Reasons for the Special Protection of MOUNTAIN FOREST Landscapes everywhere:

Mountain Forests = CORE ZONE of Environmental and Nature conservation

Mountain Forests = CORE ZONE of Cultural and Landscape protection

=> 1) Mountain Forests = CORE ZONE of Nature- and Landscape Protection

-Mountain Forests are the CORE ZONE of nature conservation- because the highest density of natural elements such as biotope network & hiking corridors, vegetations & species, habitats such as caves, steep slopes, raised bogs, slope forests etc. → Particularly important for species conservation, floor water protection, air environmental protection, etc. (Basic Values)

-Mountain forests are the CORE ZONE of landscape protection - because the highest density of landscape elements such as rocks, peaks, visual axes, viewpoints, castles, monasteries, caves, waterfalls, river valleys → particularly important for relaxation & adventure, aesthetics & spirituality, culture & home, freedom & silence, etc. (Higher Values)

=> Consequently, mountain forests as a CORE ZONE are a High Value Protected Good of the General Public.

In public perception, there are two aspects of which landscapes appear particularly worth protecting.

Firstly, there is nature conservation (basic values) which concentrate on the protection of habitats with their flora and fauna. The focus here is on species conservation, biotope and environmental protection. The protection of mountain forests as a supra-regionally important ecosystem with its diverse flora and fauna is a top priority. In the minds of the general public, mountain forests worldwide enjoy special general protection status as a taboo area for any kind of development. It is no coincidence that most mountain forests function as core zones in a wide variety of mountain conservation areas. Public resistance to harmful interventions in the mountains is very great and leads to a nationwide sensitization and general recognition of mountain forests as particularly worthy of protection.

The second is landscape protection (higher values) with the main focus on the landscape and landscape aesthetics. The focus is on preserving the entire landscape. As a valuable, protected counterpart to civilization, the mountain forest serves a variety of general needs such as recreation & adventure, home & tradition, landscape & identity, retreat & freedom and spirituality & self-discovery. This strong connection to the mountain forest makes people its greatest defenders and protectors. As a result, supra-regional associations and organizations were formed that successfully prevented projects that would have a negative impact on the mountain forest. With the connection to their own landscape, mountain forests were often given protected status as landscape conservation areas or nature parks.

As a CORE ZONE of Nature- and Landscape conservation, Mountain Forests are a High Value Protected Good of the General Public.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2) MOUNTAIN FORESTS belong to all of US! = Special GENERAL PROPERTY

=> 2) MOUNTAIN FORESTS = PROTECTED GOOD of the General Public

From 1) follows directly 2): MOUNTAIN FORESTS represent a CORE AREA of environmental- nature conservation and cultural- landscape protection and are therefore of outstanding Importance for the General Public!

The mountain forest is of great importance to ALL of us and must be protected in the interest of the general public.

The bond between us and the mountain forest is very strong.

MOUNTAIN FORESTS have a Special COMMON PROPERTY CHARACTER, as they are a supra-regional symbol of every community and district and represent a complete contrast to personal property in the flat valley (e.g. one's own garden, fields, etc.). In general, it is difficult to imagine a mountain range without the mountain forest. Mountain forests and mountains therefore form an inseparable unit in our minds. The mountain forest stands out clearly from its surroundings, it stands above us all as a visible object of identification and is a Protected Good of the General Public.

From 1) + 2) follows: (A) (PROTECTION worthiness- STATUS of Mountain Forests)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(A) PROTECTION STATUS of MOUNTAIN FORESTS =

MOUNTAIN FORESTS are as a CORE ZONE (CORE AREA) of Nature- and Landscape Protection a HIGH VALUE PROTECTED GOOD of the GENERAL PUBLIC!

In (A) there is the merging of 1) and 2). The term PROTECTED GOODS is contained in both 1) and 2) and thus acts as a connecting element. As a CORE AREA, the Mountain Forest Protected Good clearly stands out from its surroundings in terms of nature- and landscape protection and is therefore very important for the general public.

As a CORE ZONE of Nature and Landscape Protection, Mountain Forests therefore have a High PROTECTION-STATUS for the General Public. The special thing about this PROTECTION worthiness STATUS is that No Mountain Forest can be denied this.

