Conservation of the Golden Eagle (aquila Chrysaetos) in the European Alps---a Combination of Education, Cooperation, and Modern Techniques

--At he beginning of the 20th century, the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was close to extinction in many parts of the European Alps. At the end of the century, the population has stabilized at around 1100 breeding pairs. To maintain the population, management strategies have been derived from models of habitat quality and distribution within the eagle's entire alpine range. These models were validated using a variety of data sources. They indicate that there are significant "hot spots" in distribution in the European Alps. Conclusions concerning the habitat quality of particular areas were derived by combining the models with data on human influences on alpine ecosystems, using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Scenarios to estimate the potential impact of future human activities on the breeding success and distribution patterns of the Golden Eagle were calculated from these models. The importance of the Golden Eagle as an environmental indicator for areas of open land in the Alps is considered for future conservation activities. The most effective way to ensure a viable population of Golden Eagles in the European Alps will be to enlist the close cooperation of conservationists and land users, as well as intensive environmental education and user-specific public relation activities.