The production of nature protection and cultural conservation in Alpine regions, for instance in protected areas, shapes – on the one hand – a diversity of understandings and imaginaries of human-nature-relations (e.g. human and nature as a dichotomy, as well as relational worldviews). On the other hand, their management, implementation and (re-)presentation, for example through tourism or education, creates a wide range of social, political, ecological, and cultural dynamics that extend beyond conservation objectives (and vice versa). These dynamics include, among others, the reinforcement or contestation of cultural and political configurations, such as the construction of social groups, notions of belonging, and socio-spatial understandings of national identities. In practice, understandings of nature(s) and its relationship with humans, as produced through conservation, are deeply interwoven with broader societal implications, making both these dimensions and their interplay the central concern of this session.

Against this background, this session brings together perspectives of researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of environmental protection, cultural conservation, and their broader cultural, political, economic, and societal (side-) effects. The workshop seeks to assemble both critical examinations of how conservation ideals and practices shape human-nature relations and societal configurations, as well as contributions that explore and propose alternative approaches aimed at fostering plural, democratic, and socially just worlds and advancing socio-ecological transformation.

The session aims to encourage critical reflection on how we perceive of conservation and to inspire pathways for rethinking the production, management, and presentation of nature protection and cultural conservation in Alpine regions. Furthermore, it seeks to identify key knowledge gaps, emerging methodologies, and inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that can inform future research, as well as conservation practice and its (re-)presentation.