Living sustainability—Practical approaches to transformation
Living sustainability—Practical approaches to transformation
- Our Objective
Involving the economy, politics, and civil society, the three regional nature parks Chasseral, Diemtigtal, and Gantrisch are developing and testing various innovations that bring about positive changes in the sense of sustainable development.
- Figures
The project was launched on January 1, 2025 and is currently in progress.
Summary
Regional nature parks are model regions for sustainable development. However, sustainable development progresses in small steps, and many hurdles must be overcome. This transition is associated with many different processes of change. The question arises: How can people in the parks be empowered and supported to take action themselves?
This guiding question and the associated transformation measures are addressed in the project Living Sustainability - Practical Approaches to Transformation (NAPAT) using the Theory of Change (ToC) approach.
In the three regional nature parks, different new approaches to participation and empowerment for sustainable action (engagement) are employed. The approaches allow for trying out the unfamiliar and encourage autonomous action among the involved and affected stakeholders.
In the three sub-projects, the regions set different priorities: in the Chasseral Nature Park, the guiding idea "Objectif Chasseral" strengthens identity with nature; the Diemtigtal Nature Park aims to establish new regional value chains; and in the Gantrisch Nature Park, promoting biodiversity in the Gürbetal is the focus.
In collaboration with: Office for Communities and Spatial Planning of the Canton of Bern (AGR)
Project Connections
Timeline
Start project phase "Living Sustainability—Practical Approaches to Transformation"
Project Update November 5, 2025
The nature parks project has entered a new phase! Under the title “Living Sustainability – Practical Approaches to Transformation” (NAPAT), the three regional nature parks Chasseral, Diemtigtal and Gantrisch are developing and testing innovative approaches aimed at initiating positive changes in the areas of identification with nature, value chains and biodiversity. A special focus is on participation as well as strengthening commitment and action competencies for sustainable behavior.The work builds on the previous project phase "Nature Park Stations in Bernese Parks" (2020-2024).
Completion of the project phase "Nature Park Stations in Bernese Parks"
Project Update October 31, 2025
The project phase Nature Park Stations in Bernese Parks (NAPAS) has been concluded successfully. As part of this project, 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.In collaboration with: Office for Municipalities and Spatial Planning of the Canton of Bern (AGR)
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Project Update February 17, 2025
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.
Team
- Project contactProject contact
Julia Dietrich
Scientific Collaborator
