Different Human Impacts in Similar Settings Author(S): François Jeanneret Source: Mountain Research and Development, 21(4):314-319

Different Human Impacts in Similar Settings Author(s): François Jeanneret Source: Mountain Research and Development, 21(4):314-319. Published By: International Mountain Society DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1659/0276-4741(2001)021[0314:DHIISS]2.0.CO;2 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1659/0276-4741%282001%29021%5B0314%3ADHIISS %5D2.0.CO%3B2 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. Your use of this PDF, the BioOne Web site, and all posted and associated content indicates your acceptance of BioOne’s Terms of Use, available at www.bioone.org/page/terms_of_use. Usage of BioOne content is strictly limited to personal, educational, and non-commercial use. Commercial inquiries or rights and permissions requests should be directed to the individual publisher as copyright holder. BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. Mountain Research and Development Vol 21 No 4 Nov 2001: 314–319 François Jeanneret Different Human Impacts in Similar Settings 314 Old and New World Alpine Landscapes in Comparison Many physical similarities exist between the densely populated European Continent and a European Alps and the Southern Alps of New rich adaptation of Polynesian and European Zealand. This may be the reason why Euro- cultures on an island (fairly) recently settled pean settlers (re)named Ka Tiritiri o te and sparsely populated. This paper compares Moana—the Maori name for the long stretch 5 representative landscape types in New of alpine country that crosses Te Wahi Pouna- Zealand and Switzerland from a geographer’s mu or the South Island from southwest to viewpoint, briefly discussing physical and cul- northeast— the Southern Alps. But both tural similarities and differences. The area major mountain ranges have very different selected for presentation in each case covers landscape histories and cultural heritages: a a square of approximately 100 km2. centuries-old history at the heart of the Human use in 5 landscape types 2000 m. The range is situated in a relative- Prealpine ranges: Lonesome outposts ly dry part of the Southern Alps. By con- Prealpine ranges are situated on the bor- trast, prealpine ranges in the Northern der of central ranges and usually have European Alps are rather humid, especial- lower elevations. They have a prominent ly in summer. Many of them emerge from position as outposts and as areas of tran- the surrounding flysch and molasse hill sition. country. The Stockhorn Range The Craigieburn Range (Figure 2a) is (Figure 2b) culminates at more than 2000 not an external range, as it does not quite m and drops down to valleys with eleva- reach the Canterbury Plains (300–400 m); tions of 500–800 m. nevertheless, its character is prealpine. Although they are relatively close to The range is representative of an impor- more densely populated lowlands, pre- tant part of the South Island rural High alpine ranges are often very marginal Country. Rising from Waimakariri Valley mountain areas in comparison with high- (400–500 m), its highest summits reach lands that have tourism infrastructure. FIGURE 1 Relative demograph- ic development over the centuries in the European Alps and the Southern Alps of New Zealand, with a logarithmic time axis. Development 315 Agricultural activity is limited by climate developed, the Craigieburn Range was the and topography. In Europe, land between closest ski resort for people in 1000 and 3000 m is used as summer pas- Christchurch, who have easy access to it tureland for cattle from the lowlands. In via the road to Arthur’s Pass. All the infra- some areas, forestry is a relatively impor- structure (roads, huts, and ski lifts) was tant economic factor. In the Stockhorn developed by local ski clubs. Range, pastures are grazed by herds from a wide adjoining lowland farming area Main valleys: with a comparatively low population densi- Deep trenches and easy outlets ty living in small villages. By contrast, the Valleys typically collect runoff from higher rural population in the Southern Alps of areas, both in the physical (water, alluvi- New Zealand is dispersed on large farms um, sediments) and the more metaphoric (“stations”) and villages are rare. The few sense (products of human activity). But remaining forests are now mostly under imported goods, visitors, ideas, and politi- conservation, as is the case in Craigieburn cal as well as economic influence also pen- State Forest Park. etrate through valleys and upward into For most international tourists, Euro- mountain areas. pean prealpine ranges are less attractive In Europe, the major alpine valleys than central ranges: They are character- are long and wide; they offer favorable cli- ized by moderate altitudes, less