Documentation of natural processes Part 5 Process inventory: Dynamics of secondary successions — Exposed alpine pastures

As a traditional form of use, alpine pastures have shaped the cultural landscape in Austria for many centuries. Thanks to their structural diversity, alpine pastures make a significant contribution to biodiversity, but contradict the idea of the national park with their location in the natural zone. Abandoned alpine pastures and their succession phases towards a potentially natural forest society are the core of process protection and have been investigated and documented by comparing current and historical vegetation data. As a traditional form of landuse, alpine pastures have shaped the cultural landscape in Austria for many centuries. Due to their structural diversity, alpine pastures also significantly contribute to biodiversity, but their location in the natural zone contradicts the national park concept. Abandoned alpine pastures and their succession phases to potentially natural forest communities represent the core of non-intervention management and were examined and documented by comparing current and historical vegetation data.