The main emphases of our research in the Swiss Alps are regional development in general and sustainable development in mountain areas in particular. These emphases build on both long-standing research in the region itself and on international experience. As a “northern case” within a globally active research centre, we support mutual learning and exchange between researchers, bring together researchers and practitioners, and apply methods and approaches developed in both the North and the South.
Our particular region of interest is the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. We currently focus on the following topics:
- Management and monitoring of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Protected areas and regional development
- Participation and mutual learning
- Common properties, alpine pasture use, and institutional change
- Governance of natural resources under changing conditions
- Database and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Landscape change
