Austrian MAB-Committee at the Austrian Academy of Sciences

Chair: Univ.-Prof.Mag.Dr. Georg Grabherr Executive Secretary: Mag.Dr. Günter Köck

c/o Austrian Academy of Sciences INTERNATIONALE International Research Programmes FORSCHUNGSPROGRAMME Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2 1 010 Vienna Austria Tel: +43 1 51581 1271 Fax: +43 1 51581 1275 E -mail: [email protected] WWW: http://www.oeaw.ac.at

REPORT ON AUSTRIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MAB PROGRAMME FOR THE PERIOD FROM 2010 – 2011

1. NATIONAL COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING:

In the period from 2010 to 2011 five meetings of the Austrian National Committee for MAB took place. The managers of the Austrian biosphere reserves (BRs) joined the meetings and reported about activities in their area and discussed future research strategies with the committee members.

For the period from 2010 to 2011 (two years) the total funding for MAB, provided by the Austrian Ministry for Science and Research, is

EURO 490.000,- = US$ 639.524,-1

1 Exchange rate per 17/04/2012

This funding is entirely used for research projects.

2. FUNDING CONTRIBUTION TO UNESCO

 MAB Young Scientist Awards: In response to the need expressed by the MAB International Co-ordinating Council (MAB-ICC) regarding mobilization of extra- budgetary funding in context of the MAB Young Scientist Award Scheme, particularly to raise the number of awards the Austrian National Committee for MAB decided to contribute the amount of US$ 20,000 to finance four additional MAB Young Scientists Research Awards for the UNESCO biennium 2010-2011.

 Expert meeting on “MAB Research Sites”: The Austrian National Committee for MAB has financed an Expert Meeting which had been held at UNESCO Headquarters on February 21st, 2011, regarding the proposed creation of a new MAB category of Support/study sites for the MAB Programme for those pre-Seville BRs which cannot meet the criteria of the Seville Strategy by 2013 but which demonstrate scientific and/or societal value for the MAB Programme and for which a Member State wishes to retain an international UNESCO designated status. The

1 meeting was attended by members of the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves, representatives of the Austrian MAB National Committee, and members of the UNESCO-MAB Secretariat. Mr. Günter Köck (Vice-Chair of the MAB Bureau and Executive Secretary of the Austrian MAB National Committee) was appointed Chairperson of the meeting.

3. CURRENT STATUS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN AUSTRIA:

The implementation of the BR Wienerwald in June 2005 has triggered a current boom of the biosphere reserve idea in Austria. Both the National Committee and the biosphere reserve managers have actively contributed to implement the Madrid Action Plan.

Approved: 6 areas Alluvial area of the Danube near Vienna, now part of the “Nationalpark Donau- Auen”. Since decades this “first generation” BR is a very active research site. Lobau Triggered by plans of the City of Vienna to build a new housing area for thousands of people in the vicinity of the area discussions about a re-design of the BR Lobau have started. An extensive cross-border lake shared by Austria and Hungary. Three research projects dedicated to the re-design of this “first generation” BR were Neusiedlersee undertaken in the past years. The national committee hopes that all political decisions to transfer the area into a “post-Seville” BR will follow soonly. Small lake in the high alpine region of the Tyrolean Stubaier Alps and the Gossenköllesee world´s smallest BR. “First generation” BR. A transect zone in the Ötztaler Alps, reaching from timberline to the nival zone. Triggered by discussion in the MAB committee to drop the BR Gurgler Kamm Gurgler Kamm from the WNBR the management has launched a feasibility study for a re- zonation of the BR. After several consultations with stakeholders from Southern Tyrol there are promising plans to create a new trans-boundary BR with Italy. In Western Austria, reaching from mountain river alluvia, mountain farmlands to high alpine peaks; this parks is designed and implemented according to the Seville Strategy. The periodic review report has recently been accepted by the Großes Walsertal Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee recommended that the site is considered as a model site which practices should be shared within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The Vienna Woods are the largest contiguous area of deciduous woodland in Central Europe. The area is situated in close vicinity to the city of Vienna. The Wienerwald location of such a large area of woodland on the outskirts of a major city is unique. Implemented according to the Seville Strategy. Submitted: 1 area The area consists of a representative example of inner-alpine landscapes with Salzburger Lungau and high mountains and deep valleys. Approval of the nomination is expected for Kärntner Nockberge July 2012.

