Publications
Via Alpina Youth – responsible bivouacking Call to action & points to think about
This paper builds on the Yes We Camp whitepaper and its “call to action & points to think about” and places the concept of responsible bivouacking in direct relation to the Alpine Convention, with a particular focus on the nature protection protocol. It demonstrates that responsible bivouacking can operationalize the objectives of the Alpine Convention by translating international legal principles into concrete, user-oriented practices in the alpine space. Read More…
Booklet: Pastoralism schools in the Alps
When shepherds, farmers and all the mountain farming experts meet, they often talk about the same things: the alp, the fencing, the cheese production and the life in the mountains. But be careful, very often these exact same terms are very different in their content, depending on the language, regional cultural characteristics and the sometimes quite different conditions of the respective mountain world. In order to not just talk at cross purposes but to actually understand each other better, CIPRA has created this brochure. Four alpine farming experts explain 10 terms. As each language version contains all four explanations, this brochure serves as a kind of undispensable, unique vade mecum for cross-border dialogue. Read More…
CultureAlps booklet: Connect, act, share
This comic book was created as part of the Erasmus+ project “CultureAlps: connect, share, act!ˮ, which shows how art and culture can inspire creative solutions to the climate crisis. The project promotes cooperation between organisations in art, culture, and climate protection, sharing best practices to make the cultural sector more sustainable and engaged. Partners from Liechtenstein, Italy, and Austria explore how exhibitions and events can be more climate-friendly, drive behavioral change, and make the three planetary crises – global warming, biodiversity loss, and pollution – tangible, creating learning spaces that inform and motivate action in daily life and politics. Read More…
Poster on water in the Alps
How is the climate crisis affecting the Alps, the “water castle of Europe”? What will it take to ensure that we continue to have sufficient water as a habitat and resource in the future? The poster ‘H2O: precious, powerful, scarce’ summarises the key findings of the Future Forum Alps on the topic of water, which took place on 27 and 28 June 2025 in Liechtenstein. It is based on the scientific findings and practical experience of the participating experts. It is available for free download. Read More…
Responsible bivouacking
Bivouacking is becoming increasingly popular, but spending the night outdoors can be problematic, especially in sensitive Alpine regions. A free handbook from CIPRA provides guidance on environmentally friendly behaviour along the Via Alpina. Read More…
Relevance of quality of life for local governance
The position paper lays the ground for the future work of the GOVQoL project, the full title Empowering local governance of Alpine communities for a better quality of life. The paper was prepared to assure common understanding of the quality of life, elaborate the relationship between the quality of life and local governance, and emphasise why this relationship should be further strengthened. The position paper lays the ground for the future work of the GOVQoL project, the full title Empowering local governance of Alpine communities for a better quality of life. The paper was prepared to assure common understanding of the quality of life, elaborate the relationship between the quality of life and local governance, and emphasise why this relationship should be further strengthened. Read More…
Alpine Spatial Planning: Spatial planning perspectives for overcoming conflicts of use in the context of the energy transition
The proceedings of the CIPRA Annual Conference 2025 summarise the participatively developed results, conclusions, and normative policy and planning recommendations on the role of Alpine spatial planning in the context of current EU requirements for nature restoration and the expansion of renewable energies. Read More…
Quality of life in the Alps
Report on the state of the Alps - by the Alpine Convention Read More…
Climate and small water cycles (FR)
Solutions for the new water paradigm Read More…
Report: Nature-based Solutions and their Governance Structures for Climate Action in the Alpine Region
This report analyses the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in the Alpine area to tackle challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss while simultaneously addressing societal challenges. Read More…
AlpWeek 2024 Report
The AlpWeek 2024 Report highlights the main tools and ideas that were discussed during the AlpWeek. It focuses on the three priorities of the Multi-Annual Work Programme (2023–2030) of the Alpine Conference (MAP): Biodiversity, Climate Action, Quality of Life. Read More…
eco.mont
Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management, Vol. 17 / No. 1 Read More…
Dossier Facts4Tourism
The dossier "Facts4Tourism" is a collection of facts and findings from science and research that deal with topics and challenges of tourism in the (German) Alpine region. In addition to background information, definitions of terms and practical examples, scientific publications and current research results are presented in a generally understandable way and with the help of graphics. The topics covered include different forms of tourism, their effects, the management of visitors and the challenge of "resilience in tourism". Read More…
eco.mont - Vol. 15 / No. 1
“eco.mont – Journal of Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management” was founded as a joint initiative of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR), the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Innsbruck. “eco.mont” offers a platform specifically for scientists and practitioners working in and on protected mountain areas in Europe and overseas. Read More…
Mountain Research and Development Open Issue | Vol. 42/3
Four studies from Italy, France, and Cyprus examine how production of Mediterranean mountain food specialties—cheese, beef, and wine—can support sustainable development in the producing regions. Insights for better visitor management in protected areas are offered in an article from Nepal, using geolocated social media images, and in one from the French Alps, based on an analysis of visitors’ attitudes. A study from South Africa’s Drakensberg Mountains analyzes urbanization and land cover change. Read More…
Alpine Towns - Key to Sustainable Development in the Alps
9th Report on the state of the Alps. Read More…
Save land, save soil
What do we need for a turnaround in land management in peri-urban areas? Read More…
Eco.mont special issue: Biosphere Reserves in Mountain Regions
On the occasion of 50 years Man and the Biosphere Programme the Austrian MAB National Committee has organized and financed a special issue on Biosphere Reserves in Mountain Regions in eco.mont. The special issue contains 16 articles from four out of five MAB regions. Read More…
Mountain Research and Development Vol 39, No 4: The Role of Culture in Transformation Towards Sustainable Development in Mountains
Culture is fundamentally relevant for sustainable development. This focus issue shows how mountain communities draw on their cultural heritage and integrate new knowledge to shape their own innovative and locally-based development pathways. It also explores ways of integrating culture into development practice and policy. Studies focus on mountain communities in Chile, Italy, Russia, Ecuador, Georgia, Nepal, and China. Read More…
Mountain Research and Development Vol 39, No 2: Adaptation to Climate Change and Sustainable Mountain Development
Papers focus on scenario planning in Iceland; risk awareness in Austria; alpine pasture assessment in France; the role of different knowledge sources in adaptation in Venezuela and Colombia, Ecuador, and the Indian Himalaya; local adaptations to water scarcity in the Hindu Kush–Himalaya; declining glacier water in the Mongolian Altai; national glacier monitoring worldwide; and adaptation initiatives in African mountains. The issue was guest-edited by Carolina Adler. Read More…
Alpine Spheres: Natural limits - Infinite possibilities
Conference documentation CIPRA Annual Conference 2017 Read More…
Alpine Refugees. Immigration at the core of Europe
This collection of essays highlights how given Alpine territories in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland are currently facing challenges imposed by migration, the barriers and limitations they are encountering, and the extent to which migration triggers policy and territorial innovations that can generate beneficial impacts for both migrants and local inhabitants. Read More…
Mountain Research and Development, Vol 39, No 1, available online and open access
Papers in this issue cover food sustainability issues in Kenya and Bolivia and in Chile; the water–food–energy nexus and tourism in Nepal; perceptions of parks in a neoliberal context in Poland and in Switzerland; behavior change of backcountry tourists in Switzerland; and postdisturbance forest recovery in Slovakia. The issue closes with an IMS member’s portrait and three tributes to Bruno Messerli. Read More…
