The International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) defines protected areas as

“A clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.”

The categorization of protected areas varies by country and protection levels. The IUCN’s categorization of protected areas is widely accepted on the international level and is recognized by organizations such as the United Nations and many national governments. It sets up a global standard for defining and classifying protected areas based on management objectives. However, not all protected areas fall neatly into these categories, which is also true for the approximately 1,000 Alpine protected areas. Thus, only a general overview of protected area categories is provided below with reference to the IUCN classification¹, UNESCO labels and Natura 2000 sites.

All protected areas have a common goal of biodiversity conservation. Many other objectives are considered in management strategies such as delivering benefits to local communities, providing educational and recreational opportunities, conserving specific landscape features, conducting scientific research and improving the overall quality of the area over time.

Wilderness area (IUCN category Ia and Ib): Large, unmodified or slightly modified areas whose natural character and functions are left intact. Wilderness areas have the highest level of protection and are largely left undisturbed by human activity in order to preserve their integrity for future generations. Low-impact, minimally invasive educational and research activities are allowed.

National park (IUCN category II): Large natural sites that are dedicated towards protecting ecological and biological systems and species. Visitor use is managed in these areas for inspirational, educational, cultural and recreational purposes so that no significant environmental degradation is done. They also contribute to the local economy through tourism.

Nature reserve (IUCN category IV): The main goal of these areas is to protect or restore certain species or habitats that are important on an international, national or regional level. Regular interventions may be required to assure protection. Other goals include fostering public education and appreciation for species protection and to provide regular interactions with nature for urban residents.

(Regional) Nature park (IUCN category V): Management and protection levels of these areas vary by country. Park activities usually focus on the integration of sustainable, regional development and nature conservation. Traditional management practices may be used to protect and maintain cultural landscapes and values created through human-nature interactions.

Natura 2000 sites: A network established at the EU level to prevent biodiversity loss by serving as breeding and resting sites for at-risk species. This is done in accordance to the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the European Habitat and Birds Directives and the respective lists of threatened species. Some human activities are permitted on different levels, and management policies encourage working with nature.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to protect and valorize natural and culture sites that are considered as being ‘common goods’ for all humanity due to their significant value. They encourage the identification, protection and preservation of these sites. Some protected areas earn special statuses from UNESCO, as detailed below.

UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site: They earn a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for their outstanding universal value for humanity. UNESCO requires that these values are preserved for future generations by establishing and implementing a management plan. This universal application of this classification means that these areas are the common heritage of humanity.

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: This internationally recognized label is given by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB). It encourages the sustainable use of biodiversity. Sites that earned this status are areas where innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development, resource management and interactions between nature and society can be tested.

UNESCO Global Geopark: These are single, unified areas containing an international geological significance that follow a holistic, bottom-up managerial style, integrating the concepts of sustainable development, education and nature protection. They are areas for gaining awareness of key issues that society is facing such as climate change and natural disasters.

Many other types of classifications and their corresponding management styles exist throughout the Alpine countries. These include but are not limited to: quiet zones, biotopes, protected landscape areas, natural forest reserves, special conservation areas and fragile natural areas (espaces naturels sensibles).

¹ The IUCN categories indicated in brackets are approximative, as designations vary by country

This collection of best practices in sustainable tourism diversification was gathered during a survey conducted in the Alpine Protected Areas. 

The new leaflet presenting the ALPARC network.

This document is based on a collection of best practices and experiences in the Alpine protected areas.

2008-2009. Edited by ALPARC.

Synthesis of the results of the international seminar "Sustainable mobility and Alpine Protected Areas" (June 11th 2008, L’Argentière-la-Bessée/F) and the soft mobility report on existing projects in the Alpine Protected Areas.

Sharing of experiences and specific know-how concerning sustainable mobility also continued under the framework of the ALPARC’s working group “Sustainable Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Soft Mobility ”, coordinated by the Vercors Natural Park/F and the coordination unit of ALPARC network.

The Alpine Protected areas as promoters of soft mobility.

Brochure published in the framework of the international seminar « Soft mobility and alpine protected areas » (ALPARC - MEEDDAT/F, 2008). 

Le REEMA, CIPRA France et ALPARC sont relais du programme international "Youth Alpine Dialogue" pour les Alpes françaises. A ce titre, nous recherchons des jeunes (15-18 ans et 18-30 ans) pour participer à ce projet original, convivial et porteur d'idées ! Nous comptons sur vous pour nous aider à créer un dialogue alpin vivant !

Plus d'information dans l'appel ci-joint.

eco.mont – Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research and Management

publishes peer-reviewed articles on research within protected mountain areas and its potential interest for protected area management. Each issue also includes reports on management issues and showcases one protected area. 

