Rüegg Erwin

How to turn alpine landscapes into an asset of development? Institutional prerequisites and conditions at the local and regional level

Project Number: 4048-064423

Project Type:	Research_Project
Project Duration:	02/01/2002 - 09/30/2004 project completed
Funding Source:	SNSF ,
Project Leader:	Dr. Erwin Rüegg

related to this project.

for which the project has a relevance.

Research Areas:

Governance

Disciplines:

Sociology
Legal and Social sciences, Economics

Abstract:
The existing alpine landscapes have been moulded by human settlements for centuries. This was a great effort of local and regional communities, supported by intricate and powerful institutions, the remnants of which still exist (e.g. “Korporationen”; pasture and irrigation cooperatives). Today, however, their role has diminished, other “players” – especially from outside the alpine regions – have gained in influence. Interests and perceptions regarding the alpine landscapes have become more heterogeneous, leading to internally growing divisions and conflicts of interest in the regions. While the task of preserving the cultural heritage of alpine landscapes and habitats remains and is supported by a heterogeneous coalition of interests both within and outside the concerned regions, the traditional institutions no longer adequately fulfil their hitherto essential role in this field. Therefore, newly designed (re-designed, re-invented) institutions are needed for defining objectives and resolving conflicts in a process of ongoing cultivation and preservation of alpine landscapes and habitats. To our knowledge, there is little empirical research into the question of how local and regional institutions function today and should be designed in the future as to sustainable re-invent the cultural achievement of alpine landscapes and habitats, a major gap existing especially with respect to landscape induced requirements for functioning institutions that support sustainability. Therefore, the project asks the following two research questions: How can local and regional institutions turn the “spectacle of the Alps” into an asset for self-determined, sustainable development that respects the peculiar characteristics of alpine landscapes? Which qualities must these institutions have to promote successfully the alpine perspective for sustainable development? By analysing five processes of development and implementation of proposed conservation areas in different parts of the Swiss Alps (e.g. national parks, biosphere reserves) the project inquires the institutional prerequisites and conditions that the not so spectacular areas surrounding protected zones can (and should) mobilise to maintain (and improve) a future cultivation of their landscape and habitat. The focus of the project is on these surrounding areas, considered as an essential requirement for the protection of the zones considered spectacular by “outsiders”.

Preliminary Results A success prone concept for sustainable development (including large areas of conservation) should consider: - a project must start with economic considerations of the local and regional population, - external experts should not play a leading role in the initial stages - the project must be professionally managed in every aspect (preferably by regional opinion leaders) and be financially supported by the confederation/the canton well before a park is established. Expected results The goal of the project consists in elaborating recommendations to different actors at all levels regarding the design of and the working conditions for a revived institutional setting of alpine landscape and habitat development. Recommendations can be expected with regard to two sets of conditions for institution (re-)design: - Organisational conditions of and supporting prerequisites for local and regional communities so that they become structurally inclined to sustainable development of alpine landscapes and habitats. - Requirements imposed by peculiar alpine landscapes on such institutions.

http://www.nfp48.ch/projekte/projectdocs/24/rodewalda.pdf

URL: http://www.nrp48.ch/projects/projects_detail.php?nfprojnum=25

PDF: http://www.nrp48.ch/projects/abstracts/064423_Ruegg.pdf

Publications:
Rüegg, E. Wie macht man Alpenlandschaften zum Entwicklungsfaktor? (Poster)
Rüegg E. (2003) Wie nützen wir das Schützen?, in: Anthos, 3.
Rüegg E. (2004) Le Parc Jurassien Vaudois. Fallstudie, Universität Zürich,
Zürich.
Rüegg E. (2004) Fallstudie Naturerlebnispark Schwägalp, Universität Zürich, Zürich.
Rüegg E. (2004) Fallstudiengebiet Schwägalp/Säntis, Universität Zürich, Zürich.


Source of Information: NF Import 2002


Last update: 12/23/16
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-64423

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