Ihre Experten für partizipative Prozesse und Konfliktmanagement im Umweltbereich und der Regionalentwicklung
About
This course will provide all participants with insights into the specific contexts and situations of conservation conflicts and how multiparty mediation can help to address them. We have developed a concept of intercultural and co-designed training, where the trainers bring a range of conservation conflict management experiences and tools from different regions and cultures around the world. As each conflict scenario is unique and context-dependant (culture, political setting, ecological variation etc.), strategies for multiparty mediation need to be adapted to meet the needs of the users.
This will be done through a stepwise co-design process, involving the collective wisdom of the group. Prior to the training workshop, a questionnaire will be distributed to the participants to understand the users’ needs and to gather key insights. The trainers will use the information gathered to decide on the most suitable concepts and methods, which will be discussed and practiced in an interactive way among the participants. So, the training will create unique learning experiences tailored to and by the participants themselves. By the end of the course, participants have acquired competences and skills to consider relevant findings and experienced methods of the course and implement them in their daily work.
The training will be conducted by two trainers with different geographical and partly different thematic scope (see details under “About the trainers”).
Benefits of the course
Participants will gain knowledge about..
Methods
A high diversity of and diverting teaching methods: exercises with sample cases from participants´ personal experiences, real-life simulations and exercises with cases from the trainers‘ practical experiences, input presentations and discussions, self-reflection, group exercises on analysing (e.g. initial situation, stakeholder analysis) and diagnosing (e.g. conflict escalation and dynamics), role plays, etc.
Topics
A course in collaboration with “Linking conservation & development – Dr. Eva M. Gross”, “LechtAlps – consulting office MMag. Eva-Maria Cattoen” and the “Centre for Conservation Diplomacy – Prof. Alexandra Zimmermann“
Training language
English
Cost
The training costs 1350 Euro per participant. The fee includes the training, a script (photo documentation and learning material), the venue, coffee breaks and lunch.
Intensive practice
The training is an intensive learning course adapted to the specific needs of the participants at an outstanding nature-based learning site and is therefore limited to max. 15 people (minimum = 10 participants).
Level
This advanced course is designed for professionals in mediation or related fields, for people with prior knowledge or specific interest in conservation conflict management using multiparty mediation, and participants of the introductory course “Negotiating Coexistence”. The course fulfils the requirements for further training for registered mediators according to Section 29 of the Austrian Mediation Law.
About the trainers
MMag. Eva-Maria Cattoen
Eva-Maria is a certified mediator, mediation trainer in different training centres and since 2017 managing director of her consulting office “Ingenieurbuero Cattoen – LechtAlps”. The main activity fields of LechtAlps are public participation processes, conflict management and mediation as well as consulting, coaching, and training in the environmental and regional development sector.
Eva-Maria studied biology at the Leopold-Franzens-University in Innsbruck, Austria and specialised herself in Alpine Ecology and Zoology (two master’s degrees). After a period of working as a scientific journalist, she took over in 2007 the development and coordination of the Alpine Research Centre at the University of Innsbruck. In 2013, she switched to the French research institute IRSTEA to coordinate an international applied research project in the French and Italian Alps. When she came back with her family to Austria in 2016, she started her own business as consultant and specialised in multiparty mediation. Eva-Maria´s geographical focus lies on Europe and her thematical scope includes for example Human-wildlife conflicts, conflicts over land use, designation of or use in protected areas, visitor management in sensitive natural areas, energy – hydropower, habitats and species protection, restoration, etc.
Dr. Eva M. Gross
Eva is an experienced freelance conservation professional with a focus on human-wildlife interactions in African and Asian countries, on which she has also completed her PhD.
Raised in Germany, Iran, Indonesia and Nepal, Eva is a culturally sensitive professional who loves working interdisciplinary and internationally. During twenty years of work experience in nature conservation NGOs, she has built up a solid conservation background and has spent over 15 years involving local communities into nature conservation endeavours in African and Asian countries, using participatory and democratic approaches. Her speciality is applying community-based methods to the management of human-wildlife conflicts and to foster long lasting coexistence strategies. In partnership with local interest groups, she co-designed a series of community-based conservation projects with the aim of benefitting both, people and wildlife. Since 2018 Eva is independently consulting international and national institutions on conservation and sustainable development with a strong focus on conservation conflict resolution. Adding to that, Eva is a trained mediator of nature conservation conflicts and participatory approaches.
Cancellation
Cancellation free of charge is only possible if a replacement participant is registered. In the event of cancellation by the customer, the cancellation fee for a course up to 4 weeks before the start of the event is EUR 40.00 (10%) processing fee. Thereafter, the cancellation fee is 20% of the total participation fee. Without cancellation, in the event of cancellation at short notice (up to 1 week before) or partial participation, the full course fee will be charged.
Confirmation and recommendation
Participants receive a certificate of attendance (at least 75% attendance required) for 16 teaching units. The course fulfils the criteria for further training for registered mediators in accordance with § 29 ZivMediatG and can be submitted to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice for this purpose.
4-day intensive training (9 am – 5pm) with coffee breaks in the morning and the afternoon, as well as a lunch break (about 1 hour), outdoor or special activity elements will be integrated as much as possible.
The detailed programme will be shared in August, after participants interests have been collected.
Accomodation and travelling
For travelling, please have a look at here: https://lechtalps.com/das-lechtalps-kompetenzzentrum-seminarraeumlichkeiten/
For accommodation: on request, we can offer comfortable group accommodation in single or double rooms with shared kitchen (up to 12 people) or organise hotel rooms with breakfast or half pension nearby the competence centre. Please tell us at your registration your preferences.
Special offer
1- day excursion on the 27.09.2025 to experience the unique nature in this protected Nature Park Alpine valley in the Tyrolean Lech valley (needs to be booked and paid separately), please pronounce your interest at registration.
