The main goal of the project is to understand the relationship between urban diversity, built environment and the acceptance of the human population, in order to identify initial measures for integrating findings on how to enhance urban biodiversity and the acceptance of the residents into urban development processes.

Available languages: German  English  French  Italian 

The aim of the research project WaMos 2 is to assess the attitudes of the population towards forest and wood related topics. In doing so, the project revisits and builds upon work that was done in 1997. The results of WaMos 2 will serve as a basis for forest related policy, and the forest- and environment-related reporting of FOEN.

Available languages: German  English  French 

With a telephonic survey the Swiss inhabitant's perception of natural hazards and specifically the hurricane "Lothar" has been investigated. The scientists asked almost 1000 people.

Available languages: German  English 

The aim this project is to investigate the implications of transit traffic on nature and society and to design a monitoring tool to detect changes related to the amount of traffic. The project also investigates the influence of transit traffic and the related landscape changes on wellbeing and place attachment of inhabitants.

Available languages: German  English 

One of the main arguments for handing out agricultural subsidies in Swiss mountainous areas is the conservation of traditional landscapes. To find out what people think about land abandonment WSL conducted qualitative in-situ-interviews as well as standardised questionnaires and photo-experiments.

Available languages: German  English 

The ENHANCE project tests and evaluates ecosystem connectivity with state-of-the art molecular genetic experiments and population-dynamic analysis in terrestrial and riparian habitats, prior and after connectivity is enhanced.

Available languages: German  English 

Considering the constantly increasing leisure activities in various outdoor areas the question arises, how social use conflicts and ecological impairment of nature can be reduced.

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Do natural science experiments have an influence on the politicians' readiness to plan environ-political measures and on the public's acceptance? The significance of experiments in natural science in the public discussion on CO2-emissions was investigated. Among the politicians three different types of attitudes towards natural science in general were found.

Available languages: German  English 

One option to regulate the management of dry meadows is signing a contract with farmers. It has become evident that not all farmers are willing to sign such contracts in spite of the possibility to earn some extra money. The question was why some farmers refuse to sign.

Available languages: German  English 

The storm Lothar has had consequences for totally different groups interested in the forest. These are not only groups economically linked with the forest, but also people, which use the forest in their leisure time. Which consequences did "Lothar" have for the different interest groups?

Available languages: German  English 

In der Vorstudie zum Nationalen Forschungsprogramm 48 "Landschaften und Lebensräume der Alpen" wurden der Wissensstand aufgearbeitet, das Forschungs- und Akteurnetzwerk erfasst, die Erwartungen von Institutionen und Organisationen ermittelt und die aufgeworfenen Forschungsfelder evaluiert.

Available languages: German 

The lay assessment of tourism-induced landscape changes was investigated with standardized questionnaires and photo-experiments. A main result was that tourists are very sensitive to landscape changes caused by tourist infrastructure. They wish the landscape to remain traditional.

Available languages: German  English 

Outdoor-activities can have negative consequences on nature and landscape. A PhD student has analysed the motivation of outdoor-activists, their attitudes towards nature and landscape and their behaviour changing strategies.

Available languages: German  English 

Scientists developed a guide designed to help local communities start up and carry out participation-in-development. The guide has been published in the form of a brochure. You will also find a web-paket.

Available languages: German  English 

What are the global attitudes towards nature and wilderness? What is perceived as wilderness and what degree of wilderness is accepted by the population in general? What are the differences between people accepting wilderness and those objecting it?

Available languages: German  English 

A major concern for landscape conservation strategies is the public attitude towards nature in general and towards efforts to let "nature return to the cultivated landscape". In this context the attitudes of national park visitors towards declining forest patches have been investigated.

Available languages: German  English 

Acceptance and success of biosphere reserves depend very much on the local population's perception of and identification with the biosphere reserves. The objective of this study was to determine the attitudes of various social groups towards nature and nature protection in Ukraine and Switzerland.

Available languages: German  English 

For centuries agriculture has played a multifunctional role in defining and sustaining mountain biodiversity in Europe through the management of habitats, species and landscapes. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the implications of agricultural restructuring and decline for biodiversity conservation in Europe’s mountain areas.

Available languages: German  English 

Rural communities in Switzerland experience a process of urbanization running contrary to the needs of the locals. In order to stop this harmful process, answers to the following questions are needed: What needs of the people can be met by the "every-day-landscape"? Why don't people shape their "every-day-landscape"? How could they be encouraged to participate?

Available languages: German  English 

The new WSL research programme Room for People and Nature is examining the future development of intensively exploited regions, and intends to formulate basic principles for managing them in a sustainable way. It is being established and implemented in close collaboration with practitioners.

Available languages: German  English  French 

In the context of sustainable development of the resource alpine landscape it is necessary that these developments are supported by a large part of the population. Therefore people's manifold objectives and desires must be known and included in planning measures.

Available languages: German  English 

Nature and landscape conservation issues have a high priority since an intact landscape is considered as important for tourism and well-being. On the local level however, there is a fair amount of contradiciting views. In this research, processes that positively or negatively influence acceptance have been investigated.

Available languages: German  English 

Grossraubtiere breiten sich in der Schweiz wieder aus. Die Einwanderung von Wolf und Bär oder die Luchsumsiedlung stossen aber in Teilen der Bevölkerung auf Widerstand. Um die Akzeptanz von Raubtieren langfristig zu fördern, braucht es wissenschaftliche Grundlagen über das Verhältnis der Bevölkerung zu diesen Tierarten.

Available languages: German 

The research project spatial demands of society investigates the needs and requirements towards landscape use and future spatial development among the general population, in order to provide a base for land use planning in (Swiss) sub- and peri-urban regions experiencing a high level of building and development pressure.

Available languages: German  English 

Die WSL hat im Auftrag des Forum Landschaft den Stand der Landschaftsforschung in der Schweiz untersucht. Es wurden aktuelle und zukünftige Herausforderungen der Schweizerischen Landschaftsentwicklung ermittelt sowie ihre Handlungsrelevanz beurteilt.

Available languages: German 

Die Studie untersucht, wie die Touristen im Grimselgebiet die Landschaft wahrnehmen und beurteilen. Ausserdem wird untersucht, welche künftige Entwicklung der Grimsellandschaft (u.a. Erweiterung der Kraftwerksanlagen) von den Touristen akzeptiert werden würde. Für die Analyse werden Werthaltungen, soziodemographische Merkmale und Besuchercharakteristiken berücksichtigt.

Available languages: German 

Enhancing ecosystem quality (e.g. through intervention or defragmentation) is relevant for society and economy. Which ecosystem enhancement contributes best to perceived quality of life and is economically most beneficial? Which participatory management and planning approach, which institutional setting contributes best to effective and efficient ecosystem-management and planning strategies?

Available languages: English