In planning stage (planning along the requirements of the Seville Strategy): two areas Drava alluvia; trans-boundary biosphere reserve (Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Danube/Drava/Mura Hungary, Serbia). The Austrian MAB Committee is actively involved in the international Coordination Board. Including alluvial forests, sand dunes and halophyte communities along the March-Thaya rivers March (= Morava) and Thaya (= Dyje) in Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia; (= Moravia) planning dropped for the moment. Planning in statu nascendi (regions suitable for implementation of a biosphere reserve): six areas Dürrenstein/Ötscherland Kalkalpen These areas are mountain regions of „Alpine“ character in different parts of Koralm Austria. Like Großes Walsertal these are regions without good opportunities for Tennengebirge winter tourism. Karwendel Wachau Part of the Danube valley in Lower Austria; important wine-making region The area situated in the western part of Upper Austria is the largest part of the Sauwald Bohemian Massif south of the Danube. 2 4. CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF MAB:

According to the new research agenda for the Austrian MAB Programme, and in response to the priorities set by the International MAB Council, the Austrian National MAB- Committee has focused its future research predominantly on the needs of the biosphere reserves in Austria, but also to benefit from BRs as “living laboratories” for studying, testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water, and biodiversity. In To deepen the involvement of Austrian expertise in international MAB research, the MAB national committee started to fund international research cooperations with BRs and BR projects in foreign countries.

In the period from 2010 - 2011 18 research projects were funded by the Austrian MAB Programme.

Project Title Coordinator Perspective LOBAU 2020: Exploring management options of a heavily used urban biosphere reserve confronted with new urban developments in its neighbourhood A. Arnberger considering a restricted potential for ecosystem development Towards integrated ecological spatial planning on multiple scales for the Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve and its functional environment: a new approach to the F. Reimoser management of conflicts between humans and wildlife Monitoring of biocultural diversity in the Biosphere Reserve "Großes Walsertal": The C.R. Vogl use and management of biodiversity of crops, cultivars and wild gathered species Biosphere Reserve Nockberge – Conception and implementation of an integrative E.C.O. – M. monitoring system (BRIA - NOC) Jungmeier Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services as scientific foundation for the sustainable T. Wrbka implementation of the redesigned Biosphere Reserve “Neusiedler See” Die Wirkung einer Idee – am Beispiel des Biosphärenpark Wienerwald in der E. Gehmacher Gemeinde St. Andrä-Wördern Diversität und Naturschutzwert der Wiesen und Trockenrasen im Biosphärenpark W. Willner Wienerwald – Pilotstudie Online Research and Monitoring Database for Biosphere Reserves in Austria. E.C.O. – H. Research topic: How can the design and management of BRs and similar facilities be Kirchmeier improved? (OREMO) „Learnscape Biosphere Reserve“: From outdoor learning opportunities towards G. Hornsteiner integrative education for sustainable development (ESD) Reconciling ecological, sociological and economic interests in mountain forests-case R. Jandl Study Gurgler Kamm (ECOSOC Cuvee) "Strengthening Community in a reframed Regional": Social Capital in the Großes J. Stötter/F. Walsertal - current status, future potentials and lessons for Biosphere Reserve Borsdorf Management (SCRR) Diversität und Naturschutzwert der Wiesen und Trockenrasen im Biosphärenpark W. Willner Wienerwald - Pilotstudie Evaluating the zonation of the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald: How well does the W. Willner conservation zone contribute to biodiversity conservation? Local residents’ views on the Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve ("Biosphere People") R. Eder

40 Years MAB Program – Man and the Biosphere School Twinning 2011 C. Diry

International cooperation

Advanced Geophysics for the Protection of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve K. Motschka Outlining a sustainable future for the island of Samothraki (Greece) as a MAB S. Singh reserve, and creating a regional showcase Biosphere Reserves in Colombia - status, information and improvements A. Borsdorf

3 Further details can be found at the homepage of the Austrian MAB Programme (http://www.oeaw.ac.at/english/forschung/programme/mab.html).

5. OTHER ACTIVITIES:

The MAB Committee has provided financial support for activities of the Austrian BRs in the context of the International Year of Biodiversity 2011 (e.g. school twinning, student exchange, Day for Biodiversity).

