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Mountain Research and Development, Vol 36, No 2, on Modernization and Sustainable Development in Mountains

Papers address modernization and sustainable development, showing that some aspects of modernization can lead to sustainability—eg improved energy use in Europe, multilocal livelihoods in Pakistan, biosphere reserves in Europe, agrotourism in Thailand, or improved governance in Nepal. Further papers deal with carbon storage in Thailand, forest composition in China, stump debarking in the Czech Republic, treelines in the Andes, and hydropower energy storage in Europe.

Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas

The JRC and the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) publish the first-ever Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas that maps the soil biodiversity of the entire planet. This unique Atlas pays tribute to soil – the silent engine that keeps the planet alive – by providing a detailed analysis of soil organisms and the threats to soil biodiversity at global scale.

CIPRA International Lab

CIPRA International Lab GmbH, a not-for-profit company under Austrian law, is CIPRA International's operative arm in the fields of research, project development and implementation and international know-how transfer.

Point of view: Switzerland needs help with its climate policy

Switzerland was formerly a leading light in environmental policy. Today, sadly, it does not even have a plan for implementing the goals of the Paris climate agreement, says Hans Weber, executive director of CIPRA Switzerland.

Young ideas for a green economy

This year’s Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention, held in the Italian town of Bassano del Grappa, focussed exclusively on the topic of “Green Economy”. The “Youth Alpine Express” also stopped off there.

“Glamping” in the Slovenian Alps: a critical view

A new “Eco Resort” in Slovenia promises luxury farmhouse holidays. Just a few kilometres away the genuine Alpine huts of the “Velika Planina” stand ready for guests.

Democratic renewal: success and failure

People have been gathering every night in Paris since the end of March in the “Nuit debout” (Up all night) movement in order to discuss a world that is democratic, environmentally friendly and socially more just. What French cities dream of is already being tested for real in Alpine villages.

AlpWeek 2016

Better protection for natural spaces

Resistance is growing across the Alps against construction activities in pristine or largely unspoilt areas. CIPRA is making an appeal for integrative spatial planning to the Alpine states meeting this week in Murnau, Germany.

Point of view: 25 years of the Alpine Convention are not enough

While we celebrate 25 years of the Alpine Convention, we still bemoan the slow pace of its implementation. For its objectives to be achieved, believes Katharina Conradin, President of CIPRA International, we have to repeatedly demand their realisation.

CIPRA and the Alpine Convention: a fruitful co-operation

An architectural competition, a climate conference, activities with young people: CIPRA and the Alpine Convention have a lot in common, as the current annual report of CIPRA International makes clear.

Change is in the air

A change of executive director at CIPRA International and at CIPRA Austria, and a new president for CIPRA Switzerland: the new faces shaping the future of CIPRA.

One river, numerous desires: disagreements about the Alpine Rhine

A current bone of contention between different interest groups is the priority to be given to the various uses made of the Alpine Rhine: as a farming area, as a habitat for the little ringed plover and the German tamarisk, or as a drinking water reservoir. SPARE, a new European Union project for the Alpine region, will offer assistance for the holistic management of watercourses.

Chemicals in the Alps– unwanted souvenirs

Not only particulates are causing problems for people and animals: chemicals too are accumulating in the Alps. As one of the causes the outdoors industry is only gradually moving to remedy matters.

Award-winning tourism

Tourism too has its success stories. Innovative projects in the Alps are drawing attention. A national park in Germany now shows that sustainable tourism can also bring economic benefits.

Tracking change with CIPRA

Twenty-five years have passed since the Alpine Convention was established. In its Annual Report, CIPRA International focuses on the role the international agreement plays for panalpine cooperation today and the role it could play in the future. There is also an internal change to report – in August 2016, Andreas Pichler will be taking the helm of the Liechtenstein-based NGO.

SPARE – Alpine rivers as society’s lifelines

[Project completed] What is the state of the Alpine rivers? How can we bring those responsible and other interested parties to committing themselves to holistic river management? The SPARE project strives to answer these and other questions.

SPARE – Alpine rivers as society’s lifelines

What is the state of the Alpine rivers? How can we bring those responsible and other interested parties to committing themselves to holistic river management? The SPARE project strives to answer these and other questions. CIPRA and eight additional partners have launched the three-year project at a two-day meeting in Vienna in early February 2016.

Victory and defeat for new protected areas

New protected areas are valuable for biodiversity, with many also intended to boost the local economy. There are nevertheless frequent reservations.

Strange but true...

soft guitar music, gentle singing, then the camera zooms onto a green, undeveloped hillside.

I-LivAlps

[Project completed] Youth participation as tool to fight the demographical change threatening the Alps - this was the topic of the project “I-LivAlps: LivingLabs with young people in the Alps”. The motor of the process were active, skilled, engaged young people, coordinatet by competent youth leaders and a stable and efficient international network able to foster local activities at the national level in order to anchor youth participation. 36 participants from 6 alpine countries, aged between 15 and 30 years, with different cultural and educational backgrounds were working together with national NGOs to get new skills to become proactive in their community.

Olympic Realities – Six Cities after the Games

Since 2012 Bruno Helbling has travelled 6 Cities to discover and photograph Olympic sport venues. A large-format photo book with text essays by six journalist and experts will be published in october 2015 by Birkhäuser Publisher.

Point of view: He who sows infrastructure, reaps more traffic

At the end of February 2016 Swiss voters will decide on the building of a second road tunnel at the Gotthard Pass. The CHF 4 billion project will torpedo Switzerland’s modal shift policy, believes Barbara Wülser, CIPRA International’s communications manager.

A toolbox for climate change

Climate change is a fact. Its complexity, however, means that it remains an abstract notion for regional decision-makers. CIPRA, together with its partners, is supporting Alpine regions.

Hot topic: mountain biking

Like hikers, mountain bikers are now part of the mountain landscape, often using the same paths. The result: conflicts between the two groups are on the increase.

European tourism prize for Bohinj

For years slow mobility has been a priority in the Slovenian town of Bohinj. It has now been awarded the EDEN network’s innovation prize.

Strange but true...

When it comes to superlatives, the French also want to get in on the act.

Traditional nature conservation in crisis

The European Union is pushing for better implementation of its biodiversity strategy. At the same time protected areas in the Alps are being broken up, weakened or downgraded. Where is the problem?

Alpine municipalities strengthen youth participation

If municipalities wish to introduce policies that will meet the expectations of coming generations, they have to be able to offer their young people something. The YSAM project has shown how youth participation can be strengthened in Alpine communities. A new label is being used in Switzerland to mark youth-friendly municipalities.

Alpine regional strategy on the starting blocks

The European strategy for the Alps is ready. There nevertheless remain some challenges to its effective and sustainable implementation.