ABSTRACT
Natural areas form an intrinsic component of the territory, crossing all kinds of administrative borders, from municipal to regional and national borders. This relates particularly to mountain regions and the fact that while their highest ridges often form administrative boundaries between both nations and sub-national administrative entities, such boundaries also divide ecosystems (Price 1999). This chapter investigates the evolution of the efforts for a coordinated protection and management of natural areas in such a cross-border context. It does so based on the analysis of the GoričkoRaab-Őrség trilateral nature park, connecting natural areas in Slovenia, Hungary and Austria.
