Fluvarium - Competence Centre Water (Wasserwelten Göschenen)

Best Practice

Topics

• Regional value added
• Governance capacity

Short description

The Project „Wasserwelten“ (Water Worlds) Göschenen has realised an attractive and exiting nature trail in the valley of Göschenen and is planning a Fluvarium – the Competence Centre Water, to broach the issues of water, water usage and water protection. The nature trail (water trail) in the valley, as well as the Fluvarium are directed at school classes, tourists, families, experts and the local population. A central part of the project is the inclusion of schools and science.

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Project executive

Foundation for environmental education and tourism Uri Gotthard („Umweltbildung und Tourismus Uri Gotthard“). The foundation has been established in December 2001. It realises, fosters and supports projects and initiatives in the field of environmental education and sustainable tourism in the canton Uri and in the region Gotthard. Responsible Person: Gisler Stefan President of the Foundation Umweltbildung und Tourismus Oberriedenstrasse 28, 6463, Bürglen, Switzerland stgisler@bluewin.ch +41 (0)41 870 80 12

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Participants

Canton Uri and cantonal/regional expert commissions, the didactical centre Uri, the municipality Göschenen and the tourist office Göschenen. Additionally for the Fluvarium – Competence Centre Water: corporation Uri, Uri tourism, patronage by federal offices, Swiss consortium for mountain areas SAB, organisations of civil society, education institutions and didactical centres, Universities, ETHs and polytechnics, enterprises from energy industry, drinking water and hydrogen.

Objectives

Promotion and fortification of activities in the fields of environmental education and sustainable close-to-nature tourism in the region Göschenen / activating and initiating water use – water protection / development of new possibilities of adding value by the putting nature and culture into value / strengthening endogenous resources and knowledge / sensitisation of local population and tourists for the value of water / making available and communicating the knowledge concerning water topics and the value of the water in the alpine region / exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer in the competence network water and cooperation with related projects in the region / stimulating and supporting research in the field of water / facilitating tangible projects for implementation in the fields of water protection and utilisation / positioning of the competence of the region / promoting the journey by public transport using different incentives.

Activities

Each year, a press conference and a public day including “Art and water”-events are arranged, presenting the new results of the projects. The target groups defined by the marketing- and distribution concept are continually informed via relevant channels using communication devices such as the folder, flyers, water school, posters, etc. The homepage (www.wasserwelten.ch) has been renewed in 2004 and is constantly actualised. A marketing concept has been implemented for the water school and is carried out by didactical centre Uri. Flanking measures such as synergies to the competence network water “art and water” as well as public days including press conferences for tourists and the local population were carried out from 2002 to 2004. Wasserwelten Göschenen aims to increase the quality of its offers and was awarded with the quality seal “Q” of Schweiz Tourismus. In addition further project elements shall be realised.

Process

Traditional project management. No specific Methods were used.

Results

Water trail Göschenen: from the front ends of the Damma Glacier back in the valley of Göschen to the sewage plant below the village 89 stations on a path network of 60 kilometres show the different aspects of water / map of walks of the water trail Göschenen, 1:25’000, 89 waterpoints and beauties of nature / “All about water (rund ums Wasser)”: hiking guide for the water trail Göschenen, background information about water, coordinated wit the map / “water school”: teaching material for outdoor courses, practical guides for lessons about water / excursions and guided tours about nature and culture / media library: a further service for educational institutions, teachers as well as tourists. A search engine allows fast access to water related topics / “art and water”: exposition, fine arts, event days wit artists / Fluvarium- Competence Centre Water (planned).

Evaluation

No evaluation data available.

Difficulties

Only the project „the showcase region Göschenen – a future for Man and mountain”, a classical “Agenda 21 project” – and one of the first in the mountain area – has revealed many potentials and deficits. For all parties the beginning was a difficult period with unknown outcome. Thanks to its high acceptance Wasserwelten Göschenen has lead to a rethinking in the population. The competences and the engagement in the population have to be improved further.

