Biosphere reserves as model regions for sustainability transitions? Insights into the peripheral mountain area Grosses Walsertal (Austria)

The results of this transdisciplinary case study show that sustainability transitions happening in BR are influenced by multi-level actor coalitions as well as different forms of proximity. The theoretical discussions and the case study results conclude that BR are a good instrument to pick up regional ideas, funding opportunities and to attach the region with sustainability transitions happening in other spaces. The transferability of this best practice example however is limited to (financially) well-equipped post-Sevilla BR. This makes the reconstruction of old BR a high priority for the MAB program.