eco.mont Vol. 5 No. 2 - December 2013

Editorial by Christoph Stadel

«This issue of eco.mont truly reflects the fact that protected areas are an important topic of international concern, are researched by scholars of different academic disciplines, and are also of great interest for many practitioners. While protected areas have been established in different terrestrial and maritime zones, they are particularly important in mountain regions, given their ecological and anthropogenic variety and their susceptibility to fragility and vulnerability. Different types of protected areas in mountains can be distinguished, ranging from small pockets of protected ecological niches to provincial and national parks, biosphere reserves, buffer zones, and even transnational protection corridors…»

please find the content at this link

eco.mont Vol. 6 No. 1 - January 2014

Editorial by Günter Köck

« The Alps, or rather the Hohe Tauern part of them, are at the heart of this issue. This is no coincidence, as in June 2013 the Hohe Tauern National Park Centre in Mittersill hosted the 5th Symposium for Research in Protected Areas, which attracted top scientists from 20 different nations. More than 150 researchers presented results of their work there and have elaborated some of these for the current issue. So it is only natural that Kristina Bauch and Ferdinand Lainer, both experts from Hohe Tauern National Park, should introduce ‘their’ park as the Case in Point. They demonstrate that research in the national park has always been a major concern and will continue to be so. In addition, Kupper et al. trace the long and stony path from the first conservation ideas to the implementation of Hohe Tauern National Park in 1995. This article summarizes Kupper et al.’s excellent book Geschichte des Nationalparks Hohe Tauern (Kupper & Wöbse 2013)…»

please find the content at this link

 Dear friends of the Alpine protected areas,

The network of Alpine protected areas is a success story of long years about the implementation of the Alpine Convention, which began as early as 1995 on French initiative, developed further in the following years and joined the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention in 2006 as the Task Force Protected Areas. A new stage began on 1st January 2014 with the formal independence and creation of the ALPARC association.

It has been the goal throughout all those years to interconnect the protected areas in the Alps and to strengthen the biodiversity and the sustainable development of our unique area of the Alps as a joint responsibility.

For the Alpine Convention this means that with ALPARC we can count on a strong partner, with whom we have many things in common. We also laid the foundation for the future by signing a Memorandum of cooperation. Our first task this year is to define concrete contents and joint projects, and to support one another as well as possible. ALPARC’s programme for the next two years contains a series of important ideas and plans, such as the continuation of the important work to further the development of the network, the youth work and the joint public relations work, just to name a few.

The protected areas are jewels of the Alps! Invaluable jewels! The protection of these areas and their valorisation must therefore continue to feature as a priority in implementing the Alpine Convention in the future.

I therefore look forward to the cooperation between the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and ALPARC with a view to achieving our joint goals.

Yours,

Markus Reiterer 

 The Adamello Brenta Geopark hosted the nineteenth edition of the meet in memory of Danilo Re at Pinzolo (Val Rendena, Trentino, Italy) from 9th to 12th January 2014.

Danilo Re is a park warden from the Province of Cuneo (Piemont, Italy) who met his death in the line of duty in 1995. For many years now, the annual Danilo Re Meet has provided a major opportunity for all those working in Alpine Protected Areas to get acquainted with one another, in particular those in the field, carrying out surveillance, facilitation and fact-finding missions.

The 2014 edition attracted 150 participants who took part in sports competitions and a thematic seminar entitled “Meeting wildlife in Nature - Programs and initiatives for visitors of alpine protected areas - between conservation and valorisation of a resource”.

Results

The detailed results of the competitions are available under this link .

For the rankings of the teams that distinguished themselves, the Berchtesgaden National Park (D) came in first place, the Paneveggio Pale di San Marino Nature Park (I) in second place and the neighbouring national parks of Gran Paradiso (I) and Vanoise (F) shared the third place. 

ALPARC carried out its first ordinary general assembly on 10th January 2014 in Pinzolo in the Adamello Brenta Natural Park (I) with its members from all Alpine countries present. The general assembly approved the official reports for 2013 of the President, Treasurer and Director, as well as the framework programme 2014-2019 and the working programme 2014.

The programme reflects ALPARC’s most important areas of action:

The presence of the General Secretary of the Alpine Convention, Markus Reiterer, has emphasised the close connection between ALPARC and the Alpine Convention, even after separation of the Task Force Protected Areas from the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention. ALPARC’s programme includes an intensive cooperation on various subjects to run from this year.

ALPARC, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year (founded by France in 1995), is an own entity from now onwards and has a team to further strengthen the cooperation between the administrators of the protected areas of all Alpine countries within the framework of the Alpine Convention. In addition to France and Germany that have supported ALPARC for a long time, this status should enable other Alpine countries too to become involved more pro-actively in the concrete implementation of the Convention.

On time for the general assembly, ALPARC could welcome its 40th member: the Binntal Nature Park in Switzerland, and coinciding with going to press for this newsletter the Slovenian Logar Valley Landscape Park registered as a new official ALPARC member. A warm welcome!

You can view the activity report 2013 as a pdf file at this link .

The next meetings of the ALPARC working group “Mountain environmental education” are scheduled on 21st and 22nd October 2014

at the brand new visitors centre (Haus der Berge) of the Berchtesgaden National Park in the Bavarian Alps 

 Until then ALPARC will work with the members of this working group on different projects:

• Creation of a joint and simple educational tool adapted for the event spaces to raise awareness for the protection of the Alps. Current work name: “The Alps in my backpack”;
• Project to create a shared simultaneous event of the protected areas dedicated to the youth of their territories, in order to guide them towards trying out and rediscovering their mountain in a completely original way. Joint project with the REEMA. Current work name: “Youth on the Top”;
• Partnering of ALPARC in the project “Youth Alpine Dialogue” led by CIPRA International;
• Development of a global thematic project for 2015 and the following years.

Meet the working group “Mountain environmental education”

If you are in charge of environment education in an Alpine protected area and interested in the activities of this group open to all, please do not hesitate to contact marie.stoeckel(at)alparc.org.