The persistent drought clearly shows that adjustments are necessary in the summer pasture area in order to ensure long-term, sustainable management. It must be assumed that the availability of water will also be a central challenge for alpine pasture management in the years ahead. Where their own springs or water intakes are insufficient, transporting water to the alpine pasture – for example using tanker vehicles or mobile pumping systems – is often the only effective short-term measure against water scarcity. This requires sufficient access via management roads. Today, the authorisation procedures for the construction, expansion or repair of such roads are lengthy and demanding in many places, which makes it considerably more difficult to respond quickly to acute dry periods. If effective measures are not taken, it must be assumed that numerous summer pasture areas will no longer be able to be managed in the medium term. This would mean that the preservation of the open cultivated landscape in mountain areas could no longer be guaranteed. Such a development would have far-reaching negative consequences: studies demonstrate the close link between management of the summer pasture area and biodiversity. Negative effects on the landscape as well as on tourism are also to be expected, as tourism depends to a significant extent on a well-maintained and open alpine landscape. Summer grazing is an important part of the division of labour between valley and mountain areas and relieves pressure on land in valley areas. Simplifying authorisation procedures for the construction of access roads is an effective measure that can be implemented quickly to secure the water supply and thus the long-term management of alpine pastures.