Swiss alpine pasture farming since 1880 a landscape historical assessment

Transcription

1 Swiss alpine pasture farming since 1880 a landscape historical assessment Matthias Bürgi RU Landscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland RURAL HISTORY 2013, BERN

2 Land Cover: Unproductive/Rock & Scree Albedo Land Use: Recreation Natural Hazards Land Use: Pasturing Land Cover: Ag/Grassland/ Medow Actors Land Cover: Forest/Shrubland C-Storage Land Use: Mowing Land Use Change: Abandonment Biodiversity Scenic beauty

3 Alpine pasture farming Data: BFS GEOSTAT / BLW

4 Swiss alpine pasture farming since 1880 Analysis of land cover change, based on historical maps, aerial photographs, terrestrial photographs, shows an increase in forest area and a decline in grasslands.

5 /ethz-a Zweisimmen, Lenk 1934

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7 Land use/land cover change study on alpine pasture farming Albedo Natural Hazards C-Storage Biodiversity Tenhunen et al. 2009

8 Swiss alpine pasture farming since 1880 Analysis of land cover change, based on historical maps, aerial photographs, terrestrial photographs, shows an increase in forest area and a decline in grasslands. Reconstructing land use change, based on historical statistics, written records, oral history interviews reveals ongoing and far-reaching changes in management of the alpine pasture landscape. What is the significance of these changes for actors/society? -> EGS approach

9 Linking LUCC with society/actors/demands: the Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) concept (source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report, oducts.synthesis.aspx).

10 Driving forces Structure & composition of ecosystems and landscapes Natural Political / Legal Processes/Cycles/ Regulation General EGS capacity Context (i.e. time & space) specific EGS capacity Socio-economical Cultural Technological Context-specific driving forces Effective driving forces Land Use Realized EGS

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12 Project description Research Question: How did EGS in mountain regions change over time? Material: Three reports on the state of alpine pasture farming in Switzerland. Strüby A Die Alp- und Weidewirtschaft in der Schweiz. Schweizerische Alpstatistik, Schlussband. Solothurn, Vogt-Schild. Werthemann A, Imboden A Die Alp- und Weidewirtschaft in der Schweiz: Zusammenfassung der Alpkatastererhebungen. Bern, BLW. Lauber S, Herzog F, Seidl I, Böni R, Bürgi M, Gmür P, Hofer G, Mann S, Raaflaub M, Schick M, Schneider M, Wunderli R (eds.) Zukunft der Schweizer Alpwirtschaft: Fakten, Analysen und Denkanstösse aus dem Forschungsprogramm AlpFUTUR. Birmensdorf, Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL; Zürich-Reckenholz, Forschungsanstalt Agroscope.

13 Method Classification of quotes referring to EGS based on the following criteria: A = EGS mentioned as important B = EGS mentioned C = anecdotal reference to EGS 0 = EGS not mentioned N = EGS not mentioned, but performed, NN = EGS not mentioned, but present

14 Linking LUCC with society/actors/demands: the Ecosystem Goods and Services (EGS) concept (source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report, oducts.synthesis.aspx).

15 CICES for ecosystem accounting Section Division Group Specific A, B - continuity Provisioning Nutrition Biomass Milk, Cheese, Butter, Meat A A A Water Drinking water B B B Materials Water Water for livestock, irrigation A A A Energy Biomass Timber B B B Fire wood B B B Biomass-based energy sources A, B - new, increase Provisioning Energy Renewable abiotic energy sources Hydropower 0 A A A,B - decrease, abandoned Provisioning Materials Biomass Hey A B B Litter A 0 0 Energy Biomass-based energy sources Peat (only party renewable) B 0 0 Dung C 0 0 Partly unmentioned - known from other sources Provisioning Nutrition Biomass Food for personnell B N N Wild plants collected B N N Game C N N

16 Provisioning A B C 0 N NN Regulation & Maintenance Cultural

17 Conclusions regarding contents Provisioning services are always in demand but type of demand changes. Some new services come up (hydropower), some old services are given up (leaves for litter, peat and dung for energy). Regulating and maintaining services are always there, but society might not be aware of them. Service becomes a topic, when threatened (biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water regulation). Cultural services partly gained in importance (tourism, education, research).

18 Methodological conclusions The EGS approach bears the potential for encompassing analyses of the roles and functions of a specific landscape or region for society. Realized EGS change over time - this has to be considered in studies aiming at scenarios of future EGS. More weight should be given to studying EGS capacity and its vulnerability. Studies of Land use / Land cover change are an important playground for interdisciplinary collaboration. Taking part in discussions on global change requires some compromises on all sides involved.

19 Thank you for your attention and the Swiss National Science Foundation for supporting the project!