This publication is based on a research project ?Zukünftige Entwicklungsstrategien für den Biosphärenpark Großes Walsertal (Future strategies for the development of the biosphere reserve Grosses Walsertal)?, a regional economic and perceptional geographic analysis. This project aimed at an application-oriented contribution towards a social-regional concomitant research in protected areas. This approach fosters self-conception of biosphere reserves as ?model regions for sustainable development?.