This STATUS of PROTECTION worthiness exists and protects the Mountain Forest although it is neither visible nor directly stipulated somewhere. In contrast to flat normal sites with a lot of ownership areas, MOUNTAIN FORESTS are an

CORE ZONE (CORE AREA) and HIGH VALUE PROTECTED GOOD of the THE GENERAL PUBLIC (STATUS A).

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(B) Landscape-Planning (Optimal Structure of the Landscape in the Sense of the Common Good)

Mountains as an optimal location for nature conservation and landscape protection

=> (B)

Mountains at the same time not suitable as a location for settlement and agriculture

In addition to the PROTECTION-STATUS (A), the Landscape-Planning (B) in the landscape also protects the mountain forest.

The closed forests of the mountains are ideal as locations of nature and landscape protection due to their height, location and distance from the settlements. Since hill and mountain forests are neither suitable for settlement nor for agriculture (unfavorable location, soil- and environmental conditions) but at the same time are the best locations for nature conservation and landscape protection, there is a good opportunity for the development of hill and mountain forests. The general guiding principle with the broadest approval here is unbroken, near-natural mountain forests without buildings or development of any kind.

The flat valley is ideal for settlements and agriculture (favorable location, soil and environmental conditions). The settlements provide supplies (e.g. drinking water, sewage system) and disposal (e.g. sewage treatment plants). The guiding principles include traditional architecture, monument protection as the cultural basis of every region, compact construction with short distances, parks and a green outskirts. The view of the settlement from different perspectives with a clear line of sight from the outside and a clear view from the settlement into the landscape is only possible if hills and mountains remain free of buildings. The settlement can be experienced from above in the hilly landscape, at the same time the experience of the expanse of the landscape arises from the settlement. Therefore, hills or elevations are not built on in the settlement planning. The compact settlement is thus harmoniously integrated into the landscape.

(A) + (B) => PROTECTION, PRESERVATION and EXPANSION of the Mountain Forests

From (A = PROTECTION-STATUS) and (B = Landscape-Planning) it follows that constantly new Forces from the GENERAL PUBLIC are campaigning for the Protection, Preservation and Expansion of the Mountain Forests. This is done by Awarding or Designating the Mountain Forests as an area to be given special attention (e.g.: sacred mountain forests, nature parks, world cultural heritage, protected community-forests, general protection status of mountain forests), Protection Programs (e.g.: reforestation programs and nature conservation plans in the mountains) and establishment of Networks or Alliances for the protection and defense of mountain forests (eg: Municipalities, Organizations, Associations, Alliances).

Examples of Awards or Designations of Mountain Forests:

General Protection:

Mountain Forests = Central Identification Object and Primary Homeland Symbol as

Priority Area for Nature and Landscape Protection

Mountain Forests = Conservation Forest

Mountain Forests = Protection Forests (Specially Protected Forests)

Mountain Forests as a Priority Area for Nature and Landscape Protection in Landscape Planning

Special Protection:

Mountain Forest as Protected Area: Designation as a Nature Park, National Park,

Regional Park, Landscape Conservation Park etc.

Mountain Forests as a Priority Area for Protection in Biosphere Reserves

Mountain Forests as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site

Mountain Forests as Protected Sacred Mountain Forests, Protected Ghost Forests

Mountain Forest as Protected Community Forest

Protection Programs for Mountain Forests:

Conservation Plans or Reforestation Programs are mainly taking place in the mountains around the world. Nobody likes the sight of bare, heavily eroded mountains. People want a forest in the steep areas that enriches life and puts an end to the dreariness of desolate mountains without forest. It is therefore not surprising that reforestation programs, especially in the mountains, are very popular in communities all over the world and that many participants from the surrounding area plant and protect new mountain forests.

Alliances and Networks for the protection and defence of mountain forests:

The list of Alliances and Networks for landscape protection that have prevented the worst natural crimes worldwide is long. Based on different landscapes conflicts regarding nature and landscape protection, I was able to determine that mountain forests in particular were most successfully protected and defended by large alliances and networks in real situations when projects threatened. This particularly underlines the PROTECTION-worthy STATUS of mountain forests in society.

Mountains Forests Ghosts