Mreža zavarovanih območij v Alpah
A modern information and networking platform, improved safety and easier orientation along the trail: the Via Alpina, the transalpine long-distance hiking trail, is getting a makeover in 2022. CIPRA International is seeking crowdfunding to support this project.
Clouds of mist drift through the Alpine landscape. Breakfast is simmering on the gas cooker. The day on the trail begins: a short video on the crowdfunding platform Okpal shows what an extraordinary setting a hike on the Via Alpina offers and how the unique long-distance hiking route is to be modernised and preserved in the future.
Through crowdfunding, CIPRA, which manages the Via Alpina office, aims to improve safety and orientation through routing apps along the adapted red trail. The Via Alpina website will be developed into a modern information and networking platform in five languages, where all interested parties can find out and exchange information about hiking conditions, mountain huts and route guidance. CIPRA is launching a crowdfunding campaign to implement these plans. “The Via Alpina belongs to all of us”, emphasises Jakob Dietachmair, Deputy Executive Director of CIPRA International and coordinator of the unique long-distance hiking trail. “Regional specialities, environmentally friendly building cultures and the diverse nature to the left and right of the path make the complex concept of sustainability tangible.” For this to continue, investment in infrastructure and safety is needed.
In summer 2022, eight “Via Alpina Explorers” will also set out with the support of the VAUDE Sport Albrecht von Dewitz Foundation and hike along the adapted red route. Using social media, blogs or film, they will tell stories about Alpine biodiversity, environmentally friendly travel and challenges on the mountain. Support the Via Alpina now, kilometre by kilometre
Photo: The Via Alpina – a unique long-distance hiking trail that runs from Trieste/I to Monaco through all eight Alpine countries. © Christina Ragettli
On January 26, the Autonomous Provinces of Bolzano/Bozen and Trento officially took over the Presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) on behalf of Italy for the year 2022 [find here the videos of the kick-off event].
In his opening speech, the President of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozan Arno Kompatscher - who welcomed the participants "in South Tyrol, in the heart of the Alps, and now in the heart of EUSALP" - emphasized that, especially in the sensitive Alpine region, "only unity and cooperation make it possible to meet the challenges of the future". And it is precisely EUSALP that is increasingly establishing itself as a solid and stable instrument of cross-border cooperation in the Alps". Kompatscher emphasized that "the goal of the Italian EUSALP 2022 Presidency will be to make the Alpine region the first long-term Carbon Neutral macro-region in Europe, in line with the EU climate measures and the European Green Deal".
The two years of the French presidency of EUSALP were described by the French Secretary of State in charge of rurality Joël Giraud: "The Alpine territories constitute one family. In order to be heard in Brussels, it is important that the Alpine territories speak with one voice and EUSALP makes this cooperation possible". During the event Giraud passed the baton to President Kompatscher and councillor Bisesti by handing over the presidency wheel, a Slovenian wheel which is a symbol of Alpine tradition.
Source: https://www.alpine-region.eu/news/alpine-region-under-italian-flag-autonomous-provinces-bolzanobozen-and-trento-take-over-eusalp
More info: https://www.alpine-region.eu/eusalp-italian-presidency-2022
Photo credit: ivo corra¦Ç -® 2022
On the basis of the Nature Conservation Protocol of the Alpine Convention, the Austrian Constitutional Court recently annulled as unlawful a Vorarlberg ordinance that was intended to reduce the size of the "Gipslöcher" nature reserve in Lech by about 900 m2 due to construction plans for a lift facility. "We welcome the ruling, as protected areas within the scope of the Alpine Convention may only be reduced in size under strict conditions. The fact that this fact has now been emphatically established for the first time by a supreme court is in any case forward-looking!" emphasises Franz Maier, President of the Umweltdachverband*.
The Constitutional Court states that Art 11 para 1 of the Protocol "Nature Conservation and Landscape Management" of the Alpine Convention is directly applicable and that Austria is thus obliged to preserve, maintain and - where necessary - expand existing protected areas in the sense of their protective purpose and to avoid impairments or destruction. It is evident that especially the sensitive Alpine areas are under pressure due to tourism infrastructure projects.
