Project leader: Regional Planning Association Grosses Walsertal (6 communities)

Project period: 2005

Research is one of the three central pillars of UNESCO biosphere parks. The “REPA” research project, financed by the Man and Biosphere research programme of the Academy of Sciences, was carried out in cooperation with the institutes of geography of the Universities of Vienna and Innsbruck.
The subject of research was the first effects on regional economies of the biosphere park label. Also studied were the acceptance and awareness of the label by the population and external experts after the biosphere park had been in operation for five years. Within five dissertation studies, 540 individuals, all partner businesses and a majority of the trade owners and alp landowners were interviewed. After 5 years of park operation the results of the project are thoroughly positive, for example 40% of those interviewed are prepared to work on biosphere park projects.