To draw attention to the importance of biodiversity research the MAB Committee has launched a “Declaration on supporting taxonomy research in Austria”. The declaration, signed by more than 230 scientists, research institutions and scientific networks, was presented at the Austrian Biodiversity Day 2010 (Museum of Natural History Vienna) and published in the scientific journal eco.mont 2010, 2(2), p. 69. Download: http://www.austriaca.at/0xc1aa500d_0x0024d236.pdf

6. PUBLICATIONS:

Project reports:

Based on a successful cooperation with the Austrian Academy of Sciences Press (AASP) all Austrian MAB project reports are now published online at the AASP homepage. At present 19 documents can be downloaded from http://epub.oeaw.ac.at/Projektberichte.

Erhalt der biologischen und kulturellen Vielfalt. Modelle für nachhaltige Entwicklungsstrategien im 21. Jahrhundert. Orte der Forschung, Bildung und Umweltbeobachtung (doi: 10.1553/ibk; ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3742-9)

Biosphere Reserves in Austria - Grundlagenerhebung und Stand der Forschung (ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3599-9)

Nachhaltiges Waldbiomassenmanagement im Biosphärenpark Wienerwald (doi: 10.1553/wald, ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3839-6, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3839-6)

EUROMAB AUSTRIA 2005 Meeting of the Euromab Biosphere Reserve Coordinators and Managers (doi: 10.1553/euromab_austria2005, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3715-3)

Leben in Vielfalt (doi: 10.1553/3-7001-3337-5; ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3337-7 ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3374-2)

Inspired by diversity (ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3596-8 ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3612-5)

Leitfaden für Forschung und Monitoring im Biosphärenpark Wienerwald (doi: 10.1553/lfmbw)

Leitfaden für Forschung und Monitoring im Biosphärenpark Großes Walsertal (doi: 10.1553/lfmbgw, ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3717-7)

Re-designing the Research Agenda of MAB-Austria, in special consideraton of BRIM: A Feasibility Study Final Report (doi: 10.1553/rra_mab)

Monitoring von Luftschadstoffen (NOx und SO2, Schwermetall-, Stickstoff-, Schwefel- und

4 PAH-Depositionen) mittels Moosen im "Biosphärenpark Wienerwald" (doi: 10.1553/luft, ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-3852-5, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-3852-5)

Integrated Sustainable Wildlife Management in the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald (doi: 10.1553/ISWIMAB, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-6626-9)

Redesigning the Biosphere Reserve Neusiedler See (doi: 10.1553/rbrns, ISBN-13: 978-3- 7001-6692-4, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-6692-4)

Ökologische und soziale Tragfähigkeiten als Managementherausforderungen für suburbane Biosphärenparke am Beispiel Untere Lobau (doi: 10.1553/MAB-OEST ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-6781-5)

Part_b: Partizipationsprozesse in Biosphärenparks – Interventionstheorie, Strategie- analyse und Prozessethik am Beispiel vom Biosphärenpark Wienerwald, Großes Walsertal und Nationalpark Nockberge (doi: 10.1553/mab-partB, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3- 7001-6870-6)

Transboundary Information Exchange for Revision and Functional Improvement of Zonation of the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve (Czech Republic) (doi: 10.1553/mab- tierafiz-lmbr-2010, ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-7025-9 ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-7025-9)

ChecKid - Kids entdecken die Kernzone (doi: 10.1553/Checkid2010, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-7038-9)

Geophysikalische Messungen in Tulum (Mexiko) - 2010 (doi: 10.1553/mab-geophys- tulum-2010, ISBN-13: 978-3-7001-6971-0 ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-6971-0)

Exploring management options of a heavily used urban biosphere reserve confronted with new urban developments in its neighbourhood considering a restricted potential for ecosystem development (doi: 10.1553/Lobau2020, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-7288-8)

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services as scientific foundation for the sustainable implementation of the Redesigned Biosphere Reserve “Neusiedler See” (doi:10.1553/bioserv-neusiedler-see, ISBN-13 Online: 978-3-7001-7289-5)

Articles in scientific journals:

A number of projects and activities sponsored by the Austrian MAB Programme have resulted in the publication of articles in renowned peer-reviewed scientific journals.

