Aims

At this symposium researchers, protected areas managers, as well as individuals from government, business, non-governmental organizations and the general public, who are interested in protected areas, may present and discuss topics which are highly significant for protected areas and are currently taken up by research. The manifold aspects of the interrelation between protection aims, protected area management and the impacts on nature, society and the regional economy in times of transition form the general thematic base of this international conference, held every four years since 1996.

Six of Austria’s most ecologically valuable regions have been designated as national parks. They reflect the great diversity of this Central European country: high mountains, forests, water and riparian marshes, and steppes. Austria is part of two biogeographic regions: the alpine and the continental, and most of the Austrian national parks are part of two important regional networks for protected areas: ALPARC and DanubePARKS. In close cooperation with these regional networks, and supported by scientific institutions, we are looking for entries across the entire geographic region from the Western Alps to the Danube Delta.

2-stage Call

In order to identify current issues of relevance for both research and protected areas, the organizers of the Symposium invite all interested individuals, institutions, protected areas, networks and initiatives to propose topics and contributions to this event in two stages: First, we are asking you now to propose session topics. Second, in early 2017 you will be invited to submit presentations for the definitive themed sessions. The conference programme will be finalized by the end of June 2017.

Call for Themed Sessions

First, please suggest topics for themed sessions. A themed session can be organized as a series of presentations, as a workshop or as a chaired discussion and will last 1.5 hours (or 2x1.5 hours). Please enter your suggestions for themed sessions no later than 31 October 2016 online on www.nationalparksaustria.at/symposium2017

All proposals to be written in English. Following a review, the organizers will decide on definitive themed sessions by 12 December 2016. 

We welcome research topics from all disciplines and basic or applied research relevant for protected areas. We are looking especially for proposals of:

·         sessions with a clear link to highly significant topics for protected areas and/or management practices

·         session themes addressing current research or innovative approaches

·         sessions that promise contributions from different countries (i.e. not park- or country-specific)

·         sessions focusing on current research approaches to wilderness and wilderness areas in Europe, on one or more aspects like natural processes, global change, threats, visitors, education or governance