The objectives of the project were expressed by the following work packages:
1.) Classification of agriculture in the Alps
2.) Development of target systems for an ecologically friendly mountain farming
3.) Determining of EU Instruments influencing mountain farming and the environment and their evaluation
4.) Synthesis/Recommendations

1.) Classification of agriculture in the Alps

The effects and effectiveness of EU regulations were evaluated with the help of case studies in model regions. For their representative selection a classification of the alpine agriculture according to the natural and socio-economic situation was needed. Therefore, data of all of the approximately 5.600 local authorities in the Alps which aptly describe the mountain farming and its socio-economic and natural background were gathered. By using Cluster Analysis and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) the Alps were classified into a practical number of types of structure.

The classification of the agriculture in the Alps was carried out in five steps:

• Development of methods of regional classification,
• Classification and description of structural and environmental data,
• Assessment of both quality and quantity of this data in view of the mutual effects,
• Definition of a set of representative types of agricultural structures,
• Selection of model regions for these structural types.

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2.) Development of target systems for an ecologically friendly mountain farming

Already existing political and social relevant documents regarding the mountain areas were gathered. These documents were then systematically classified according to their concerns in the environment and the mountain farming.

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3.) Determining of EU Instruments influencing mountain farming and the environment and their evaluation

In this task relevant EU instruments influencing the environment and the mountain farming were determined. Afterwards, certain characteristics of those instruments were fixed in order to evaluate later on their effect and effectiveness in the model regions.

This task was carried out in two steps:

• Qualification of the instruments of the EU that affect agriculture or environment,
• Description of the relevant instruments of the EU.

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4.) Synthesis/Recommendations

In the final synthesis suggestions for an improvement of EU instruments with a view to achieve sustainable development of mountain farming were worked out. In preparing the basis for those proposals, comparative analyses were performed between the model regions and the Swiss reference regions as well as among the model regions of the Member States.

In the alpine region, it was possible to identify eight well distinguishable agro-regional types based on natural, socio-economical, and agro-economical indicators.
Agro-policy was effective on agricultural reference values as well as on the environment. Its impact differs according to regional and operational settings.
Five main farm strategies (optimisation of subsidies, intensification, extensification, specialisation and modernisation) were primarily responsible for the transfer of agro-political impulses to the environmental situation.

Next to a whole row of technical results, the analysis of these strategies and the way they were influenced by the regional and operational setting allowed the conclusion that an environmentally appropriate European agricultural policy must be especially enduring (long-term, clearly formulated goals and instruments) and subsidiary (wide leeway for regional differentiation of the measures). Results showed, furthermore, that the highest agro-political leverage on the environment existed in the disadvantaged areas. Further references for the structuring of European agricultural policy could be deduced from these strategical principles.

Dipl. Ing. Ernst Mattanovich
RaumUmwelt Broggi-Mattanovich Planungs GesmbH
Theobaldgasse 16/4
A-1060 Wien
Tel. +43 1 5862877-14
E-mail: raumumwelt@ping.at

Dr. Peter Eggensberger
Alpenforschungsinstitut GmbH
Kreuzeckbahnstraße 19
D-82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Tel. +49 8821 183306
E-mail: eggensberger@alpenforschung.de

Prof. Dr. Otto Opitz / Dipl.-Math.oec Andreas Hilbert
Universität Augsburg
Universitätsstraße 16
D-86135 Augsburg
Tel. +49 821 5984150 or +49 821 5984155
E-mail: otto.opitz@wiso.uni-augsburg.de
E-mail: andreas.hilbert@wiso.uni-augsburg.de

Dipl.-Ing. Richard Dietrich / Dr. Roland Kals
Österreichische Vereinigung für Agrarwissenschaftliche Forschung
Kleine Sperlgasse 1/37
A-1020 Wien
Tel. +43 1 2145903/11 or 0043-732-670763
E-mail: oevaf-wien@oevaf.at

The partner teams involved complement one another in view of their professional qualification and knowledge but also in view of the regions to be investigated. Each partner focuses on a selected site of the Alps (research site), but they also deal with aspects other than regional (main focus).

European Commission DG XII

Gasser, M. (1999): „Valutazione di strumenti dell´Unione Europea con riguardo al loro apporto al rispetto dell´ambiente nell´agricoltura alpina. Diploma Thesis, Università di Firenze, Facoltà di scienze politiche, 132 p..

Hilbert, A. (2000): "Classification of huge data sets."

Mattanovich, E.; Steininger, K. (2000): „Acceptance and strain on the alpine specific measurements based on agrarian policy regulations. In: RAUM, Medieninhaber: Österreichisches Institut für Raumplanung (ÖIR).

Siegloch, J. (1999): "Umweltgerechte Gestaltung der Landwirtschaft im Alpenraum – Eine Evaluation von Instrumenten der Europäischen Union. Diploma Thesis, Universität Konstanz, Fakultät für Verwaltungswissenschaften, 89 p..

Staub, R.; Buchgraber, U.; Dietrich, R.; Hilbert, A.; Kals, R.; Sladek, C.; Steininger, K.; Tappeiner, U. (2001): „Der Strukturwandel geht weiter, Berglandwirtschaft – Eine Einführung", In: Alpenreport 2, S. 153-175, herausgegeben von CIPRA-International, Schaan 2001, Verlag Paul Haupt Bern.

Steininger, K. (2000): "Agricultural statistical data in the Community Member States with a territory possessiveness in the Alps", In: Ländlicher Raum, Mitteilungen des Arbeitskreises Ländlicher Raum; Medieninhaber und Herausgeber: Österreichisches Kuratorium für Landtechnik und Landentwicklung (ÖKL).

Tappeiner, G. (1999): „Die demographische Entwicklung im Alpenraum – Jung und Alt am Scheideweg", In: Jung sein – alt werden im Alpenraum. Zukunftsperspektiven und Generationendialog, S. 10-16, CIPRA Grosse Schriften 17/99, herausgegeben von CIPRA-International, Schaan 1999, Verlag Paul Haupt Bern.