The Alpine Network of Protected Areas
The 11th edition of Youth at the Top will take place on July 17 and 18 2025 (resp. flexible in the week from 14 July 2025 to 20 July 2025), throughout several Alpine and Carpathian protected areas and natural sites. Kids and teens are invited to join local events to take part in this international initiative. The event is the opportunity to raise awareness on nature conservation and preservation among the youngests.
Click here to register your local event - registration is possible until April 30, 2025!
The event is focusing on the common theme "Our footprints in the Alps". It invites the young participants to explore different impacts humans have on the Alpine environment. Participants can dive into topics like the effects of outdoor activities on nature and wildlife or explore how human-induced climate change is transforming the Alps – impacting glaciers and permafrost as well as flora and fauna. There is also an opportunity to learn about the cultural landscape of the Alps, focusing on traditional pasture farming and land maintenance that have shaped the region for centuries. Organizers are encouraged to select their own focus areas, offering many more opportunities to explore how we interact with and shape the mountains.
WELCOME - Alpine Parks for All - Living Space and Tourist Destination
Alpine tourism has developed significantly during the last decades into a more and more mass phenomenon, particularly in some parts of the Alps, including in many protected areas. New ways and approaches are needed in the Alpine region and especially in Alpine protected areas for a tourism more respectful of nature.
For this reason and in order to fulfil their mandate of nature conservation and sustainable development, Alpine protected areas must clearly define their position on tourism, promote specific forms of sustainable tourism and act accordingly. The phenomenon of “overtourism” and the boom in outdoor activities mean that the Alps are increasingly and exclusively regarded as a backdrop for sports activities. Users are often unaware that these practices can cause long-term damage to a unique natural environment.
Cooperation with local and regional partners is crucial to develop sustainable and forward-looking concepts that have an added value for nature conservation and tourism in protected areas. International exchange between protected areas is also of central importance to share knowledge, to exploit synergies and to define, implement and communicate joint measures. Alpine protected areas have a leading position in promoting sustainable tourism thanks to their many years of experience. Due to their established position as tourist destinations and their dual responsibility for effective nature conservation and sustainable regional development, they play a decisive pioneering role.
For mor information about the project: Welcome
We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming webinar "Ecological Networks and Spatial Planning within the Alpine Space".
The purpose of the webinar is to present the main outcomes of the PlanToConnect project, with a particular focus on the Alps-wide analysis developed by ALPARC.
This event is intended for professionals, policymakers, protected area managers, and other key stakeholders engaged in spatial planning and biodiversity conservation in the Alps.
The webinar will take place online on Monday, June 30th, from 10:00 to 11:00 am.
We kindly ask you to register by May 23rd via email at info@alparc.org. The link to join the webinar will be sent a few days before the event.
Please find below the agenda for further information.
We look forward to your participation!
The project PlanToConnect is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space programme, which supports cross-border cooperation projects between seven Alpine countries. ALPARC is co-founded in this project by the German Ministry for the Environment (BMUV).
From 16 to 18 June, the AlpsLife project consortium (Interreg Alpine Space) gathered in Zernez (CH), for a transnational meeting hosted by the Swiss National Park. After being welcomed by Ruedi Haller, the park's director, the participants engaged in a well-organised and inspiring exchange of ideas, field experiences and project updates. During the meeting, ALPARC presented the preliminary results of Work Package 3, based on the responses to the questionnaire on biodiversity monitoring and management that had been completed by the seven protected areas that were project partners. The analysis focused on key elements of biodiversity monitoring at the Alpine scale, highlighting three species that are commonly monitored across all participating areas: chamois, golden eagles and black grouse. Additionally, the presentation explored similarities and differences in monitoring approaches for other elements, including Lepidoptera, amphibians, bats, birds, fish, plants, mosses and lichens, as well as habitat types. These insights sparked a fruitful discussion on how to improve the comparability of biodiversity data across the Alps and laid the groundwork for conceptualising a transnational early warning system.
The questionnaire is still open to all Alpine protected areas. If your area has not yet contributed and you would like to provide valuable input to the project, you can click here.
The meeting also featured an inspiring field visit expertly guided by Christian Rossi of the Swiss National Park. Participants had the opportunity to explore the park’s unique non-intervention management philosophy, which allows natural processes to unfold freely. Christian illustrated how the park combines this approach with advanced monitoring technologies, such as drones and remote sensing, to observe ecological changes. One highlight of the visit was the discussion of pilot areas where a holistic monitoring approach is being tested. This innovative method has already shown promise in other protected areas.
