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Change in human land use usually has a direct and severe influence on alpine ecosystems. Â In the Himalayas, but also in the Andes and the Afro-alpine zone, growing human populations and the change from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle causes massive overgrazing, vegetation destruction, and soil erosion. Due to economic reasons, large parts of traditional pastures in the Alps have been abandoned or are now used more intensively, both resulting in a loss of biodiversity.
Recent investigations indicate a higher resilience of grazed alpine vegetation against climatic change than ungrazed vegetation. Hence, land use is an important factor which can counteract or accelerate the response of alpine vegetation to climate change, e.g. by afforestation or eutrophication.
Leisure activities in the alpine environment lead to further disturbances. Besides destructive mechanical impact on ski runs, artificial snowing adds water and ions to the ski pistes and strongly delays vegetation development.
In addition, urbanization and the development of transport infrastructure result in increasing fragmentation. Plant and animal populations become increasingly isolated on ever-smaller remnant habitat patches in a human-dominated landscape. Isolation leads to increased vulnerability in the face of stochastic events and decreased genetic diversity. |
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