Sonderdrucke aus der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg JÖRG STADELBAUER Utilization and management of resources in mountain regions of the (former) Federal Republic of Germany Originalbeitrag erschienen in: Mountain research and development 11 (1991), S. 231-238 Mntn rh nd vlpnt, l. , . , , pp. 228 UIIAIO A MAAGEME O ESOUCES I MOUAI EGIOS O E (OME EEA EUIC O GEMAY JORG STADELBAUER Geographisches Institut Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat 6500 Mainz, Germany ABSTRACT In mountain regions the development of natural resources depends predominantly on factors of social and economic values. Most government funding for mountain areas is allocated to the development of transportation and agriculture. Geographical differences within the Federal Republic of Germany have led to a great number of regional programs that depend on directives deter- mined by the European Community but are integrated into federal programs. These are described; they take into consideration the different local conditions and foster development at the regional level. RÉSUMÉ Utilisation et gestion des ressources naturelles dans les regions montagneuses de la Republique Federale d'Allemagne. Le developpement des ressources naturelles dans les regions montagneuses depend principalement de facteurs sociaux et economiques. Les fonds publics sont en grande partie alloues au developpement du transport et de l'agriculture. Les differences geographiques au sein de la Republique Federale d'Allemagne ont donne naissance a de nombreux programmes regionaux soumis aux directives de la Communaute Europeenne, mais integres dans des programmes federaux. Ces programmes tiennent compte des differences de conditions locales et encouragent le developpement a l'echelle regionale. Remarque: Cet article a ete prepare pour la Conference TOME de 1989. Il fait reference a la Republique Federale d'Allemagne telle qu'elle existait avant le 3 octobre 1990, et n'inclut pas les regions montagneuses de l'ancienne Republique Democratique d'Allemagne. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Nutzung und Management von Ressourcen in Gebirgsregionen der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Die Bewertung natarlicher Ressourcen der Gebirgsregionen hat sich von produktionswirtschaftlichen Zielen zu sozialen und Okologischen Uberlegungen verschoben. Offentliche Subventionen unterstiitzen noch immer in erster Linie Verkehrserschliegung und Landwirtschaft. Die durch die fOderative Struktur der Bundesrepublik Deutschland bedingte raumliche Differenzierung zeigt sich in einer Vielzahl einzelner Fi5rderprogramme, die insgesamt den EG-Richtlinien unterliegen, in Bundesprogramme (Gemeinschaftsaufgaben, Bundesraumordnungsprogramm) eingebunden sind, aber dennoch den Landern geniigend Spielraum fiir eigenstandige Entscheidungen und fill -. regionale Entwicklungen lassen. Diese VerOffentlichung war fiir die TOME Konferenz 1989 vorbereitet. Sie bezieht sich auf die BRD in ihren Grenzen vor dem 3. Okt. 1990 und schliegt die Berggebiete der ehemaligen DDR nicht em. Highly developed countries may be characterized by policy making in the Federal Republic of Germany. It com- increasing internal regional disparities despite the fact that plements another recently published article which intends government policies attempt to overcome the negative con- to show how differentiated evaluation has developed and sequences of peripheral location. Mountain regions are how help from the central government is given to back- almost always among these naturally less favored and there- ward areas (Stadelbauer, 1990). Figure 1 shows the present fore backward areas. This paper evaluates the natural state boundaries and major mountain areas of Germany. potential of resources and the different systems of regional MOUNTAIN REGIONS OF THE (FORMER) FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY According to morphological and geological criteria, four sediments, or (2) in the sedimentation and partly postsedi- types of mountain regions can be distinguished in Germany: mentary diastrophism of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedi- ments. The mountain regions of Paleozoic age (the Rhenish (I and 2) Mountainous regions in the German Upland between Hercynian uplands) show a striking contrast between high 400 and 900-1,000 m above sea level plateaus characterized by open fields and wooded slopes These originate (1) in the Variscan folding and Postvaris- and, in climatically favored regions, vineyards up to alti- can uplift and in the weaker Tertiary uplift of Paleozoic tudes of 350 m. Moreover, sedimentary iron-ore deposits 'This paper was prepared for the TOME Conference in 1989; it, therefore, refers to the Federal Republic of Germany within the boundaries before 3 October 1990 and does not include the mountain regions of the former German Democratic Republic. It will be worthwhile to undertake a similar problem evaluation and comparison of the mountainous areas of the "old" and "new" states of the Federal Republic of Germany after 3 October 1990. ©International Mountain Society and United Nations University 22 Mntn rh nd vlpnt Population density ,0004,000 III 0,000 • 4000 20400 0020 El 000 Inhbl 2 Former boundary between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic IGUE 1. Germany showing state boundaries and population densities, and mountain areas. Modified from Options, June 1990. 