challenge matic and economic conditions, a good for mountain climbers, less snow, and no mountain habitat, and convenient com- glaciers. Their advantage, however, is their munication between the highlands and proximity to inhabited areas so that these lowlands. A long human history and cen- ranges are appreciated for day tourism tral location on the continent have led to (especially hiking, as skiing is now limited a considerable degree of human occupan- by snow shortage; see Elsasser and Messer- cy (with many villages and even major li in this issue). Infrastructure is limited towns), mobility, and a tradition of fluvial and often lacks accommodation. Tourism control. The Tasman Valley in New is therefore mainly domestic, except Zealand (Figure 4a) is more accessible where prealpine peaks have become than other large valleys in the Southern famous through their mountain railways Alps. It is the door to a major tourist desti- and cable cars built to attract those who nation, Mount Cook National Park, which appreciate spectacular views. In New is an island of relative centrality within a Zealand, before the Mount Hutt area was very marginal highland area. FIGURE 2A The Craigieburn FIGURE 2B The Stockhorn Range in Canterbury, New Range in the Bernese Zealand. Oberland, Switzerland. François Jeanneret FIGURE 3 View of the Rhone Valley from the village of Vétroz towards the west, in the direc- tion of Ovronnaz and Chamo- son (see Figure 4b). (Photo by 316 author) vineyards on the sunny northern slopes, horticulture on the valley floor, and mainly forests on the southern slopes (Figure 3)—stands in contrast to extensive grazing of the valley floor and slopes in the Tas- man Valley (Figure 5). Mountain resorts: Tourist traditions in alpine settings Some of the tourist resorts in both alpine regions are famous and boast a long or very long tradition due to their attractive location, their international history, and the initiative of tourist pioneers who started major development activities long ago. At the upper end of the Tasman Valley, the first Hermitage Mount Cook (Figure 6a) was built in 1885 at the foot of New Zealand’s highest peak, named Aoraki or Aorangi by the Maori. An area of 707 km2 became a national park in 1953. Today a small tourist village and the National Park Between Brig and Lake Geneva (130 Center constitute the most important set- km), only 7 km of the Rhone (Figure 4b) tlement in the central Southern Alps. The have not been channeled. The river bed is Hermitage Mount Cook is an inevitable only 100–120 m wide. By contrast, the Tas- stop on the classic tourist route through man River in New Zealand flows in a the South Island, between Christchurch, braided bed more than 4000 m wide. In Queenstown, Milford Sound, and Westland the Rhone Valley, rare floods such as the National Park. Many activities and sports October 2000 event have had a catastroph- are possible, but no cable cars have been ic impact on humans, whereas the Tasman tolerated within the National Park. Planes valley floor is largely uninhabited. Intense bring in tourists for sightseeing tours, agricultural use of the Rhone Valley—with climbing, and skiing on Tasman Glacier. FIGURE 4A The Tasman Valley FIGURE 4B The Rhone Valley in in Canterbury, New Zealand. the Valais, Switzerland. Mountain Research and Development Vol 21 No 4 Nov 2001 Development FIGURE 5 View of the upper Tasman Valley to the south. (Photo by author) 317 The two Lütschine Valleys in the Bernese Oberland (Figure 6b) were among the first visited by a cultural elite in the 18th century. Rural mountain villages such as Grindelwald started to offer accommodation; hotels were built, followed by a chalet construction boom in the 20th century. This required an important planning effort in order to preserve both traditional farming activities and attractive landscapes. The importance of tourism led to an early and spectacular development of transport infrastructure. The first narrow-gauge railway reached Grindelwald in 1890, followed in 1893 by another line leading to the Kleine Schei- degg Pass and a breath-taking climb through the heart of the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch (3454 m) in 1912. Two categories of tourists come to Grindelwald: overseas visitors for short- term visits and European (including domestic) tourists, who spend several In the Mount Cook area, infrastructure is days or weeks in the same resort. Her- specifically tailored to the needs of mitage Mount Cook welcomes mainly tourism, which is designed to harmonize overseas tourists. In Grindelwald (as in wherever possible with conservation other European alpine resorts), moun- needs (see Booth and Cullen in this tain tourism has a symbiotic relationship issue). with the local economy and population, mainly agriculture.

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