visited 17 July, 2015)
  • Kieninger, P., Holzner, W., Andrianos, L. (2011): „Eine uralte Welt verschwindet vor unseren Augen.“ Pastorale Landnutzung einst und heute: Über die Almwirtschaft in den Sölktälern und den Weissen Bergen. [“An ancient world is disappearing in front of our eyes.” Pastoral land use in the past and present: About mountain pasture management in the Sölktal valleys and the White mountains]. zoll+ Österreichische Schriftenreihe für Landschaft und Freiraum, 18:80 – 86. [in German]
  • Mandl, F. (2002): Almen im Herzen Österreichs. Dachsteingebirge – Niedere Tauern – Salzkammergut – Totes Gebirge [Mountain pastures in the heart of Austria. Dachsteingebirge – Niedere Tauern – Salzkammergut – Totes Gebirge]. ANISA, Haus im Ennstal.
  • Milestad, R., Hadatsch, S. (2003): Organic farming and social-ecological resilience: the alpine valleys of Sölktäler, Austria. Conservation Ecology 8(1):3.
  • Naturpark Sölktäler (2013): Almen im Naturpark Sölktäler [Mountain pastures in the Sölktäler Nature Park].
  • Naturparke Steiermark (s.a.): Geschichte 1 der Naturparke [History of the Nature Parks]. http://www.naturparke-steiermark.at/de/Die_7_Naturparke/Geschichte_der_Naturparke (last visited 07 March, 2015) [in German]
  • Statistik Austria (2013): Sölk. http://www.statistik.at/blickgem/gemDetail.do?gemnr=61266. (last visited 07 March, 2015)
  • Statistik Austria (2012): Agrarstrukturerhebung 2010 [Agrarian structure inquiry]. http://www.statistik.at/web_de/presse/064587. (last visited 07 March, 2015) [in German]
  • The Nature Parks of Austria (s.a.A): Naturpark Sölktäler. Information. http://www.naturparke.at/de/Naturparke/Steiermark/Soelktaeler/Information (last visited 09 March, 2015) [in German]
  • The Nature Parks of Austria (s.a.B): What is a Nature Park. http://www.naturparke.at/en (last visited 07 March, 2015)
  • Wallner, R.M., Holzner, W., Winter, S. (2007): Almen in Österreich [Mountain pastures in Austria]. In: Almen – Almwirtschaft und Biodiversität [Mountain pastures – Mountain pasture management and biodiversity]. Ed.: W. Holzner, Grüne Reihe des Lebensministeriums, Band 17. Vienna, Cologne, Weimar: Böhlau Verlag. 23–59. [in German]
  • WWF European Alpine Programme (2005): European Alpine Programme. Ecoregion Conservation Plan for the Alps. Lassen, B., Savoia, S. (Eds.).