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Point of view: Protecting the Alps – the responsibility of people

The diversity of the Alps is a challenge that at the same time holds great potential. It is up to the new German presidency of the Alpine Convention to put this into effect, states Federica Corrado, President of CIPRA Italy.

Sustainable building and renovation in practice

Energy-efficient building methods and renovation are by no means utopian. How will such projects look? What needs to be done? A workshop in Idrija, Slovenia in October 2014 will provide the answers.

Preserving landscapes through smarter location choices

Ever more families in the Alps are realising their dream of a house in the country that is not too far from the city. This brings with it problems such as urban sprawl and high mobility costs. An online calculator can now show whether such a move is worth it.

Express tourism on the Eiger

The North Face of the Eiger in the Bernese Oberland is an inspiration for every mountaineer. A new railway project is now intended to make the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains even more accessible. Swiss environmental groups are, however, critical of the project.

Information for a better Decision-Making

Improvisational Theatre: Macro-Region for the Alps

Is it a comedy, a farce, or a whodunnit? In any case, the subject matter - an Alpine macro-region - is controversial and the cast high-powered. Inspired by the EU, Alpine countries and regions take to the stage while the Alpine Convention assumes the role of input provider.

Young Voices, New Ideas

Young people want to be heard and taken seriously. That requires staying power. CIPRA is helping.

Young people beyond boundaries

The Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention (YPAC), held in Chamonix, sought to find solutions for creating an open society. Political education and more information were uppermost on the wish list of the participants, who came from all of the Alpine countries.

Service as the key to success

Numerous mountain communities in Europe would like to build or renovate their kindergartens, schools or community centres in an energy-efficient way so as to save costs and energy. Implementation is a major challenge, however, as know-how and experience are still lacking. A service package can now provide further help.

Live simply!

The Alps and their natural resources are coming under increased pressure. But how can a change in values open the door to an ecologically sustainable way of life? CIPRA investigates this question in its latest annual report.

Municipal network for nature protection

Nature knows no bounds. Therefore, 25 members of the “Alliance in the Alps” network of municipalities are now working together to ensure greater biodiversity and quality of life. Below is a summary of the aims of the international dynAlp-nature projects.

Youth participation in the Alps: a situation report

Where are young people involved in decision-making? How clearly are their voices heard? In its report CIPRA gives a first Alpine-wide view of the participation of young people.

Living simply - with fewer resources

(08.04.2014) The Alps are coming under increasing pressure with developments such as the energy transition, the growth of tourism and urban sprawl. But we can offset the limited nature of their natural resources with the help of cultural resources – changing our values to focus more closely on an environmentally-friendly way of life. What this entails is the subject of CIPRA’s 2013 Annual Report.

CIPRA embarks on a long-distance walk

On 1 January 2014, CIPRA International took over the secretariat of the long-distance trail Via Alpina. Together both alpine-wide networks are working for more sustainable development in the Alps. Passionate hikers shall not be the only ones to benefit.

Why Sochi is not in the Alps

The 2014 Winter Olympics could have been held in the Alps except that, at the time, Salzburg’s candidacy fell through with the IOC. Nowadays, the Winter Olympics have virtually no chance of success among the people who actually live in the Alps. CIPRA looks back at the experiences gained in recent years.

Why Sochi is not in the Alps

The idea of the Alps as a venue for the Winter Olympics is these days scarcely conceivable. CIPRA has now produced a review of the reasons underlying this, the experiences gained from the candidatures of Annecy, Salzburg, Munich and Graubünden (Grisons), and what remains of the Turin Games.

Genetic engineering: sinister passengers in the Alps

In Switzerland genetically modified rapeseed is spreading in uncontrolled fashion. Yet its cultivation and use for feeding have been prohibited there since 2008. How is it that such rape is appearing in places where it has no right to be?

Sustainable means a different kind of Olympics

For Switzerland today, a pioneering spirit means effectively reducing one’s carbon footprint. And using one’s own resources in such a way that generations to come are able to go on living a worthwhile life together with the rest of the world. Anything else is a misrepresentation, like the planned Winter Olympics in Graubünden in 2022. Sustainable Winter Olympics need a change of direction, something that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which dictates the terms, is not even close to initiating.

Salmon coming to the Rhine

From the Atlantic to the Alps: by 2020 the Rhine will once again be a home to salmon. These migratory fish will then be able to swim unhindered all the way to Basel -short-term by unconventional means where necessary.

Land for all

Fewer and fewer areas remain untouched by building development. Vorarlberg has therefore seen the establishment of the "Bodenfreiheit" (ground clearance) association, which is now successfully buying up land for public use.

CIPRA's point of view: Co-operation, not killing

The authorities in Graubünden are demanding that bears be shot in Italy before they cross into Switzerland and potentially cause problems there. Is a preventive shooting really suitable to prevent conflicts with humans?

Project GreenAlps for more species diversity

Laws in future are to aim more directly at promoting ecological networking in the Alps. Regions, protected areas and NGOs, including CIPRA, are therefore jointly initiating the GreenAlps project in the autumn.

National parks remove exotic fish species

Collecting what was released into the wild fifty years ago is the order of the day in the Gran Paradiso and Triglav National Parks, where the fish species introduced have had serious effects on the natural environment.

Launch of the International Connectivity Conservation Network

Connecting habitats around the world requires the commitment of a great number of individuals. To help these persons in their work, the World Commission on Protected Areas has established the International Connectivity Conservation Network.

Alps and beyond: better corridors towards the Carpathians and the Mediterranean region

Ecological networks are important within certain geographical areas, such as the Alps, and also with neighbouring regions. Several projects are working to ensure that the Alps are better connected with their surroundings. Major steps have been undertaken in the Alps-Carpathians corridor and in the area connecting the Alps with the Mediterranean region.

Natural forests for woodpeckers, beetles and bats

The new Austrian project, "Network Natural Forests", intends to contribute to the protection of biodiversity by connecting its forest habitats via two elements: close-to-nature stepping stones and the co-operation of different protected areas.

Nature-friendly tourism and connected habitats in the Rhaetian Triangle

Supporting the implementation of an ecological network continues to be a major issue in the Swiss region of the Lower Engadine. The new "Colliar" project intends to improve co-operation on regional initiatives by different sectors.

Better ecological corridors and fewer accidents involving animals on Swiss roads

The Federal Council has drawn positive conclusions as regards the status of ecological corridors in Switzerland. A pilot project has tested how to successfully reduce collisions between animals and cars. The upcoming research field of landscape genetics provides new insights for the planning and implementation of ecological networks.

France paves the way for its green and blue infrastructure

After more than a year of discussions, France officially established its "trame verte et bleue" ecological network with the publication of a decree at the end of 2012. This Alpine country now has legal rules on how to define and implement its green and blue infrastructure.

Win-win for nature, economy and society: more green infrastructure throughout Europe

Since May the countries of the European Union have received guidelines on how to promote green infrastructure. The European Commission has adopted its strategy on this topic with the aim of better integrating natural processes into spatial planning and strengthening the benefits of intact ecosystems for the economy and society. In addition, Natura2000 and Emerald sites have been further recognized as major elements in an ecological network.