During the integrative alpine excursion, students learn to identify ecological, economic and socio-cultural challenges that alpine regions are facing regarding climate change. They can critically analyze the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of alpine regions as well as define possible solutions (mitigation, adaptation) for selected practical examples (case studies, best practice).
Students develop the following competencies

• analyze the challenges of alpine regions in relation to climate change processes
• contrast factors that promote biodiversity loss in natural and cultural landscapes
• demonstrate approaches to solutions regarding different economic sectors

• identify habitats and their conservation status
• contrast the expansion of renewable energy sources and the advantages and disadvantages for climate protection vs. biodiversity and landscape
• outline methods for stakeholder processes
• apply selected tools for monitoring environmental processes

None

The following contents will be covered during the integrative alpine excursion:
Ecological aspects:

• monitoring of climate-impacting processes (e.g., Pasterze, GLORIA, weather station)
• green infrastructure
• impacts of climate change on mountain forests
• climate-smart forests (climate change mitigation)
• peatlands (climate change mitigation)

• interactions between landscape, nature conservation and tourism
• visitor guidance, visitor offers, nature-compatible visitor management
• mountain farming (decline in use = decline in biodiversity), management, subsidies, scrub encroachment, forest encroachment, soil compaction, fertilization, large carnivors
• natural hazard management and the future of villages (bark beetles/protection against natural hazards)
• energy management issues

• participation processes for climate change adaptation (e.g., citizen science)
• experiential education concepts (nature interpretation)
• transition towns

Tasse E., Vigl L. E., Vigl E.: Green Infrastructure for the Alpine Space: from theory to practice. D.T1.1.1 of the Interreg Alpine Space project "LUIGI". September 2020.
Probst T., Hohmann R., Pütz M., Braunschweiger D., Belaid R. K.: Climate Adaptation Governance in the Alpine Space Transnational Synthesis Report. 2019.
Cerbu G. A., Hanewinkel M., Gerosa G., Jandl R.: Management strategies to adapt alpine space forests to climate change risks. InTech. 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56933

Excursion, group work, presentation

Immanent examination character:
Participation, log book (travel diary), introductory task, presentation