Protected areas' landscapes as resources for human health and well-being - case studies from Austria
Arne Arnberger, Key note
Natural and historic cultural landscapes of protected areas may positively influence the health of protected area visitors. Today's western societies are faced with a growing incidence of poor health because of mental stress and sedentary lifestyles. Natural landscapes are increasingly seen as restorative settings, compensating for these negative psycho-physiological effects. However, the restorative potential of different protected landscapes seems to be rather unexplored. This presentation gives an overview on recent Austrian research activities on restorative effects of a stay in mountainous protected areas.