1. Schleswig-Holstein 5. Lower Saxony 9. North Rhine-Westphalia 13. Rhineland-Palatinate 2. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 6. Saxony-Anhalt 10. Hesse 14. Saarland 3. Bremen 7. Berlin 11. Thuringia 15. Baden-Wiirttemberg 4. Hamburg 8. Brandenburg 12. Saxony 16. Bavaria are the most important resource. The landscape of the hill nomic weakness rather than of prosperity and innovation. regions underlain by Mesozoic and Cenozoic sediments Examples are the Harz in northern Germany, the Black reflects the underlying bedrock: the extensive distribution Forest, the Bohemian Forest, and the Bavarian Forest in of Triassic sandstone is the basis for extensive forest, as southern Germany. in the Weser-Leine uplands, Hesse, the Palatinate, and Swabian Forest uplands, whereas the landscape underlain (4) The German part of the young folded European Alps with by Triassic and Jurassic limestones is one of open farm- altitudes over 1,500 m and with the Zugspitze (2,963 m) as its lands, as in parts of the Swabian-Franconian Alb and the highest elevation hilly country of the Gdu. The land here extends above the regional forest and tim- berline belts into the alpine belt of meadows, rock outcrops, (3) Middle mountains with altitudes between 900 and 1,500 m and permanent ice and snow. The most important natural These are mostly underlain by old folded gneissic rocks resources of the high region are the forests (as far as they penetrated by granitic intrusions. These massifs were still exist), meadows, and pastures which serve the verti- folded again during the Variscan Era and were extensively cally organized alpine animal husbandry (almwirtschaft); worn down in the synorogenic or postorogenic period. there are also quarries to supply building materials. They are forested mountains that were colonized during the Middle Ages, primarily as mining activities developed Thus, although the Federal Republic of Germany con- to extract ores of silver, ferrous, and non-ferrous metals; tains extensive mountain regions, it cannot be charac- for the most part agriculture played a minor role. Indus- terized as a mountain country. High mountain regions with tries, based on the resources of timber and quartz sands, their special problems play a subordinate role in the eco- also expanded during and after the fifteenth and sixteenth nomic life of the nation. centuries, but this development was an indicator of eco- J. Stadelbauer / 233 POTENTIALS: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DETERMINANTS Mountains are not necessarily a deterrent to coloniza- substratum which will influence the formation of dif- tion but there are economic and social considerations that ferent soil types; determine the processes of colonization and abandonment the slope gradient which may restrict agricultural use of land in mountain areas. The most significant physio- but may also increase the receipts of incoming solar graphic factors are: radiation on the southern exposures and reduce them —the vertical distribution of rainfall which, outside the on northern exposures; tropics, shows a regular increase in annual mean totals the natural or artificial vegetation based on location; (and in potential for surface runoff) with increase in closed forest formations are characteristic in the Central altitude; European uplands where they function as a buffer (with —the vertical distribution of temperature with a regular water retention and air purification properties) within decrease in the average available energy, and therefore the ecosystem of the mountain region; a decrease in biomass productivity, with increasing —the change of slope (ranging up to very steep slopes), height; while an obstacle for agriculture, also becomes a "scenic —the proportion of silicate and carbonate in the underlying resource" for recreation and tourism. THE EVALUATION OF MOUNTAIN SPACE From the perspective of regional policy and economy, position: the number of fast growing conifers has increased most of the mountain regions lack infrastructure and are during the last two hundred years whereas slow growing marginal areas. They have lost large numbers of people deciduous trees have been superseded. More recently, during a long-lasting rural exodus to the more attractive forestry policies are seeking to restore