List of selected articles:

Gottfried et al. (2012). Continent-wide response of mountain vegetation to climate change. Nature Climate Change 2, 111–115. Nature Climate Change DOI:10.1038/nclimate1329 (2012)

Pauli et al. (2012): Recent Plant Diversity Changes on Europe’s Mountain Summits. Science 336 (6079), 353-355. Science 20 April 2012: Vol. 336 no. 6079 pp. 353-355 DOI: 10.1126/science.1219033

5 Arnberger, A., Eder, R. (2012): The influence of green space on community attachment of urban and suburban residents. URBAN FOR URBAN GREEN 11(1): 41-49.

Fischer-Kowalski, M., Xenidis, L., Singh, S.J., Pallua, I. (2011). Transforming the Greek Island of Samothraki into a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: An Experience in Transdisciplinarity. GAIA 20/3, 181-190,

Jungmeier et al. (2011). Biosphere reserves as a long-term intervention in a region – strategies, processes, topics and principles of different participative planning and management regimes of biosphere reserves. eco.mont 3(1), 29-36. http://epub.oeaw.ac.at/?arp=0x0028b18b

Turner, B.L. and Fischer-Kowalski, M. (2010). Ester Boserup: An interdisciplinary visionary relevant for sustainability. PNAS 107(51), 21963–21965.

Köck, G., Koch, G., Diry, D. (2009). The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve „Biosphärenpark Wienerwald“ (Vienna Woods) – a long History of Conservation. eco.mont 1(1), 51-56. http://www.austriaca.at/0xc1aa500d_0x0022056a.pdf

Special publications:

Vielfalt genießen/A Connoisseur´s World - The Austrian Biosphere Reserves. Günter Köck, Lois Lammerhuber, Martha Umhack. 96 pages, 78 photos, ISBN: 978-3-901753-32- 9, in German and English.

During the course of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, schoolchildren in the Vienna Woods and Great Walser Valley biosphere reserves participated in a campaign documenting the value of biodiversity in their immediate surroundings, amongst other things, by using plants for cooking. Due to the tremendous success of this campaign, the national committee for the UNESCO research programme “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) has now published a book about Austrian biosphere reserves that also includes a “Biosphere Reserves Cookbook”. The recipes typical of each region featured in this book contain plants (herbs, vegetables and spices) rarely or no longer in use today. These recipes are reproduced together with information and exceptional photographs of habitats, animals, plants and humans so as to demonstrate why biodiversity is such an important theme for the future – one affecting the quality of life of each and every one of us.

In line with the MAB axiom of biosphere reserves as learning centres for sustainable development, the publishers have teamed up with Waldegg Provincial Vocational College for all aspects relating to cookery. The recipes have been selected and revised by the top chefs at Waldegg college from the many recipes received during a schools campaign, as well as from family recipes and the recipes used by local restaurateurs. They have all been tried and tested by the students of the college under the supervision of these chefs. The result is this extremely remarkable cookbook.

At the GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS 2012, the book was rated Best Austrian Cookbook in the category “Sustainable food” and was among the finalists of the

XVII Gourmand Awards 2012 and can thus carry the “Best in the World” label.

6 Biosphere Reserves in the Mountains of the World. Excellency in the Clouds? Austrian MAB Committee (ed.), Austrian Academy of Sciences, 120 pages, ISBN: 978-3-7001- 6968-0

This book published in 2011 is a contribution of the Austrian National MAB-Committee to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the MAB programme, which was officially launched in 1971. The findings of an almost 50 international authors (lead author: Sigrun Lange) have been gathered in this remarkable book.

In this publication you will find various examples of mountain biosphere reserves from all over the world – and read about the important roles they play as sites for conserving biodiversity, international scientific collaboration and sustainable use of natural resources in line with conservation objectives.

The book is available from Austrian Academy of Sciences Press Vienna (price € 29,-; for further information and mail order see http://hw.oeaw.ac.at/6968-0?frames=yes). A free e- version of the book can be downloaded from the UNESCO-MAB website: http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/SC/pdf/sc_mab_Mountains_Excel lence_in_the_Clouds_EN.pdf

The book has been presented in a side-event at 23rd session of the MAB-ICC 2011 in Dresden (Germany).

Vienna, 14/05/2012

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