Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions (eBook)

Preface 6
Contents 8
Contributors 12
Part I: Global Problems and Mountain Regions 16
Chapter 1: Scientific Research Basis for Sustainable Development of the Mountain Regions: Main Concepts and Basic Theories 17
1.1 Introduction 17
1.2 Research Base for Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions 18
1.3 “Pressure, State, Response” (PSR) and DPSIR Models Require Trans-Disciplinarity 20
1.4 Conclusions 21
References 21
Chapter 2: Solar Activity, Climate Change, and Natural Disasters in Mountain Regions 23
2.1 Background 23
2.2 Heliocentric Hypothesis on Forest Fires 27
2.3 Conclusion 31
References 32
Chapter 3: Mass Movement Processes Under Changing Climatic and Socioeconomic Conditions 34
3.1 Introduction 34
3.2 The Matrix of Mass Movement Processes and Triggering Parameters 35
3.2.1 Basics 35
3.2.2 The Event of 2005 (Communities of Gasen and Haslau, Austria) 36
3.3 Climate Change: Facts and Assumptions 37
3.4 Socioeconomic Development and Rising Disadvantages 40
3.5 Working with Scenarios: An Approach 43
3.6 Conclusions 44
References 45
Part II: Nature Resources and Land Use in Mountain Regions 46
Chapter 4: Mountains and Mountain Regions in Bulgaria 47
4.1 Introduction 47
4.2 Arguments 48
4.3 Criteria 50
4.4 Results 51
4.5 Conclusion 53
References 53
Chapter 5: The Nature Potential of Mountains in Bulgaria and Its Sustainable Use 54
5.1 Former Studies on the Natural Potential of the Mountains in Bulgaria 55
5.2 Assessment of Nature Potential by Components for Various Economic Purposes 58
5.2.1 Assessment of Relief 58
5.2.2 Climate Assessment 62
5.2.3 Assessment of Water 69
5.2.4 Assessment of the Soils, Vegetation, and Animal World 71
5.2.5 Complex Assessment of Mountain Landscapes 72
5.3 Assessment of the Possibilities for Sustainable Utilization of the Natural Potential of Mountains 74
5.4 Conclusion 76
References 76
Chapter 6: Morphometry and Land Use on High Mountains in the Republic of Macedonia 78
6.1 Introduction 78
6.2 Methodology 79
6.3 Basic Morphometric Characteristics 80
6.4 Basic Land Use Characteristics 81
6.4.1 Hypsometry and Land Use 82
6.4.2 Slopes and Land Use 84
6.4.3 Aspects and Land Use 86
6.5 Conclusion 88
References 88
Chapter 7: Usage of the Mountain Areas in the Republic of Macedonia 90
7.1 Introduction 90
7.2 Methodology of Work and Data Sources 91
7.3 Population as a Precondition for Area Usage 91
7.4 Size of Villages According to Population Number 93
7.5 Usage of the Areas of Mountain Villages 96
7.6 Conclusion 101
References 102
Chapter 8: Physical Geographic Characteristics and Sustainable Development of the Mountain Area in Montenegro 103
8.1 Introduction 103
8.2 Borders and Division of the Mountain Terrain 104
8.3 Geologic Background 110
8.4 Climate Conditions 111
8.5 Hydrologic Characteristics 112
8.6 Geomorphological Characteristics 113
8.7 Geoheritage and Environmental Protection 115
8.8 Potentials and Limitations for the Application of the Concept of Sustainable Development 115
8.9 Conclusion 119
References 120
Chapter 9: Climate Variability, Soil, and Forest Ecosystem Diversity of the Dinaric Mountains 122
9.1 Introduction 123
9.2 Climate Characteristics and Observed Climate Change in Dinarides 125
9.3 Main Soil-Forming Factors 128
9.4 Characteristic Soil Types 130
9.5 Forest Vegetation of Dinarides 134
9.6 Climate Modeling and Future Climate Changes in Croatia 141
9.7 Conclusions 144
References 146
Chapter 10: Assessment of Greek Forests Protection and Management 149
10.1 Introduction: Forest Ecosystems in Greece 150
10.1.1 The General Context 150
10.1.2 Greek Diversity 151
10.2 Forests in Mountain Regions of Greece 155
10.2.1 Morphology and Diversity 155
10.2.2 Species and Formations of Forests in Mountainous Regions of Greece 155
10.3 Direct and Indirect Benefits of Forests 158
10.3.1 Direct Benefits 158
10.3.2 Indirect Benefits 159
10.4 Sustainable Forest Management 161
10.4.1 A Definition 161
10.4.2 The Global View 161
10.4.3 The European View 162
