Around the world, mountain regions are affected especially strong by global change; this is also true for the Alps. The consequences of globalization and the accompanying structural and economic development as well as climate change will be highly dynamic processes in the natural and cultural space of the whole Alpine region in the next years and decades which will affect land cover as well as structure and functioning of ecosystems and the landscape. This research project aims to analyze important aspects of ecological transformations and their background in mountain areas. Thereby, we will focus on landscape change and coupled ecosystem functions such as modifications of biodiversity or water balance, which are induced by human management and climate change. The research approach combines field studies with remote sensing and simulation models.

Within the frame of the Global Change project we're carrying on the Viel-Falter TCS project, financed by the BMWFW through the Top Citizen Science initiative. Further information on it is available in German.