Point of view: Every drop counts

Did you know? Permafrost meltwater is particularly cold and contains dissolved heavy metals. Some ski resorts even pump drinking water for snowmaking. House roofs turn into sponges when we design them to be close to nature. Such knowledge and good examples relating to water in the Alps were shared at the second Future Forum Alps, which we organised in Liechtenstein in June 2025. But even more valuable were the exchanges: meeting people who have good ideas, are seeking knowledge, are committed and are promoting solutions. This motivation is contagious, because now is the time to work together to protect our water, as a habitat and as a resource.

Climate change is radically altering the water balance in the Alps: glaciers are melting, precipitation is becoming more irregular and droughts are increasing. It is not only we humans, but also plants and animals who depend on clean water. That is why we must all work together to use water resources more efficiently and sparingly, and resolve conflicts of interest. When communities build according to the sponge city principle; new forms of cooperation emerge in alpine farming; agricultural businesses focus on permaculture; and destinations develop holistic offerings, water once again becomes part of a living cycle.

A place for networking, solutions and inspiration – that is exactly what we want to offer with the Future Forum Alps in Liechtenstein. For us, an event is successful when motivation is multiplied. A single drop can hardly make a difference, but many drops together become a stream. The same is true for us: every action, every idea, every small contribution to the protection of our Alps is a drop that counts.

The results of the Future Forum Alps 2025 on the topic of “H2O: precious, powerful, scarce” are now available as a poster. Order it online or in print for free here: international@cipra.org

Those interested can discover the videos of the keynotes and other contributions here: www.zukunftsforumalpen.li