The Alpine Network of Protected Areas
ASTERS, the Haute-Savoie Natural Areas Conservation Authority (Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Haute-Savoie /France) has published a book entitled «L’incroyable histoire de Gypa » (“The Incredible Story of Gypa”).
This audiobook aims to make children aware of the protection of the bearded vulture. It includes a colourful illustrated book (48 pages) and a CD which tells the incredible story of "Gypa".
This book is for 5- to 8-year olds and can be bought from Asters. For the moment it is only available in French.
http://www.asters.asso.fr/telecharger-document.php?idfichier=466&page=INDEX&idapplication=page
Source : ASTERS http://www.asters.asso.fr/
We are pleased to provide you here a first list of events organized or co-organized by ALPARC and important dates to remember in 2016.
| 21 - 24 January | 21st Edition of the Danilo Re Memorial |
Chiusa di Pesio (CN) , Piemont Parco naturale del Marguareis, Italy |
|
22 January (morning) |
Alparc General Assembly | Conference room of the Province of Cuneo/Cuneo - Italy |
|
22 January (afternoon) |
Thematic seminar during the conference of the project Life WOLFALPS | Conference room of the Province of Cuneo/Cuneo - Italy |
| 3- 4 March | International Workshop “Wildlife and winter sports activities” |
Lescheraines Natural Regional Park of Massif des Bauges, Savoie, France |
| March/April | Meeting of the Plateform "Ecological Network" of the Alpine Convention | Chamonix, France |
| 7-8 April | Administration council - CA n°1 ALPARC | Monaco |
| 12 July | Youth at the Top 2016 | The Alps |
|
September October |
Final conference of the InnovAlps project | Location to be confirmed - Switzerland |
| October | 4th international Workshop "Education for the mountain environment in the Alpine protected areas" | Location to be confirmed - France |
| 11-15 October |
Workshop during the AlpWeek (exact date to be confirmed) for pilot regions for ecological connectivity,Meeting of the Ecological Network Platform |
Achental /Grassau, Germany |
Events of partners and other organizations:
| 21 – 22 January | WISO Meeting - Alpine Convention Platform | Meeting room of the Province of Cuneo/Cuneo - Italy |
| 22 – 23 January | Immigration Voulue? Opening event project : Living in the Alps |
Alliance in the Alps / Grainau – Germany |
| 26 January | Launch conference if the Alpine Macroregion | Brdo, Sloveny |
| 25- 26 February | 60th Permanent Committee of the Alpine Convention | Innsbruck, Austria |
| 08 June |
International Conference Sustainable Tourism in the Alps: a challenge (without alternative) organized by the German presidency of the Alpine Convention |
Sonthofen, Germany |
| 09 - 10 June | 61st Permanent Committee of the Alpine Convention | Sonthofen, Germany |
| 11- 15 October | Alpweek | Achental/Chiemgau, Germany |
Other events and meetings could still be programmed.
Don’t forget to check regularly the calendar of events at the website of Alparc.
You can also stream your own events on this site, under “Events of the Alpine protected areas" and “Other events in the Alps": for this, you have simply to provide us all useful information: info@alparc.org
The topic of the green economy in the Alpine region is at the heart of the 6th Report on the State of the Alps which is currently being drawn up within the framework of the German presidency of the Alpine Convention. Also within this framework a study has been carried out on how the implementation of the measures for Alpine connectivity contributes to the Green Economy in the Alps. Some initial results of this analysis were discussed in a workshop entitled “Jobs and Growth through Green Infrastructure”, organised by the European Commission’s Green Infrastructure working group at the latest GreenWeek in Brussels. In the coming months other measures selected from the catalogue of measures in favour of ecological connectivity in the Alps, together with examples of achievements from the pilot regions for connectivity, will be studied more in depth as regards their contribution to the local, regional and supra-regional economy and will be the subject of discussion in two international workshops.
The German presidency of the Alpine Convention welcomes you to participate in the International Conference :
"Sustainable Tourism in the Alps: a challenge (without alternative)"
that will be held in the Hotel Allgäu Stern in Sonthofen (Germany) on the 8th June 2016.
More information, the programm and the registration form here
We owe a lot of recognition to Larry Hamilton, who has written the newsletter of the Mountain Protected Areas Network for decades. After all his efforts to bring the community of mountain protected areas together on a global scale, the work will now be continued by Gill Anderson.
Many thanks to you, Larry, from the ALPARC network. You brought an enormous added value to our work by communicating it around the world and you brought us a deep insight into other networks and activities around the globe for the protection of nature. Friendships could be created thanks to this permanent communication and your dedication to nature, ours as well.
ALPARC wish all the best to Gill Anderson, the new editor.
Since 16th November 2015, following ratification by the 195 UNESCO member states, the Geoparks have officially been the bearers of the new “UNESCO Global Geoparks” label.
The “UNESCO Global Geoparks” label recognises the geological importance of a site, its holistic management and the value of exceptional geological landscapes. This new label officialises the close collaboration between UNESCO and the Geoparks which began in 2001.
The goal of the label is to highlight the geological heritage of a geographical area (landscapes and geological curiosities, former and current uses of the soil and the subsoil) while guaranteeing sustainable development of the area. The UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to foster public awareness of biodiversity, while at the same time supporting good practices in conservation, education and tourism.
Congratulations to all the parks having this new label! In the Alpine territory, several sites including some regional natural parks have been given recognition by the “UNESCO Global Geopark” label.
Below is the list of the Alpine Geoparks:
France:
- Parc naturel régional des Bauges
- Parc naturel régional du Luberon
Italy:
- Parco Naturale dell’Adamello Brenta
- Geoparco del Sesia e Valgrande
Austria :
Slovenia :
Austria/Slovenia :
Source:
http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/global-geoparks/
ALPARC is strengthening its work along the lines of “regional development and quality of life”. Last October, within the framework of the Innovalps project, and in close collaboration with the national federations of natural parks of France, Austria and Switzerland, the network selected three pilot regions: the Tiroler Lech natural park in Austria, the Baronnies Provençales regional natural park in the South of France and the Pfyn-Finges regional natural park in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. All three are characterised by a strategy of integrated development and particularly innovative projects, yet their regions are structurally very different.
The InnovAlps project analyses and highlights innovative approaches to regional development in the Alpine protected areas and their regions. The aim of the project is to promote the exchange of experiences between the protected areas with respect to innovation and regional development and to develop recommendations for other regions. What form can innovation in the protected areas take? How can new ideas be developed? How can other players be motivated to cooperate? How can successful innovative approaches be perpetuated ? Answers to these questions are expected to result from working with the three pilot regions. ALPARC has been asked to run this project by FOEN, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.
For more information: www.alparc.org/innovalps
Contact : dominik.cremer-schulte@alparc.org
In close collaboration with : 
The Conference “The decline of rural areas? Demographic changes in the Alps – presentation of the Fifth Report on the State of the Alps” will take place in Villach (Austria) on the 30th November & 1st December 2015.
Please see attachments for the detailed programm (available in English, German, Italian and Slovenian)
