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Indicators on evaluating the progress of the Alpine ecological network

The establishment of the Alpine Ecological Network is a long process. In order to evaluate the progress, the Platform Ecological Network of the Alpine Convention has developed a set of indicators.

Econnect's drive living on in recharge.green

Ecological connectivity in the Alps can only be maintained if the production of renewable energy is managed in line with nature protection. Some of the Econnect partners seized the opportunity given by the last call of the Alpine Space Programme to work out a project on this issue. They were successful and "recharge.green" is about to start on 1st October.

Northeast Asia inspired by the Alpine Ecological Network

In South Korea, China and Japan activities have been started in favour of ecological connectivity. The major protected areas of these countries, the Ministry for environment of South Korea and other key stakeholders have been convinced by the importance of connected habitats thanks to the successful initiatives in the Alps.

The French ecological network becomes regional

The main aim of the French "Green and Blue Infrastructure" ("Trame Verte et Bleue" - TVB) is to stop biodiversity loss. The ecological network is in addition a powerful tool for spatial planning. The two Alpine regions Rhône-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur have started to set up this new planning tool.

Financial boost to Bavaria's Ecological Network

2 million Euro will help to further develop the ecological network in Bavaria, "BayernNetzNatur". The environment Ministry gives this additional funding to at least one new nature protection project in each of Bavaria's seven provinces for 2013 and 2014.

CIPRA's point of view: Torino 2006: a hard lesson - but nothing learned

The Olympic Winter Games 2006 have left a burdensome legacy. The idea is thus to close the loss-making bobsleigh and replace it with an indoor ski slope. Is Turin simply throwing good money after bad?

Bavaria: Alpine Convention makes court appearance

The constitutional court of Bavaria has received a complaint against the classification of land for development demanding, for the first time, compliance with the Alpine Convention. The court ruling could significantly change how the Alps are protected in Bavaria.

Winter tourism: lateral thinking in Savoy

The skiing area of Biot/F sees ever less snow, and the resort is deep in debt. The local mayor now wants to get rid of the lifts and develop other forms of tourism. A visionary decision in the western Alps.

Joint action on climate change

The forests of the Alps will only be able to cope with climate change if the findings from all the various specialist fields are pooled together. And that requires new forms of co-operation and communication.

Knowing how to shape the climate

Climate protection is possible. It's just that lots of people don't know how to go about it. CIPRA is demonstrating how we can protect the climate and save money at the same time. The whole idea is being trialled in two pilot regions in the Alps

Young, climate-conscious, and thirsting for action

Young people from five Alpine nations campaigned as part of the My Clime-mate Project to make the Alps a carbon-neutral region. At the end of October they took stock - and forged new plans.

"We'll keep at it."

Virtually everyone was there. Idrija's festival hall was packed to the rafters, and the youth symphony orchestra summoned specially for the occasion was in full flow. There was plenty of drama, and the TV people were there, too. A murmur went through the 1,000-strong audience as they got to their feet and began clapping. Then a large burly man in a dark suit walked onto to the stage. Deep creases bracketed his laughing mouth like waterfalls, stretching up to his white temples. Bojan Sever, the major of the small Slovenian town in the alpine foothills, held aloft the certificate confirming their status as Alpine Town of the Year 2011. Cameras flashed and the applause redoubled. That was just over a year ago.

"CIPRA is a both a mainstay and a cornerstone"

Chris Walzer, lead partner of Econnect, on ecological networking, psychological barriers and a continuous landscape.

Alpine regions demand joint strategy

The Conference of the Alpine Regions has decided on an initiative paper for the development of a macro-regional strategy for the Alpine arc. It declares that the need is for greater innovation and economic strength within an intact environment, as well as more co-operation and the bundling of development funds. There is just one thing that is not mentioned: the Alpine Convention.

Fewer Alpine pastures

It is not the number of Alms (mountain pastures) that is in decline: rather it is the area of pastureland being worked, according to the preliminary results of the work on the "Alm Atlas".

New vehicle tunnels for goods traffic: a dead end

Traffic chaos in the Alps: this summer the most important transit axes are being closed to rail traffic. Haulage associations are thus again demanding new road tunnels. But the Alpine regions have decided that the solution to the traffic problem lies elsewhere.

Alp Week: a place for youth

Politics, science, NGOs. All the usual suspects are there at the 2012 AlpWeek in Poschiavo. This time, however, there is a special place for young people. Here is an overview of the programme.

The future of farming in the mountains

The European Union is negotiating the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). If the "Alliance for Agriculture and Nature Protection in the Alpine Regions" has its way, farming in the mountains will be given particular consideration. The alliance has now submitted its catalogue of demands.

In summer cool, in winter warm

The European Union Directive on the energy performance of buildings takes effect from July. Low-energy buildings will be mandatory as from 2021. The community centre of Saint-Jean-d'Arvey already meets these criteria. The building, made of regional wood, will open at the end of June - a first.

Oh! ...

… the bears in Trentino have finally gone too far.

CIPRA's point of view: New solidarity between the Alps and metropolitan areas

Various political actors are pushing for the development of a macro-region for the Alps. CIPRA also says yes to an Alpine macro-region - but only within a clear framework. This offers the opportunity to make the rest of Europe aware of the issues facing its Alpine regions.

CIPRA's point of view: Alpine Convention: Italy says yes but Switzerland still says no

Italy, surprisingly, has ratified eight of nine protocols of the Alpine Convention. Only Switzerland has yet to sign up. We do not need the protocols, stated the Swiss Federal Council recently - Swiss policy is, in its view, more sustainable than in any other Alpine country.

ALPINE POWER - Step by step together

International support for campaign against Brenner wind farm

With its planned wind farm on the Brenner Pass, Italy is breaching the Alpine Convention, according to the Club Arc Alpin, which has petitioned the Alpine Convention's committee of inquiry. For the first time in the history of the convention, "complaint proceedings" have begun.

International support for campaign against Brenner wind farm

With its planned wind farm on the Brenner Pass, Italy is breaching the Alpine Convention, according to the Club Arc Alpin, which has petitioned the Alpine Convention's committee of inquiry. For the first time in the history of the convention, "complaint proceedings" have begun.

CIPRA's point of view: 60 years of CIPRA

The International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, CIPRA, has reason to celebrate. On 5 May this umbrella organisation, containing some one hundred members from all countries in the Alps, will turn 60.

CIPRA's point of view: Knowing how to shape the climate

We should discharge no more greenhouse gases than the natural systems in the Alps, such as forests or moorlands, can absorb - CIPRA's vision, set out in its annual report, argues for sustained climate protection.

Work begins on Semmering Tunnel

The authorisation proceedings have yet to be concluded, but the excavators are already on the move for the building of the Semmering rail tunnel. Austrian politicians have given the project the green light, ignoring loud protests and empty state coffers.

Bruin is back!

The number of bears in the province of Trento has grown, while the damage they cause has fallen significantly, states the report on bears in the province. But not all is well for Bruin and friends.

Powering ahead towards carbon-neutral Alps

Emit no more greenhouse gases than the environment is capable of absorbing – that’s the vision the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) is advocating for sustainable climate protection. In its Annual Report it highlights ways in which the Alps could become carbon-neutral and how people might be motivated to achieve that objective.