* The Umweltdachverband (UWD), based in Vienna, is the umbrella organisation for 36 environmental and nature conservation organisations or Alpine associations from Austria with around 1.4 million members.
Last December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution proclaiming 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, 20 years after the last International Year of Mountains in 2002. The Assembly acknowledged that, despite the progress that has been made in promoting the sustainable development of mountain regions and the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, the prevalence of poverty, food insecurity, social exclusion, environmental degradation and exposure to the risk of disasters is still increasing. Such a resolution aims to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable mountain development and the conservation and sustainable use of mountain ecosystems.
ALPARC which has been relentlessly working for a sustainable development of the Alps for the last 25 years, welcomes this statement and reaffirms its willingness to increase international cooperation to implement Alps-wide solutions to this overall goal.
Alpine protected areas play a key role in the conservation of biodiversity but as well in the monitoring of species and habitats. Only protected areas can insure long-time monitoring over many years with professional equipment and staff on the ground far beyond normal scientific project durations. This feature makes protected areas so precious for sciences, for the development of management measures and their testing but as well for political decisions concerning the conservation of biodiversity.
Alpine protected areas should join their forces to develop a common transboundary monitoring system of species and habitats allowing an evaluation of the evolution of alpine ecosystems and biodiversity under the light of climate change for the next generation. ALPARC's latest General Assembly has approved principle of an international long-term monitoring of habitats and species (selected indicator species according to management and conservation goals of alpine protected areas) and propose the creation of a specific working group of protected area managers associating interested scientists to develop and test such a system during the period 2022-2025.
Several parks already made proposals, such as the Gran Paradiso National Park, in favor of an Alps-wide monitoring of the Otter.
The last observations of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Alpine region go back to the late seventies, in relation to the decrease of the species observed in most of Europe. Causes behind this decrease are the same: habitat destruction, direct persecution of the species and, maybe in a smaller quote for the protected area, pollution of the aquatic ecosystem. But, while in the last years otters are naturally recovering throughout most of the European countries, in the Alpine region this phenomenon is absent or slowed down. [...] This may suggests that the actual conservation strategies are not enough to consistently favour the presence of the species across the Alpine region, which, anyway, represents a fundamental corridors for the expansion of the otters in Europe.[...] Making the point on distribution and conservation status of the otter in the Alpine region is the first step towards possible European strategies aimed at promoting the expansion and conservation of the species, also through the protection of its habitat.*
*Mountain Ecology vol 13 (2020) : read more
ALPARC held its Annual General Assembly on the 28th of January 2022. Due to the pandemic, the event took place in a digital format for the second-year consecutive. A total of 41 participants joined the meeting, among which the representatives of 31 ALPARC members. Partners from different alpine countries were also present, as well as Alenka Smerkolj -General Secretary of the Alpine Convention- and Simone Remund -representative of the Swiss Presidency of the Alpine Convention- who both kindly welcomed the participants.
ALPARC addresses a special thanks to the team of the Landscape Park Binntal (CH) where the Assembly should have taken place this year.
The 2021 activity report was presented during the meeting, as well as upcoming projects on visitor management and long-term monitoring of biodiversity. This was also the opportunity to announce further developments for ALPAR CENTR’ALPS with the hiring of a new ALPARC staff member. A focus on Alpine UNESCO Geoparks completed the discussions, with the expressed wish to encourage more of them to become ALPARC’s members.
The network was well represented which enabled the Assembly to validate the official reports of the president, the treasurer and the director and the activity programme and budget for 2022.
ALPARC's 2021 activity report has recently been released. The document is available in the 4 Alpine languages and presents the work of the organisation for the past 12 months. ALPARC's main fields of work are covered, from Biodiversity & ecological connectivy, to Education for sustainable development and Regional development and quality of life. The report also presents the main news from the network and the latest update of the Alpine Protected Area map.
MORE : https://alparc.org/alpine-resources/activity-report-2021
Last December, Xavier Eudes has replaced Eva Alicar at the head of the Vanoise National park (FR) while Dr. Tit Potočnik has been recently appointed as new director of the Triglav National Park (SL). In Switzerland, Moritz Clausen will fill up the vacant position of managing director of the Binntal Nature Park on the 1st of March 2022. On the very same day, Massimo Bocca will retire after years of dedicated work as director of the Mont Avic natural park (IT).
