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This results report covers the first monitoring cycle (2019–2024), providing an overview of all surveyed organism groups across 320 terrestrial and 120 aquatic monitoring sites throughout South Tyrol. It also discusses targeted measures aimed at conserving and promoting biodiversity across the region's diverse habitats.

The report is available as pdf in German and Italian:

Link zum pdf in deutscher Sprache Hilpold, A., Anderle, M., Guariento, E., Marsoner, T., Mina, M., Obwegs, L., Paniccia, C., Seeber, J., Strobl, J., Vanek, M., Bottarin, R., & Tappeiner, U. (2025). Biodiversitätsmonitoring Südtirol – Ergebnisbericht I. doi.org/10.57749/08CE-CW08

Link al pdf in lingua italiana Hilpold, A., Anderle, M., Guariento, E., Marsoner, T., Mina, M., Obwegs, L., Paniccia, C., Seeber, J., Strobl, J., Vanek, M., Bottarin, R., & Tappeiner, U. (2025). Monitoraggio della Biodiversità Alto Adige – Rapporto I. doi.org/10.57749/7NVZ-R102

The South Tyrol Biodiversity Monitoring programme is one of the long-term research projects carried out by the Institute for Alpine Environment. Since 2019, surveys of various groups of organisms have been conducted throughout South Tyrol using specific research methods and internationally standardized protocols.

This handbook provides a detailed description of these methods, helping to ensure that research data are transparent, reproducible, and comparable over time.

Hilpold A., Anderle M., Guariento E., Marsoner T., Mina M., Paniccia C., Plunger J., Rigo F., Rüdisser J., Scotti A., Seeber J., Steinwandter M., Stifter S., Strobl J., Suarez-Muñoz M., Vanek M., Bottarin R., Tappeiner U., Handbook – Biodiversity Monitoring South Tyrol, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy: Eurac Research, 2023

Available as a pdf in English language

Peat has formed in mires and wetlands over thousands of years since the last Ice Age and is one of the world's most important natural carbon stores, holding around one-third of global soil carbon—twice as much as all the world's forests combined. However, peat extraction and use release this stored carbon as carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change. Protecting peatlands and replacing peat with alternative growing substrates are therefore essential measures for achieving global climate targets. A study by Eurac Research and the University of Innsbruck is the first to investigate the carbon and nitrogen content, as well as methane emissions, of peat extracted in South Tyrol.

Marsoner, T., Illmer, P., Hilpold, A., Niedrist, G., & Tappeiner, U. (2022). Studie zum Torfabbau in Südtirol - Die Bedeutung von Torf als Kohlenstoffspeicher. Eurac Research. doi.org/10.57749/ACNG-FV67

Available as a pdf in German language

Agriculture uses and influences natural resources—including landscapes, soils, water, climate, air, and biodiversity—more than almost any other sector. This report is the first comprehensive assessment of the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) in South Tyrol's agricultural sector. It examines the main areas of agricultural activity in South Tyrol, identifies the key drivers of change, and considers different scales of analysis, from micro- to macroeconomics and from individual fields to the landscape level. In addition, two case studies explore the relationship between agriculture and tourism, and compare low-input and high-input dairy production systems.

Tappeiner U, Marsoner T, Niedrist G (Hrsg.)(2020) Landwirtschaftsreport zur Nachhaltigkeit Südtirol. Bozen, Italien: Eurac Research

Available as a pdf in German language

The Biodiversity Monitoring South Tyrol programme was launched in 2019 as a comprehensive long-term project within the Institute for Alpine Environment. In 2020 and 2021, brief reports presenting the first results of the monitoring programme were published.

Reviews of the first year's results and a two-year overview are available in German and Italian:

Link pdf in deutscher Sprache - erste Ergebnisse

Link pdf in deutscher Sprache - zwei-Jahres-Übersicht

Link pdf in italiano - primi risultati

Link pdf in italiano - panoramica di due anni

Since 2014 in the Matschertal /Val di Mazia has been established a research site of the long-term ecological research (LTER) network. Over the past decade, a number of studies and measuring campaigns have been conducted in this valley.

All key project data are available through the Metadata Base for Long-Term Observation and Experimentation Data and Facilities (DEIMS)

This report presents an overview of the historical development of game species in South Tyrol. While some species have always been part of the region's native fauna, others were intentionally introduced by humans. The shift towards permanent human settlement and the resulting transformation of the landscape have played a major role in shaping the distribution and occurrence of wildlife species.

Unterthurner B., Agreiter A., Gerstgrasser L., Hochrainer S., Rüdisser J., Tappeiner U.,Tasser E. (2019): Landschaft im Visier. Ein Überblick über die historische Entwicklung der jagdbaren Tierarten in Südtirol. Eurac Research, Bozen, Italien

Available as a pdf in German language

Landscapes do not emerge by chance. They are shaped—by the forces of nature and by people throughout history. As a result, every landscape reflects the society that has formed it. This publication explores the traces of social change embedded in cultural landscapes, interprets their meaning, and considers how they may shape the landscapes of tomorrow.

Tasser E., Schermer M., Siegl G., Tappeiner U. (2012): Wir Landschaftmacher. Vom Sein und Werden der Kulturlandschaft in Nord-, Ost- und Südtirol. Bozen, Italien: Athesia

Available as a pdf in German language

A comprehensive survey and description of alpine pastures in the central Alpine region, prepared on behalf of the Working Community of Alpine Regions (ARGE ALP). This Alpine Pasture Atlas covers the regions of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria, as well as South Tyrol, Trentino, Graubünden, and St. Gallen.

Tasser E., Aigner S., Egger G., Tappeiner U. (2013): Almatlas, Alpatlas = Atlante delle malghe. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenländer ARGE ALP

Link to pdf

Ulrike Tappeiner U., Borsdorf A.,Tasser E. (2008): Alpenatlas—Atlas des Alpes—Atlante delle Alpi—Atlas Alp—Mapping the Alps: Society—Economy—Environment. Heidelberg, Germany: Spektrum

Link to pdf

Agriculture in South Tyrol is increasingly characterized by intensification in productive valley areas and the abandonment of marginal grasslands and alpine pastures. This publication presents research from the Waltner meadows in the Passeier Valley on the relationship between land use and ecosystem functioning. It also evaluates the ecological impacts of different farming practices on biodiversity.

Tasser E., Ulrike Tappeiner U., Cernusca A. (2001): Südtirols Almen im Wandel. Ökologische Folgen von Landnutzungsänderungen. (Imprint: Europäische Akademie Bozen)

Available as a pdf in German language