10.4.4 Greek Management 162
10.4.5 Regional Issues 163
10.4.6 The Future Approach 164
10.5 Threats and Risks of the Greek Forests 164
10.6 Restoration of Greek Forest Ecosystems 165
References 169
Chapter 11: Mapping Forest Fragmentation Based on Morphological Image Analysis of Mountain Regions in Bulgaria and Slovakia 175
11.1 Introduction 176
11.2 Materials and Methods 177
11.2.1 Study Areas 177
11.2.2 Data 178
11.2.3 Morphological Image Analysis 179
11.3 Results and Discussion 180
11.4 Conclusion 187
References 187
Chapter 12: Evaluation of the Avalanche Danger in Northwest Rila Mountain 190
12.1 Introduction 190
12.2 Avalanche and Avalanche Danger 191
12.3 Conclusions 195
References 197
Chapter 13: Management of Snow Avalanche Risk in the Ski Areas of the Southern Carpathians–Romanian Carpathians 198
13.1 Introduction 198
13.2 General Facts of the Studied Area 199
13.3 Terrain Factors and Climatic Variables Analysis as Favorable for Ski Activities 201
13.3.1 Terrain Factors 201
13.3.2 Climatic Variables 207
13.4 Management of Snow Avalanche Risk 210
13.5 Conclusions 216
References 217
Chapter 14: Landscape Structure and Ecosystem Services of Etropole Municipality 221
14.1 Introduction 221
14.2 Study Area 223
14.3 Materials and Methods 224
14.4 Results 225
14.5 Conclusion 229
References 230
Part III : Social, Economic and Regional Problems of Mountain Regions 231
Chapter 15: Demographic Potential and Problems of the Settlements Network in the Mountains of Bulgaria 232
References 244
Chapter 16: Demographic Limits to Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions in Serbia 245
16.1 Introduction 245
16.2 The Analysis 247
16.3 The Future 252
References 254
Chapter 17: Changes in the Ethnic and Demographic Profile of the Population in Eastern Stara Planina Region 256
17.1 General Notes 256
17.2 The Turkish Ethnic Group 258
17.3 The Bulgarian and the Roma Ethnic Groups 260
17.4 Classification and Grouping 264
References 265
Chapter 18: Small Urban Centers in the Alps and Their Development Issues 267
18.1 Introduction 267
18.2 Basic Features of Small Urban Centers in the Alps 269
18.2.1 Population Growth 270
18.2.2 Aging of the Population 270
18.2.3 Working Population 272
18.2.4 Jobs 272
18.2.5 Tourism 273
18.2.6 Transport Accessibility and Mobility 274
18.3 Survey on Contemporary Development Issues 275
18.4 Discussion 279
18.5 Conclusion 280
References 280
Chapter 19: Impact of Macroeconomic Changes and Property Rights on Forest Degradation, Land Use, and Environmental Situation in Albania 282
19.1 Historical Land Tenure in Albania 283
19.1.1 Privatization of Agricultural Land 284
19.2 Main Land Tenure Issues 284
19.2.1 Land Fragmentation 284
19.3 Effects of Land Reforms on Land Use in Albania After 1991 285
19.3.1 Land Cover 285
19.3.2 Forest Degradation 286
19.3.3 Pasture Degradation 291
19.4 Conclusions 292
References 293
Chapter 20: Sustainable Development in the Eastern Black Sea Mountains: Present State and Perspectives 295
20.1 Introduction 295
20.2 The Eastern Black Sea Region 296
20.2.1 Settlement System 298
20.2.2 The Economy 298
20.3 The Eastern Black Sea Regional Development Plan (DOKAP) and Sustainable Mountain Development 299
20.3.1 Legislative Basis 300
20.3.2 Design 300
20.3.3 Objectives, Rationale, and General Description 301
20.3.4 Financing 301
20.3.5 Administration of the Plan 302
20.4 The Project Achievements 302
20.4.1 Accessibility and Mountain Development 302
20.4.2 Tourism and Mountain Development 303
20.4.3 The Kaçkar Mountains National Park: A Model for Sustainable Mountain Development 304
20.5 Conclusion 305
References 305
Chapter 21: Regional Differences and Regional Planning of Economic Activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina 307
21.1 Introduction 307
21.2 Methodology of Research 308
21.3 Socioeconomic Transformation and Regional Development of Bosnia and Herzegovina Since the Mid-­Twentieth Century 309
21.4 Modern Regional Development of Bosnia and Herzgovina 312
21.5 Conclusion 316
References 316
