PEOPLEJulia Stauder

de en it

Julia Stauder

Post-Doc-Researcher
Institute for Regional Development

T +39 0471 055 423

julia.stauder@eurac.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3891-804X

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About

Research Interests

Human–nature interactions
Nature conservation and wildlife management
Traditional land-use systems in mountain regions, with a focus on extensive grazing practices
Sustainable landscape management and biodiversity conservation

Short CV

Julia Stauder, PhD, is a Wildlife Ecologist and Manager and a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Regional Development at Eurac Research. Her research focuses on human–nature interactions, landscape conservation, and sustainable land-use systems. In her doctoral research, she investigated the role of extensive grazing systems, traditional livestock husbandry, and shepherding in livestock protection, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of cultural landscapes.

Scientific Publications

Journal article2026

Managing livestock protection and summer pasture farming: The results from a participatory stakeholder process in the Alps

Stauder J, Platzgummer J, Ende L, Favilli F, Kostner B

Benjamin Kostner, Filippo Favilli, Julia Stauder

Project: Improving livestock protection for the direct benefit of wolf conservation in the German-speaking Alpine Region

The reappearance of wolves in Europe has necessitated the implementation of livestock protection measures, causing different conflicts among and for stakeholder groups. This study, conducted between 2022 and 2025 in South Tyrol (IT), aimed to identify the main obstacles to implementing livestock protection measures through a participatory process involving eight stakeholder groups and to develop commonly accepted interventions. This process combined conflict mapping through stakeholder and socio-economic context analysis, followed by a workshop and working group meetings to prioritize and refine interventions. Key findings revealed that socio-economic challenges such as lacking viability of summer pasture grazing and a shortage of personnel are as critical as technical constraints related to livestock protection implementation. Thirteen interventions were enacted, focusing on the formalization of shepherding through training and regulations, stakeholder collaboration, awareness campaigns, and contractual nature conservation as an additional income source. Despite initial skepticism and institutional challenges, the participatory approach allowed consideration of different perspectives, promoted joint problem-solving, social learning, and strengthened the legitimacy of the intervention decisions. The findings highlight the need for sustained political commitment and adaptive policies to ensure the long-term viability of summer pasture farming and livestock protection implementation. Lessons learned are provided to inform replication in other regions.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70284

Journal article2023

An Exploration of Drivers for Abandonment or Continuation of Summer Pasture Grazing in South Tyrol, Italy

Stauder J, Meimberg H, Kriechbaum M

Julia Stauder

Project: Improving livestock protection for the direct benefit of wolf conservation in the German-speaking Alpine Region

Summer pasture grazing is perceived as being under pressure from renewed wolf presence in the Italian Alpine province of South Tyrol. To investigate this, we combined a literature review with expert interviews to (1) get an overview of the situation of small ruminant farming and (2) identify drivers with an influence on summer pasture use, including wolf presence. Firstly, the results show an increase in small ruminant farms and stock numbers in the valley and on summer pastures during the last years. Secondly, subsidy programs, off-farm employment, lack of personnel and tourism are some of the main drivers for summer pasture development in the past and future. Thirdly, this analysis detects the potential pressure of wolf presence on small ruminant summer farming. Nevertheless, this impact should still be considered modest compared to other driving processes that have started before the return of the wolves. Based on this, the study finally discusses the importance of focusing on targeted funding, the revalorization of the shepherd profession and the balance between tourism and livestock farming to support summer pasture farming in the future.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.3390/su15097355

Journal article2023

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explore the Intention of Farmers to Use Livestock Protection Measures

Stauder J

Julia Stauder

Project: Improving livestock protection for the direct benefit of wolf conservation in the German-speaking Alpine Region

Livestock protection measures are necessary to protect livestock from wolf attacks but are highly controversial in the agricultural community. This qualitative study referred to the theory of planned behavior to explore the social elements that influence farmers' intention to use or reject livestock protection measures. Data were collected from 45 sheep farmers on 4 alpine pastures in the Alpine province of Bolzano, Italy, using semistructured interviews. Results show, first, a predominantly negative attitude toward livestock protection measures because of perceived technical constraints, excessive workload, and emotional stress. Second, family, friends, and other sheep farmers were the most important referent groups and could trigger social stress to support or hinder the use of protection measures. Third, perceived behavioral control was constrained by a lack of professional advice in the province regarding protection measures and a lack of funding for additional costs involved. Intentions to use these measures in the future were equally positive and negative, with the sheer inevitability of needing protection measures to allow continued grazing cited as the primary motivator. These findings underline the importance of considering social factors in management plans and conflict mitigation actions and serve as a basis for further, more detailed studies.

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1659/mrd.2022.00034

Journal article2020

The attitude of society to the return of the wolf in South Tyrol (Italy)

Stauder J, Favilli F, Stawinoga AE, Omizzolo A, Streifeneder TP

Agnieszka Stawinoga, Julia Stauder, Thomas Streifeneder, Andrea Omizzolo, Filippo Favilli

This article provides a first investigation on the attitude of South Tyrolean residents
(northern Italy) towards the return of the wolf in their province. Data were collected
through an online questionnaire, which was available for 54,527 residents (≥ 18 years
old) of South Tyrol with internet access and a Facebook® account and was shared on
the institute’s homepage. In total, 1818 valid responses were collected in two months in
2018. Cluster analysis evidenced four homogenous groups of respondents
characterized by the components of attitude, their district community, the wolf
distribution in their area, belief factors and the personal fear of wolves. The data
analysis revealed differences and relations between the four clusters in the level of
knowledge, experience with wolves, education level and the expected impact on the
tourist sector. The obtained results (1) evidence some key factors influencing the
attitude of residents, (2) underline the importance of considering small spatial scale
attitudinal differences and (3) urge for an extended human dimension of wolf
coexistence research to support local management strategies.

DOI

DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-1372-5

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Journal article2026

Managing livestock protection and summer pasture farming: The results from a participatory stakeholder process in the Alps

Stauder J, Platzgummer J, Ende L, Favilli F, Kostner B

Benjamin Kostner, Filippo Favilli, Julia Stauder

Project: Improving livestock protection for the direct benefit of wolf conservation in the German-speaking Alpine Region

DOI Source

DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70284

Julia Stauder

About

Scientific Publications

Managing livestock protection and summer pasture farming: The results from a participatory stakeholder process in the Alps

An Exploration of Drivers for Abandonment or Continuation of Summer Pasture Grazing in South Tyrol, Italy

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explore the Intention of Farmers to Use Livestock Protection Measures

The attitude of society to the return of the wolf in South Tyrol (Italy)

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Scientific Publications

Managing livestock protection and summer pasture farming: The results from a participatory stakeholder process in the Alps

An Exploration of Drivers for Abandonment or Continuation of Summer Pasture Grazing in South Tyrol, Italy

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explore the Intention of Farmers to Use Livestock Protection Measures

The attitude of society to the return of the wolf in South Tyrol (Italy)