Multiple-level governance is needed in the social-ecological system of alpine cultural landscapes

The relationships between local communities and local natural resources in alpine cultural landscapes are undergoing change due to the utilization of “new” resources and the effects of external, mainly economic, driving forces. We explore “new” complexity in the studied system through the paradigm of resilience and the Ostrom’s framework (2009) for analysing the sustainability of social-ecological system. Specifically for the case study, several scales and levels can be recognized, with increased interconnectedness between the local system of pasture (comprising placebound social practices and small-scale ecosystem processes) and governance mechanisms of much greater spatial reach (e.g. European agriculture policy, regional development strategies, nature conservation initiatives). Such increased interconnectedness and complexity requires a more integrated vision and a system approach in order to maintain the cultural landscape and related values