News
Global know-how transfer: Workshop in the Ukraine and international further education programme
One of the aims of Future in the Alps is to make the findings gained from the project available to mountain regions beyond the Alps, too. To this end, CIPRA, together with the international organisation Green Dossier, held a workshop in the Ukraine from 31 May to 2 June on solving conflicts in protected areas.
New publications: Risk management and 100 years of Géographie Alpine
The five chapters of the current edition of the Revue de Géographie Alpine look at risk management systems of urban alpine areas as well as early warning systems and crisis management strategies at regional policy level.
Nature abhors a border
Nature in the Alps should be networked more effectively; to this end, the hindrances that stand in the way of animal migration and the spread of vegetation and plants should be made more permeable. Four alpine-wide network organisations are aiming to create an "ecological continuum" in the Alps. The preliminary project has just been given the go-ahead.
European Parliament approves new flood directive
With the new directive on flood protection the EU has agreed on the assessment and prevention of flood risks.
Initiative for mountain enthusiasts with disabilities
This summer the French Vanoise National Park is offering special programmes for visitors with physical disabilities.
Using biological GIS databases to gain a better understanding of mountain biodiversity
Linking biological databases with geophysical data (such as precise co-ordinates, altitudes, temperature) provides a good basis for obtaining more accurate analyses of biodiversity in mountain areas.
Biological diversity as an investment - Protected areas give the Alps a good image and help man and nature
Given good management, protected areas can contribute both to regional value-added and the preservation of biodiversity. Environmentally friendly holiday accommodation with a recognised seal of approval like the Gîtes Panda in the French Alps enhances the quality of life in and around protected areas.
Ski runs a hazard for bird communities
According to a report compiled by ecologists at the University of Turin/I in the Journal of Applied Ecology, high-altitude alpine ski runs are posing a serious threat to bird communities.
Mountain areas as menageries
The latest issue of the Journal of Alpine Research (fr/en) features "mountain areas as menageries". Indeed the decline in biodiversity is a major ecological problem.
Will the Mont Blanc finally become part of UNESCO's Natural Heritage?
The international Pro Mont Blanc association, which has been campaigning actively since 1991 for the protection of the Mont Blanc, would like to see the mountain massif finally included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.
Conference proceedings on "Exploring the Nature of Management"
The conference proceedings for the 3rd International Conference on the Monitoring and Management of Visitors Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas have just been published.
Results of the IPAM Project now published
The IPAM (Integrative Protected Area Management) Project co-financed by the EU focused on the exchange of experience and on methods and instruments of planning and management in protected areas.
Alpine protected areas: a new international agency in Chambéry
The administration of the Network of Alpine Protected Areas (ALPARC) was transferred to the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention (AK) by the French government on 10 July 2006
Biodiversity in Europe's mountains
At what point is Europe on the way to halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010? With respect to this issue, the European Environment Agency has drafted a report in English, in which a chapter is devoted to biodiversity in mountain ecosystems.
The way of the Wolves - The Alps- Carpathian Corridor
The Austrian Ministry for Transportation Innovation and Technology is committed to the establishment of the wildlife Alps-Carpathian Corridor.
ALPRO - an analysis tool for projects in the Alpine region
ALPRO is a planning tool to be used by local authorities, organisations, promoters and investors to evaluate comprehensively the impact of landscape-altering projects in the Alpine region.
CIPRA to attend Green Week 2006 in Brussels
CIPRA, the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, has just received confirmation from the EU Commission that it has been allocated a stand at Green Week 2006, one of the world's largest annual discussion forums on environmental policy.
Caucasus Conference documentation available online
The three-day conference "Nature Protection in the Caucasus" was held in Berlin/D from 9 to 11 March 2006.
New alpMedia dossier - "Ecological Networks"
On 7 and 8 November 2005 representatives of the eight member states of the Alpine Convention attended a seminar on the creation of an ecological network of protected areas to debate the possibilities for establishing an ecological network spanning the Alps. The alpMedia dossier entitled "Ecological Networks" drawn up on that occasion provides an overview of the instruments that play an important role in the establishment of ecological networks at the global, pan-European, European and national levels.
Workshops of the Alps-Carpathian co-operation project
The Alpine Network of Protected Areas is organising two international workshops as part of the co-operation project between the Alps and the Carpathians. The first workshop entitled Integrated Management of Protected Areas is to be held at the Mala Fatra National Park in Slovakia from 1 to 3 June.
Signing of the Apennines Convention
On 24 February the Italian Apennine mountain range was endowed with a new protection and management instrument following the signing of the Apennines Convention at the political level.
Cesana Torinese/I: first community with environment and ethics certification
The Italian mountain community of Cesana Torinese, near Sestriere, has received an award for its efforts aimed at improving the quality of life of its citizens. The community's ethics programme, which it developed specially, has been certified in accordance with the guidelines of international standard SA 8000 (Social Accountability).
International event on the management of protected areas
The Third International Conference on Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas is to be held in Rapperswil/CH from September 13th to 17th.
New publication on regional development and landscape change in the Alps
The publication "Regional Development and Cultural Landscape Change in the Alps" features results from the completed REGALP research project, which was funded by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme.
Glacier data from outer space
With the aid of new satellites glaciologists in Zurich are now able to study the world's ice regions with greater precision than before. The results of the data surveys are not encouraging: the Alps' glaciers are melting at a much faster rate than previously thought. Major changes have been noted in an increasing number of glaciers. The Zurich glaciologists are definite in their diagnosis: there is now no stopping the shrinkage of alpine glaciers.
Increasingly dense network of GMO-free regions
(15.12.2005) The alliance of regions voluntarily committed to dispensing with the use of genetically modified organisms in agro plant cultivation (founded by Upper Austria/A and Tuscany/I in November 2003) now includes 36 members across Europe.
New issue of the Journal of Alpine Research series
The latest issue of the Revue de Géographie Alpine series comprises five specialist articles on a variety of topics. One article examines the causes of flooding and the measures that are necessary to prevent it based on the example of the Isère/F region while another article focuses on sustainable water management in general.
Alpine summit flora undergoing rapid change
As part of their study on the "Influence of Climate Change on Succession Processes and Population Dynamics of Vegetation in Alpine Environments" research teams at the universities of Hanover/D and Zurich/CH have concluded that the rate of change in the floristic composition of vegetation in the Swiss Alps is increasing all the time. According to the experts this trend is consistent with global climate change.
Satellite technology in South Tyrol
By October of next year, South Tyrol/I wants to be able to receive data from the various earth observation satellites and evaluate it at a purpose-built facility at the European Academy in Bolzano.
Swiss Bird Index tracks Alpine birds
The Sempach Ornithological Station and the Swiss Association for the Protection of Birds [Schweizer Vogelschutz] have developed a Swiss Bird Index (SBI) modelled on stock exchange indices.