Keeping the landscape open – challenges and successful strategies in the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

In this policy article, we identify challenges for maintaining the Black Forest Biosphere Reserve’s diverse cultural landscape and present the efforts undertaken to address these. Set in a land-use context that is rich in tradition, featuring common pastures and an indigenous cattle breed, landscape preservation today is threatened by fundamental changes in the agricultural community as well as of land-use systems. As part of the MAB network, the UNESCO Black Forest Biosphere Reserve provides collaborative arenas to address these issues and propose action in concertation with local actors and communities. To illustrate this, we describe the ALLMENDE 2.0 applied research project, the creation of a commercialization hub for the local Hinterwälder cattle, and support for the modelling of more extensive ecologically-orientated agriculture. Profile