Regional dynamics in mountain areas and the need for integrated policies

mountain farmers is of great importance not only for tourism, but also from the point of view of
society as a whole (protection against natural hazards such as avalanches and mud-slides, keeping
the landscape open).

Whereas its food-provision function was previously the main demand on agriculture, farming in the
mountain areas today fulfils a wide range of functions going far beyond its original tasks:

* secure provision of high-quality, fresh foodstuffs at favourable prices

* ensuring the natural fundamentals of life - soil, water, air, biodiversity (for the non-alpine
population as well)

* shaping, maintenance and care of the cultural and recreational landscape (living and working
space, as well as the main resource of the tourist industry)

* maintenance of the population settlements and the social and economic activities in the
countryside

* provision of raw materials and energy

* use of ecologically appropriate forms of farming

* maintenance of employment opportunities

* provision of an impetus for the regional economy

* protection against natural hazards (e.g. in the form of protective forests)

The maintenance of the living and working space in the mountain areas is inconceivable without
farming. Productivity in the alpine area is almost 45% less that in the non-alpine areas (Dax 1998c,
p. 54), the income from agriculture is almost 20% lower. For mountain farms facing particular
difficulties, income from agriculture and forestry is only 60% of the income in the non-mountain farms
(Hovorka et al. 1999, p. 36).

4. Integration of mountain policies?

The wide range of tasks attributed to farming in mountain areas has been realised rather early in
Austria since regional development faced substantial changes and a difficult future with the
strengthening of economic integration already some decades ago. In difference to other mountain

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