Survivances paysannes et pluriactivité dans la montagne portugaise. L'exemple de la "Serra do Caramulo"

International audienceFrom whatever angle of approach, the rural areas of Serra do Caramulo (Portugal) appear to be frozen in a time warp. It is a wonder bour such a system can still continue to operate in a European Community where interregional competition is growing stronger. The key seems to be in diverse forms of multiple occupation activity and in the fairly long-distance migration patterns of men. One or several members of a family working outside ensures a minimum of ressources and cashflow.Quel que soit le critère considéré, les campagnes de la Serra de Caramulo apparaissent comme figées dans un archaïsme presque total et on peut se demander comment un tel système fonctionne encore dans une Europe où s'exerce une forte concurrence interrégionale. La clé de la réponse tient avant tout aux multiples formes de pluriactivité et aux migrations plus ou moins lointaines des hommes. Le travail exogène d'un ou plusieurs membres de la famille apporte un minimum de ressources en numéraire

Evaluation of multi-level social learning for sustainable landscapes: perspective of a development initiative in Bergslagen, Sweden

To implement policies about sustainable landscapesand rural development necessitates social learningabout states and trends of sustainability indicators, normsthat define sustainability, and adaptive multi-level governance.We evaluate the extent to which social learning atmultiple governance levels for sustainable landscapesoccur in 18 local development initiatives in the network ofSustainable Bergslagen in Sweden. We mapped activitiesover time, and interviewed key actors in the network aboutsocial learning. While activities resulted in exchange ofexperiences and some local solutions, a major challengewas to secure systematic social learning and make newknowledge explicit at multiple levels. None of the developmentinitiatives used a systematic approach to securesocial learning, and sustainability assessments were notmade systematically. We discuss how social learning canbe improved, and how a learning network of developmentinitiatives could be realized

Les Carpathes polonaises, moyenne montagne vivante. La prospérité du Podhale

Abstracts. - In the heart of the Polish Carpathians, Podhale is an example of high lands without any fallow and whose density of population remains astonishingly strong. The very small private farms are living on thanks to the additional income from the tourist trade, industry and handicraft and also thanks to the dollars sent by the emigrants who have settled in the US. With the exception of the South-East, many parts of the Polish Carpathians offer similar characteristics and therefore appear as prosperous areas especially when compared with the northern low lands.RÉSUMÉ. — Au cœur des Carpathes polonaises, le Podhale offre l'exemple d'une région de moyenne montagne sans déprise apparente et dont les densités demeurent étonnamment fortes. Les micro-exploitations se maintiennent du fait des revenus complémentaires issus du tourisme, de l'industrie et de l'artisanat, mais aussi grâce aux dollars envoyés par les immigrés installés aux Etats-Unis. A l'exception du Sud- Ouest, de nombreux secteurs des Carpathes polonaises présentent des caractéristiques semblables et apparaissent ainsi comme des régions prospères surtout si on les compare aux plaines septentrionales.Diry Jean-Paul, Mignon Christian. Les Carpathes polonaises, moyenne montagne vivante. La prospérité du Podhale. In: Revue de géographie alpine, tome 77, n°4, 1989. pp. 359-381

The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Biosphärenpark Wienerwald” (Vienna Woods) – a Long History of Conservation. eco.mont (Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research)|eco.mont Vol. 1 No. 1|

Due to its high diversity and the considerable number of rare and endangered species and habitats, the Wienerwald region (Vienna Woods) has been integrated into various protected area programmes (landscape conservation areas, nature conservation areas, natural monuments, nature parks as defined by national law, the Flora Fauna Habitat Directive of the European Union, including the nomination of large parts for the NATURA 2000 Network). The designation of the Wienerwald as a biosphere reserve within UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves provides an ideal framework for all ongoing conservation activities. The basic idea of biosphere reserves to link conservation with sustainable use is well suited to the specific situation of the Wienerwald and its extraordinary ecosystem

The Austrian Biosphere Reserves. A (connoisseur’s) world beyond the cookery book. eco.mont (Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research)|eco.mont Vol. 5 No. 2 5 2|

In many instances the Austrian UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as model regions of sustainable development are outshone by other conservation categories, such as national parks or world heritage sites, and are largely unknown to the wider population. This shadowy existence is ill deserved. The modern concept of biosphere reserves (BRs) is more important today than it ever was if we want to maintain valuable cultural landscapes for later generations. The Austrian MAB National Committee therefore made it a priority to greatly increase the popularity of our BRs and to underline their significance for sustainability research. Moreover, efforts in this vein should involve young people. The project Vielfalt Genießen (Enjoying diversity) has been conceived as a three-stage programme, starting with a schools competition during the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, followed by the publication of an award-winning cookery book (The Austrian Biosphere Reserves. A Connoisseur’s World) and culminating in a BR training for students, lasting more than a year, carried out at the Landesberufsschule Waldegg (vocational college for the hotel and catering trades) and complemented with BR-related activities (BR recipes, information folder) in selected restaurants around Wienerwald BR