HUB BERN | Project AGR-1
Our goal
Making sustainability tangible and accessible in Bern’s nature parks while raising awareness among visitors and the local population.
In a nutshell:
This project in the regional nature parks of Diemtigtal, Gantrisch, and Chasseral focused on developing and testing new solutions to meet the needs of tourism while protecting natural resources. Educational offerings on topics such as biodiversity, conservation and use of natural resources, and sustainable development were combined with experiences in nature, making sustainability tangible and accessible to park residents and visitors. Initiatives were developed to help disseminate information, raise awareness about the needs of nature, and guide visitors in sensitive natural areas. New, sustainable tourism services were established, promoting innovation and added value creation in the park regions.
A research project investigated the extent to which park visitors are aware of existing rules meant to protect wildlife, plants, and sensitive habitats; how well they understand the significance of these rules for nature; and how they assess the impact of their own behavior on the environment. The findings provide a basis for the three regional nature parks to further develop their visitor management strategies and to better tailor their awareness-raising efforts to different target groups. Implementation of the various interventions and measures was monitored and evaluated by the research team. In addition, the researchers reviewed promising innovations from other local and global contexts and adapted them for implementation in the Bernese parks.
During the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the regional nature parks experienced a dramatic increase in visitor numbers. Many of the new visitors were people who, until then, had rarely spent their free time in nature. Rising visitor pressure on sensitive natural areas, increasing disregard for the rules in place in the parks and protected zones, and growing conflicts between visitors and locals required urgent action. As part of this project, the nature parks began organizing regular ranger patrols, particularly in visitor hotspots. The rangers proactively engage with visitors, providing information about local nature and culture and offering tips on tourist attractions. They remind visitors of existing rules, such as keeping dogs on a leash or staying on designated paths in wildlife protection areas, and explain why these measures are needed. Additionally, they also monitor visitors’ compliance with the rules. A systematic evaluation of the patrols showed that most visitors appreciate interacting with rangers, and their interventions positively influence visitor behavior. When people understand the importance of a rule, they are generally more inclined to follow it. Combined with other awareness-raising and visitor management measures, the ranger patrols successfully reduced pressure on heavily frequented, sensitive areas in the parks, and also minimized potential conflicts between visitors and locals.
Visitor management in particularly sensitive park areas, such as nature reserves or designated wildlife areas, is the responsibility of various stakeholders, including several cantonal agencies. On the initiative of the project group, all relevant stakeholders were invited to jointly develop principles for integrated visitor management, with the aim of pooling resources, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and better coordinating the measures of the different actors. This laid the foundations for an effective, well-coordinated visitor management system that will ensure the sustainable use and the conservation of habitats in Bern’s nature parks in the long term.
More Information:
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In collaboration with:
Office for Municipalities and Spatial Planning of the Canton of Bern (AGR)
Status: Completed project
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