Physiological Interactions between Highland and Lowland Regions in the context of Long-Term Resource Management

Topics

• Regional value added
• Policies and instruments

Abstract

The debate on sustainable develoment raises the question of regional potential to improve resource management from an ecological point of view. This involves finding substitutes for nonrenewable resources, increasing resource efficiency, and increasing regional autonomy with regard to mass resources. In this context, the question of the possibilities for neighboring highland and lowland regions to find a win-win situation in resource management gains new relevance. Swiss highland and lowland areas served as the study area for the present article. Material flow analysis was applied to quantify the physiological interactions. Interactions are discussed on the basis of 2 "sustainability scenarios": 1) a 2-kW society, and 2) a diet with low meat consumption. Agriculture, Forestry and Hydrosphere are the energy-supplying processes, whereas Industry, Trade, Services, and Traffic, Households and Tourism are the energy-consuming processes. Both regions have to import energy (mainly fossil fuels) to run their systems. With regard to physiological demands, the lifestyle in the alpine HL no longer differs form the urban lifestyle of the neighboring LL. The majority of hte highland population lives an urban life at a higher altitude. The regional physiological potnetials are different. They are higher in the HL (higher arable land for biomass production per inhabitant, and higher hydraulic energy potentia). The results led to the following main conclusions. First, physiological net interactions between the regions are currently very low. The reasons for this low interactions can be partly found in the socioeconomic situation. Energy costs and the costs of nourishment form a minor part of the overall private household budget. Because of the minor importance of these budget items and the low prices in the world market for the goods studied, there have been no economic incentives to invest in a more intensive interregional resource exchange during the last 3 decades. In the present situation any of the regions studied can earn money from regional potentials through exports to pay for other essential imports. The LL can solve this problem with its competence in the secondary and especially the tertiary economic sectors in the global market. The LL's employment density is one-third higher and has a much higher percentage in the tertiary sector. As an economically weaker region, the HL is less competitive in the global market and, therefore, has fewer chances to earn money outside the region. The resulting disparities are greatly reduced by subsidies from the LL to the HL, which are based on national policy. The natural resource potentials of the regions cannot be used intensively as objects of exchange. Mass resources such as water, biomass, and construction materials play a minor role in the overall regional economic output. With respect to energy and nourishment, the "global hinterland" as the main supplier is much more important for both regions. The sustainability scenarios of this regions shows, that the 2 regions could become complementary in the production of food and fodder. In addition, the highlands could eventually become a supplier of renewable energy. Thus, a high degree of sustainability in resource management can increase interregional resource interaction.

Journal / Publisher / Institution

Mountain Research and Development

Issue / Volume / Number

Vol 22, No 2

Reference to the original publication

Hardcopy

Further information

Physiological Interactions between Highland and Lowland Regions in the context of Long-Term Resource Management