Biosphere Reserves in Austria – Fundamentals and Status of Research

In this project our company had the task of evaluating how far the term “biosphere reserve” had become established and how far the associated Seville strategies had been implemented in Austria. The subject of the investigation were the biosphere reserves Gossenköllesee, Gurgler Kamm, Neusiedler See, Untere Lobau (old-style biosphere reserves), Großes Walsertal (new-style biosphere reserves), Moravia and Wienerwald (which at this time were planning areas). The areas were assessed by the extent to which they met the criteria “implementation of the biosphere reserve concept”, “maintenance of natural and cultural diversity”, “research, monitoring, education and training”, and “model region for sustainable development”. This analysis of the status quo forms the basis for professionally based steps towards the further development of these areas. In the course of the project E.C.O. also compiled a meta-database for the management of information relating to biosphere reserves.