UNESCO BIOSPHERE PARK GROSSES WALSERTAL

Since 2000, the Grosses Walsertal valley in Vorarlberg, Austria, has been part of the global network of UNESCO biosphere reserves. This network, created in the 1970s, demonstrates sustainable lifestyles and economic systems. ‘Benefitting from nature without harming it’ is the motto of the biosphere reserve Grosses Walsertal. The biosphere reserve concept is an appropriate way to give fresh impetus to the regional development of the valley's six municipalities, despite their somewhat hard-living and economic conditions. For years, animal husbandry was the essential economic basis for the people living here. Many farmers have, however, made the change to organic farming and ecologically sustainable exploitation of the forests on the steep slopes. Most of the workforce commute to jobs outside the valley. In the valley itself, the possibilities for earning a living are farming, tourism and a few skilled trade enterprises.

We are the biosphere park!
Approximately 3,400 people live in the six communities of the biosphere reserve. Enthusiastic residents were invited to get involved in biosphere reserve projects and processes from as early as the development of the overall concept. Numerous projects have been developed with the motto ‘Living and working in harmony with nature’. One of the main goals of these projects is to create income and benefits for local communities by way of sustainable regional development. Over the years several projects in the fields of sustainable production and marketing of biosphere reserve products, green tourism and craft businesses, renewable energy and environmental education have improved the profit generation and livelihood benefits.

Green tourism? We owe it all to nature!
Tourism plays a major role in the biosphere reserve Grosses Walsertal. The colorful patchwork of natural and cultivated landscapes invites extensive walking in the summer. There are small lifts for winter sports in some of the villages. Partner businesses of the biosphere park include tourism and catering companies as well as providers of accommodation, who have committed themselves to specific criteria regarding the philosophy of the biosphere reserve. The goal is to ensure that the biosphere park is an essential part of daily life within the tourism industry.

Renewable energy and mitigation of climate change
Over the years, several measures were taken to advance energy efficiency and contribute to the mitigation of climate change. The Grosses Walsertal valley is taking part in the e5 programme for energy-efficient communities and is currently certified with four out of five ‘e’grades. Projects contributing to this success include model municipal buildings; certification of all seven schools in Grosses Walsertal with the Austrian Eco-label for Schools; Alp and Walkers’ buses to limit private traffic on toll roads; as well as biomass exploitation, which has increased significantly over the last few years. One of the main aims of Grosses Walsertal is 100 per cent self-supply with eco-energy. Under the framework of the E-Regio project, potentials, prospects, development strategies and options for action to reach this target were determined, and measures selected which will be implemented within the next two years.