Document Actions

Sustainable Sibratsgfäll 2025 - mission statement and implementation process to achieve governance

Brief description

The Sibratsgfäll authorities wish to maintain village life on a long-term sustainable basis as a social process with an adequate infrastructure and diverse economic activities taking careful account of the needs of the natural environment. This is to be accomplished through a detailed mission statement process accompanied by suitable projects whose results will be fed back into the mission statement process.
The project was launched with a future workshop that formed part of DYNALP1. At the workshop six working groups were established (feasibility of a biomass heating plant, home for the elderly, refuse and the environment, preservation of the choir of the church, walks and themed trails, marketing for local produce) and initial activities took place in the framework of DYNALP 1. This "work in progress" is to be continued over the years ahead. The main goal is the preservation of social and economic life in the village, making sparing use of the natural environment and resources. In addition, a mission statement is to be produced deriving from the practical experience made as a basis for all future plans and projects.

Sibratsgfäll
Sibratsgfäll

Aims

Sibratsgfäll is a village in a peripheral location. It is situated at an altitude of 1000 m on the border with Germany and is accessible by just one road. That offers a number of advantages like peace and quiet, splendid scenery, low real estate prices and intact social capital. But there are also disadvantages: few jobs in the village, the distance from the regional centres, incipient signs of an overaging population, the distance from high schools and colleges, non-participation in tourism, etc. As a result of affiliation in the Alliance in the Alps network and participation in Dynalp 1, the parish council has decided to go for the challenge of "Sustainable Sibratsgfäll 2025". In Dynalp 1 local interest in participation was evaluated (highly motivating) and the residents' perseverance tested in the implementation of initial projects (very high). The following goals have therefore been defined for the next step (2006-08):
1) Development of a mission statement in an open process
2) Creation of suitable framework conditions
3) Conservation of the natural living space
4) Optimisation of the village structures.

Realization

Planned activities must be suitable for a village with only 420 inhabitants, i.e. they should be challenging but not frustrating. At present about thirty individuals are already actively involved in the sustainability process. What happens now?
1) A mission statement will be produced in a facilitated open process.
2) Due recognition will be given to the results of sustainability groups that have already achieved their goals, while the other groups will continue with their work.
3) New sustainability groups will be formed where there is a need and enough people are willing to participate.
4) The exchange of experience will be intensified, especially within the local authority network.
5) Active participation in the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park
6) Public relations work within (villagers) and without
7) Continuous quality assurance.

Involved

The regular core of the current total of six working groups comprises about twenty individuals, with many more joining them for specific activities. In addition the parish council serves as a steering committee. The mission statement process will be open to all local residents. At the same time the activities of the six working groups will continue and serve as an input for the mission statement process. External partnerships have been established with Vorderwald Social Services, Vorarlberger Umweltverband, Nagelfluhkette Nature Park and KäseStrasse Bregenzerwald.

Projectterm

Nov 2006 - summer 2008

Financing

Subsidy from DYNALP² (in euros): 10,000
Own funds, funds from financial backers (in euros): 17,000
Financial backing: Vorarlberg regional authority € 4,000; Vorarlberg regional authority € 5,000; Sibratsgfäll local authority € 8,000

Contact person

Österreichisches Ökologie-Institut
Geschäftsstelle Bregenz
Willi Sieber
Kirchstrasse 9/2
AT- 6900 Bregenz
Telephone: +43 5574 52085 12
Fax: +43 5574 52085 4
E-Mail: sieber@ecology.at
Internet: http://www.ecology.at/

Allianz in den Alpen

Sections