Alpine transhumance is
transhumance as practiced in the
Alps, that is, a seasonal
droving of grazing
livestock between the valleys in winter and the high mountain
pastures in summer (
German from the term for "seasonal mountain pasture", ). Transhumance is a traditional practice that has shaped much of the landscape in the Alps, as without it, most areas below would be forests. While tourism and industry contribute today much to Alpine economy, seasonal migration to high pastures is still practiced in
Bavaria,
Austria,
Slovenia,
Italy and
Switzerland, except in their most frequented tourist centers. In some places, cattle are taken care of by local farmer families who move to higher places. In others, this job is for herdsmen who are employees of the cooperative owning the pastures.