Budget

2'400'000 Euro (Euro)

Financial backer

Foundation landscape protection Switzerland (Landschaftsschutz Schweiz), canton Uri, corporation Uri, cantonal bank Urnen, Migros (cultural percent), Ford Award, Mava Foundation, Bernd-Thies Foundation, Otto-Gamma Foundation, other foundations.

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.wasserwelten.ch

Project executive as above

Contact person as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

Due to the introduction of the busses on demand in the “Modellregion Göschenen” more than 30% of the annually 20’000 tourists reaches the valley by the public transport (a 100% increase compared to before). Apart from regional handicrafts bio- and regional products are sold in the farmer store. The position paper Göschenertal 2000+, which has been elaborated in the context of the “model region”, serves as overall concept for the further development. The environmental education aims to sensitise a broader public. See attached file "Project Impact".

Economic value added

"Wasserwelten Göschenen" and "Modellregion Göschenen" have produced several permanent part-time employments. The industry, service- (in particular tourism-) enterprises and agricultural enterprises gained ½ Mio due to direct and indirect contracts. The regional direct marketing of products has increased, mainly due to the farmer store. The selling of products such as “water school”, the hiking guide and the hiking map started with good results. See attached file "Project Impact".

Socio-cultural value added

Residents and tourists are being informed about the use and consumption of water in our society. Discussions about the future of the region produced impulses, mainly in environmental education and nature tourism. “Art and Water” as a part of “Wasserwelten” provides an alternative access to the element water. Cultural exchange between residents and guests and the valorisation of the rural living area are a further result of the project. See attached file "Project Impact".

Innovative content

Water will be a key topic of the 21st century. Putting culture and nature into value, as it happens in this project with water, is often the only alternative for a sustainable regional development of the mountain area. An innovative character of the project is the connection of environmental education and close to nature tourism. Water as unique selling point. The project is in agreement with the actually discussed new regional policy of Switzerland. See attached file "Project Impact".

Good governance

The “Modellregion Göschenen” has linked the resident population with the project executive organisation and the project management in a democratic process. From one of the working groups “Wasserwelten Göschenen” has emerged, a fruitful cooperation between the different project executive organisations, relevant stakeholders and the members of the project management. Due to the “Netzwerk Wasser” (water network) of the four partner regions Muggiotal, Albulatal, Entlebuch and the region Göschenen know-how has been exchanged.

PR impact

Due to its character as pilot project, that marked the „Modellregion Göschenen“ at its launch in 1998, there is an above-average media echo until today. The same is true for the follow-up project “Wasserwelten”. The summit was a national appearance on TV, presenting “Wasserwelten Göschenen” on the 4th September 2002. The medial presents direcly lead to a higher attendance of the hotel business including SAC-cabins, the gastronomy as well as a higher utilisation of the on-demand public transport.

Multiplier effect / networking

The built-up know-how and the existing networks will be expanded in the context of the follow-up project Fluvarium. The “Competence Centre Water” can be an example for further competence centres broaching the issue of other relevant topics of the mountain area. Based on the “Netzwerk Wasser” (initiated by “Wasserwelten”) the governmental conference of the Swiss mountain cantons has built-up the Competence Network Water in 2004. “Wasserwelten / Fluvarium” has been assigned to the program “Wasser und Tourismus” (water and tourism).

Transferability

The manager held many takls about the „Modellregion“ and „Wasserwelten Göschenen“ in other mountain regions. The media echo has accessed the idea to a broader public. From the “Modellregion” “Wasserwelten Göschenen” has emerged, out of which the Competence Centre Water has resulted. The putting into value has been transferred to the entire canton with the project “Natur und Kultur Uri”. Based on the success of the on-demand bus system of Göschenen the Swiss Project “Alpentäler-Bus” has been realised.

Remarks

No remarks

Further information