Axel Borsdorf Livres

Being amongst the small and medium-sized towns, the urban centres of the Alpine region have long tended to be on the margin of academic interest. It is only recently that transnational research projects have considered issues of settlement development, quality of life and the intelligent use of limited resources. The research report on the “Alpine town” represents an introduction to the topic, with academics of varying research interests and from different countries of the Alps presenting perspectives on urban research in the Alps. Attention is paid to the question of the delimitation of urban regions in the many branches of the Alpine valleys, and the perception of Alpine identity by the inhabitants, the role of tourism with its geo- graphical and socio-economic consequences, the involvement of the cities close to the Alps in the European system of towns and the regional transformation process in the field of tension between competitiveness and cohesion.

COST supports strategic workshops in order to provide the participants an opportunity to identified future research needs. The Strategic Workshop "Global Change and Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions" was convened at the Congress Hall of Innsbruck, Austria, from April 7-9, 2008. The event attracted more than 350 scientists, experts, practitioners, students, and scholars from 29 European and 10 non-European countries. It was based on three pillars 'keynotes', 'discussion groups', and 'presentations of ongoing projects'. The keynotes were presented by leading experts in their specific field and addressed current key research questions. The format of the discussion groups ensured that every participant could articulate his experiences and ideas. The project presentations gave an overview on ongoing activities, and were used as networking opportunities.

Mountains cover about a third of the world's land and are home to one-tenth of the global population, providing resources to over a third of humanity. They are biodiversity hotspots and offer recreational and recuperative benefits. However, climate change and globalization pose significant threats to these areas, with global warming affecting mountains up to three times faster than other regions. Traditional mountain communities struggle against global competition, and the cross-border nature of many mountain ranges can lead to conflicts over diminishing resources like minerals and water. Additionally, the inaccessibility of some mountain areas may allow them to become hiding spots for terrorists. Consequently, mountain research is increasingly vital to maintain their functions and promote sustainable development. The UN has acknowledged this need through the resolution on "Sustainable Mountain Development," which complements the mountain chapter of Agenda 21 and the declarations of International Years of the Mountains in 2002 and 2010. This volume highlights the efforts of Austrian mountain research in addressing global changes affecting these regions. The authors, affiliated with the Institute of Mountain Research: Man and Environment at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, provide a problem-oriented perspective for readers who appreciate the complexities of mountain landscapes.

Wo endet die Stadt, wo beginnt der landliche Raum? Es wird immer schwerer, zwischen diesen Raumkategorien zu unterscheiden. Einerseits sind viele stadtische Funktionen in ehemals landlich gepragte Raume abgewandert, andererseits wachsen manche Agglomerationen zu Megastadten bzw. kampfen um ihre Position im Netz der Weltstadte. Die neue "Siedlungsgeographie" behandelt den gesamten vom Menschen besiedelten Raum und stellt Grundlagen fur Verstandnis und Analyse bereit.

Bodenschätze, Naturschönheiten, intakte Kulturen und wirtschaftliche Vielfalt sind zentrale Aspekte der Anden. Erstmals seit Jahrzehnten wird eine umfassende Betrachtung dieser einzigartigen Region unternommen, die durch die längste Gebirgskette der Erde geprägt ist. In diesem Gebiet mit außergewöhnlicher klimatischer, floristischer und geologischer Diversität entwickelten sich vor der Ankunft der Spanier Hochkulturen. Bis heute ist der Andenraum gekennzeichnet durch ethnische, demographische, kulturelle und wirtschaftliche Vielfalt sowie durch soziale Disparitäten. Die Andenländer stehen vor der Herausforderung, ihre natürlichen und kulturellen Potenziale besser zu nutzen, ohne die ökologischen Grundlagen zu gefährden, wirtschaftliche Ungleichheiten zu überwinden und soziale Kohärenz zu fördern. Dieses reich bebilderte Buch mit faszinierenden Fotos und anschaulichen Grafiken bietet wichtige Grundlagen für ein besseres Verständnis der Region und ihrer Herausforderungen. Axel Borsdorf, Ordinarius des Instituts für Geographie an der Universität Innsbruck und Leiter des Instituts für Interdisziplinare Gebirgsforschung, sowie Christoph Stadel, Emeritus an der Universität Salzburg und Adjunct Professor in Kanada, bringen ihre Expertise in diesem Werk ein.

This collection features a range of scientific contributions addressing socio-economic and environmental changes in various regions, including Sri Lanka's Central Highlands and the arid Andes of Argentina. The discussions cover topics such as the hydrological significance of periglacial environments, the challenges posed by global change, and the impacts of climate change on alpine glaciers. Further, it explores the evolution of communal land ownership in the Alps, resilience in natural resource governance in Nunavut, and the market potential of Austrian hotel destinations through a scoring model approach. The anthology also delves into the decline of regional studies, the onset of non-European geography education at the University of Salzburg, and the effects of deforestation on rural livelihoods in Ecuador's tropical mountain forests. Urban transportation's role in environmental sustainability is examined in the context of Lima, while social housing policies in Santiago, Chile, are analyzed under changing conditions. Additionally, the collection highlights national parks in the western U.S., collaborative research in the Andes, and the threats posed by climate change in the Pamirs and Himalayas. It includes case studies on volcanic eruptions in southern Chile and integrates Christoph Stadel's perspectives on Andean identity and sustainability, alongside personal reflections and a comprehensive list of his publications.