Sustainable Coexistence of Ungulates and Trees: A Stakeholder Platform for Resource Use Negotiations

Browsing by ungulates is broadly seen as a major problem for tree regeneration in Alpine forests. At the regional or local level, a resource management problem arises because there is still a lack of scientific knowledge about the long-term importance of herbivore impact on forest dynamics and because conflicting interests between different stakeholders such as foresters, hunters, farmers and nature conservationists persist. A common understanding of the problem and an agreement on the management aims are needed before an effective and broadly accepted wildlife and forest management strategy can be established.