Journal Article 316
Book 316
Part IV: Nature Protection, Conservation and Monitoring 317
Chapter 22: Applying Integrated Nature Conservation Management: Using Visitor Management and Monitoring to Handle Conflicts Between Winter Recreation and Grouse Species in Berchtesgaden National Park 318
22.1 Introduction and Background 319
22.2 Study Area and Study Objects 322
22.2.1 Berchtesgaden National Park 323
22.2.2 Winter Recreation: Ski-Touring and Snowshoeing 323
22.2.3 Wildlife: Grouse Species 325
22.3 Temporal and Spatial Use Characteristics of Ski-­Touring and Snowshoeing 325
22.3.1 Visitor Numbers and Temporal Use Characteristics 326
22.3.2 Spatial Use 327
22.4 Conflicts and Integrated Management Measures 328
22.4.1 Winter Season 329
22.4.2 Spring Season 329
22.5 Outlook 331
References 332
Chapter 23: Environmental Changes in the Maramure? Mountains Natural Park 334
23.1 Introduction 335
23.2 Environmental Changes in  Maramure? Mountains Natural Park 336
Settlement Expansion 336
Overgrazing 338
Deforestation 340
Mining Activities 342
Touristic Activities 344
23.3 Conclusions 346
References 347
Chapter 24: BEO Moussala: Complex for Environmental Studies 348
24.1 Introduction 348
24.1.1 Climate Notes 349
24.1.2 The Station Chronology 349
24.2 Environmental Measurements at BEO Moussala 350
24.2.1 Vaisala Automatic Weather Station (AWS) 351
24.2.2 POPs Passive Air Sampling 353
24.2.3 Atmospheric Gas Analysis System 354
24.2.4 BEO Moussala Aerosol Measurement and Devices 354
24.2.4.1 Scanning Mobility Particles Sizer 354
24.2.4.2 Nephelometer TSI 3563 356
24.2.5 System for Measurements of Radioactivity in Aerosols 357
24.2.6 BEO Moussala Gamma Background Measurement 358
24.2.6.1 IGS421B1 Gamma Probe 358
24.2.6.2 Online Measurement of the Spectrum of Gamma Rays at Moussala Peak 359
24.3 Cosmic Ray Research at BEO Moussala 360
24.3.1 Muon Telescope 360
24.3.2 SEVAN 361
24.4 Cosmic Rays and Climate 361
24.5 Telecommunication and Information System INRNE-BEO 362
24.6 Conclusion 363
References 363
Chapter 25: Research of Field Evidence for Late Quaternary Climate Changes in the Highest Mountains of Bulgaria 365
25.1 Introduction 365
25.2 Bulgarian Mountains: A Target Area for Paleoclimatic Research 366
25.3 Types of Indicators and Research Methods 367
25.4 Previous Geographic Studies in Rila and Pirin 369
25.5 Review of Achieved Results 370
25.5.1 Researching Environmental Conditions of the Past: The Glacial Evidence 370
25.5.2 Monitoring of Present Geomorphic and Hydrologic Processes 374
25.6 The Future: Prospects and Expectations 377
25.7 Conclusion 378
References 378
Part V : Networks and Strategies for Mountain Regions 381
Chapter 26: Models and Strategies for Sustainable Management of Mountain Territories in Central and Southeastern Europe 382
26.1 Introduction 382
26.2 Specific Mountain Legislation 383
26.2.1 Mountain Law in Southeast European Countries 383
26.3 Regional Conventions 384
26.3.1 Alps Convention 384
26.3.2 Initiative Carpathian Ecoregion (Carpathian Convention) 384
26.4 Transborder Initiatives Between Bulgaria and Neighbor Countries 385
26.4.1 Transborder Ecological Network Between Bulgaria and Greece 385
26.4.2 Euroregion in Western Balkan Mountain Between Bulgaria and Serbia 385
26.4.3 Green Network Strandzha/Yildiz Between Bulgaria and Turkey 385
26.4.4 International Cooperation of Bulgarian Mountain Regions 386
26.4.4.1 Centers and Programs for Education 387
26.4.4.2 Funding 387
References 388
Chapter 27: Science Networks for Global Change in Mountain Regions: The Mountain Research Initiative 389
27.1 Origin of the Mountain Research Initiative 389
27.1.1 Actions at Global Level: Design of an International Research Agenda 390
27.1.2 Implementing the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy 391
27.2 MRI Europe: A Regional Network for Global Change Research in Mountains 391
27.2.1 Science for the Carpathians: Working toward a Research Agenda for the Carpathians 393
27.2.2 Southeastern European Mountain Research Network 394
References 395
Index 396