Knowledge of ecological, social and economic processes is a vital prerequisite to gaining a profound understanding of ecosystems. There is obvious demand for the creation of a long-term research capacity which should enable the discovery and formulation of the underlying relationships in ecosystems and the creation of the tools necessary for their efficient management. Thus, the conference focuses on interdisciplinary scientific work (basic research, problem-oriented and applied research) relating to one of the following two topics:

Interdisciplinary research in protected areas

Protection of endangered species and their native habitat has attracted the attention of researchers in economics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Keywords: conservation ecology, protected area management and planning, natural reserves, contingent valuation, natural resources, clash of economic and ecological interests, ecosystem research, process research, public relations and acceptance in environmental protection, biodiversity, hydrological processes, climate change, wilderness, bioindicators, GIS.

Interactions between economic and ecological systems in mountain areas

The objective is to develop analytical approaches that consider interdependencies between economic and ecological systems.

Keywords: integrated ecologic-economic modelling, renewable resource management and conservation, methods of implementing efficient environmental policies, ecological impact assessment, landscape ecology, valuation of landscape attributes, relationship between ecosystem and society, effects of social interaction on economic and environmental systems, importance of environmental protection for economic production and innovation, ecological economics, ecosystem management, land-use and  ecological  and socio-economic interrelations, compensation payments, ecological economic indicators, environmental valuation, environmental statistics, regional sustainable development.