Before joining the Vanoise National Park, Xavier Eudes was deputy director of the Department of Territories and the Sea of the Hérault. For 6 years, he developed projects for economic actors and local authorities in rural areas, by promoting the identity of these areas and in relation to the preservation of agricultural, natural and forestry land.
With a concern for dialogue and consultation both internally, with the Park's teams, and with the partners and inhabitants of the Vanoise, he is committed to "working together" and the co-construction of projects to enhance the territory. As a practitioner of outdoor activities, he is also committed to opening up the Park to the various publics, which is essential in view of the current challenges of biodiversity, and associated with controlled tourism development.
Dr. Tit Potočnik was appointed as a director by the Slovenian Government at its regular meeting on 20th January 2022. He has been appointed for a limited mandate of 4 years (from 27th January 2022 up to 26th January 2026) with the possibility of reappointment.
Dr Tit Potočnik obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in October 2003, his Master of Laws degree in EU Commercial Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Maribor in June 2006 and his Doctor of Laws degree in EU Commercial Law from the International University of Novi Pazar in October 2009. Since September 2010, he has worked in various managerial positions, mainly as a director of limited liability companies.
The board of the Binntal Landscape Park has appointed Moritz Clausen as its new managing director. The federally certified accountant from Ernen will take up his post on 1 March 2022.
Moritz Clausen, who grew up in Ernen, is a federally certified accountant. After his training and intensive professional years in Bern, he returned to the Valais and to Ernen in 2019. Since then, he has been working as a client manager for a fiduciary and auditing company in Brig. In his previous professional positions, he has worked in various teams and also gained some experience in team leadership. "Moritz Clausen brings a lot of experience with him, especially in project work. Thanks to his knowledge and his identification with the region, he will be able to represent the Binntal Landscape Park in the best possible way", says Moritz Schwery, President of the Binntal Landscape Park.
Moritz Clausen has known the Binntal Landscape Park since its foundation. He is convinced of its charisma and knows the different demands and wishes. "I am pleased that I will henceforth be able to play an active and creative role for my home region," says Moritz Clausen about his future commitment. Moritz Clausen wants to lead the Binntal Landscape Park into the future together with the existing team and develop it further in accordance with its goals.
In the context of the Healing Alps – HEALPS2 project, several tools are being developed to facilitate the development of health tourism value chains in different Alpine regions. Destination managers need concrete instruments to determine the healing potential of their region and match it with the needs of potential visitors. The scenario tool is an innovative platform which helps to identify the healing profile of a specific region and developing nature-based health tourism offers in line with customers preferences and needs. Enjoy the video!
The Reading Mountains Festival is a way to connect people that love books and mountains, despite them being physically apart. Book lovers and authors, mountaineers and artists throughout the Alps (and beyond) have a chance to discuss similar issues and evaluate the meaning, impact, and purpose of Alpine literature.
In the lead up to International Mountain Day 2021, the #ReadingMountains Festival will once again pay tribute to the linguistic and cultural heritage in the Alps. This year too, there can be no limits to the creativity of events in the Alpine-wide festival, which can take place online, in-person, or in hybrid form. Registration to organize an event for the 2021 edition goes through the dedicated online form. The Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention will support the promotion of events through social media as well as with posters, bookmarks, and other promotional materials. Only events registered by 30 November 2021 will be guaranteed promotional materials.
The award is a new competition to support Green Economy in the Alpine Macroregion. The competition is an initiative of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), financially supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and operated by PLANVAL.
EUSALP is looking for innovative and sustainable ideas, products, services and business models in the Alpine Region. Everyone from the Alpine Region can participate in the competition: start-ups, long-established companies, institutions, associations, private persons or teams. An international jury will select 6 winners.
Proposals can be submitted until 15 January 2022! Participation is easy. Applicants just have to enter the official website and fill in the short application form.
More information at www.gi-goes-business.eu.