Schlüsselwörter
(Englisch)
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classification; agriculture; Alps; sustainability; environment; farm strategies
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Alternative Projektnummern
(Englisch)
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EU project number: ENV4-CT97-0442
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Forschungsprogramme
(Englisch)
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EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 3.1 Environment
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Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)
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See abstract
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Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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European Academy Bolzano (I), Alpenforschungsinstitut (D), RaumUmwelt GesmbH (A), Österr. Vereinigung für Agrarwissenschaftliche Forschung (A), University of Augsburg (D)
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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Objective
The objective of the project is first to evaluate effects of EU directives and regulations on the environment and the mountain farming in European mountain areas and secondly to develop suggestions and new ideas for an improvement of these EU instruments. Attention is focused on the economic as well as on the ecological aspects in order to answer the following questions:
1. Which effects do EU directives and regulations have on the mountain farming?
2. Which regulations have a particularly positive influence on the environment and on the mountain farming?
3. Which of them should be amended and/or improved?
Brief Description (Subject and Methods)
Task 1: Classification of Agriculture in the Alps
The effects and effectiveness of EU regulations have been evaluated with the help of case studies in model regions and their comparison with model regions from Switzerland. For their representative selection a classification of the Alpine agriculture according to the natural and socio-economic situation was made (approximately 5,600 local authorities). By using Cluster Analysis and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) the Alps have been classified into 8 types of structure. 10 model regions (2 in Switzerland) representing these 8 types of structure have been selected.
Task 2: Development of Target Systems for an Ecologically Friendly Mountain Farming
Already existing political and social relevant documents regarding the mountain areas are gathered. These documents are then systematically classified according to their concerns in the environment and the mountain farming.
Task 3: Determining of EU and CH Instruments Influencing Mountain Farming and the Environment
In this task relevant EU instruments influencing the environment and the mountain farming were determined. Afterwards, certain characteristics of those instruments have been fixed in order to evaluate later on their effect and effectiveness in the model regions.
Task 4: Evaluation of Instruments
In this central task the effect and the effectiveness of the instruments gathered in task 3 are evaluated within the framework of the chosen model regions. Based on the results of interviews with experts in regional agriculture and farmers the relation between the instruments and the results at farm level, called farm strategies, could be determined. Based on the regional context conclusions between the farm strategies and the environmental effects were possible.
Task 5: Synthesis/ Recommendations
In the final synthesis suggestions for an improvement of instruments with a view to achieve sustainable development of mountain farming are worked out. In preparing the basis for those proposals, comparative analysis are performed between the model regions and the Swiss reference regions as well as among the model regions of the Member States.
Scientific Benefits
Within the framework of the project the interaction between the environment and the mountain farming is analysed in a European mountain area. Of particular interest is the comparison between a large variety of different structures of agriculture in several countries with a territorial possessiveness in the Alps. Moreover, the agricultural and environmental EU policy is compared to that of Switzerland.
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Datenbankreferenzen
(Englisch)
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Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. +41 31 322 74 82
Swiss Project-Number: 98.0270
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