The meeting concluded with the visit to the spectacular Swiss National Park Visitor Center in Zernez.
Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Engadine Alps, project partners shared knowledge and experiences from across Alpine countries and explored opportunities for future collaboration. Thanks to the diversity of expertise within the partnership, this meeting generated valuable input to shape the next steps of AlpsLife. It was a pleasure to reconnect, work together, and discover the remarkable natural heritage of the Swiss National Park.
For more information about the project: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/alpslife/
The AlpsLife project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space programme, which supports cross-border cooperation projects between seven Alpine countries.
© photo: Michele Guerini / ALPARC
The cross-border Interreg project "Nature Park Management 2030+" between Bavaria and Austria, which ALPARC CENTR'ALPS is jointly implementing with the Ammergauer Alpen, Nagelflukette, Karwendel, Tiroler Lech and Weissbach Nature Parks, successfully kicked-off in March.
Through a joint socio-ecological monitoring system, the project tracks ecological changes, considers land use and monitors visitor behaviour. These insights support cross-border decision-making and pilot conservation measures, particularly for species-rich grasslands. The project also aims to make the developed tools transferable to other parks and contribute to national biodiversity goals.
Click here for more details about the project.
This project is co-funded by the European Union. ALPARC is co-funded in this project by the German Ministry for the Environment (BMUV).
© Natupark Ammergauer Alpen
For the 11th edition of Youth at the Top, taking place on 17 and 18 July 2025, protected areas and Alpine organizations are hosting a total of 31 events in various locations throughout the Alps and Carpathians.
Children and young people will have the opportunity to take part in this unique event and experience the mountains in diverse and creative ways. For example, they can explore the Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany) through skill-based and team-building challenges, join a cross-border event organized by the Aree Protette Alpi Marittime and Mercantour National Park (Italy and France), or learn more about the impact of human activity in Călimani National Park (Romania).
Under this year’s theme, “Our Footprints in the Alps,” participants are invited to reflect on and explore the effects of human actions in mountain environments — from past influences to current challenges and future responsibilities. Participants can dive into topics like the effects of outdoor activities on nature and wildlife or explore how human-induced climate change is transforming the Alps – impacting glaciers and permafrost as well as flora and fauna. There is also an opportunity to learn about the cultural landscape of the Alps, focusing on traditional pasture farming and land maintenance that have shaped the region for centuries.
Youth at the Top is coordinated by ALPARC and supported by the German Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) and the Principality of Monaco.
Last week, ALPARC joined the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Interreg Alpine Space Programme in Salzburg!
The event was a great opportunity to share experiences, connect with the many actors involved in the protection and sustainable development of the Alpine region, and build new synergies for future transnational cooperation.
We also had the chance to showcase our ongoing projects, AlpsLife and LiveAlpsNature, together with our partners Eurac - Institute for Alpine Environment and CIPRA.
On the closing day, the colleagues from Nationalpark Berchtesgaden led a fieldtrip at the foot of the Watzmann, presenting practical actions linked to the key topics of both projects:
A valuable example of how Interreg projects can make a tangible contribution to the conservation of Alpine natural heritage!
© cover photo: Mathilde Maure / Eurac
The AlpsLife project (Interreg Alpine Space) is currently collecting key data through a questionnaire aimed at Alpine protected areas. We warmly invite all protected areas across the Alpine region to participate and contribute to this important step of the project. The questionnaire is designed to gather information on:
· What is being monitored in your protected area (species, habitats, indicators, etc.)
· How monitoring is conducted, including methodologies, frequency, and tools
· Management measures linked to biodiversity monitoring results
This initiative forms the basis of Work Package 3, coordinated by ALPARC, and plays a central role in assessing current monitoring schemes across the Alps. By participating, your protected area can actively support the development of shared standards and approaches that enhance data comparability at the Alpine scale.
Even beyond the scope of the AlpsLife project, this initiative represents a step toward greater harmonization of biodiversity data, making it easier to compare trends, respond to threats, and design effective conservation strategies at the regional level.
Take part in shaping this process!
If your protected area has not yet filled in the questionnaire, now is the time to get involved. Completing it is a concrete way to make your monitoring efforts visible and contribute to a stronger, more connected network of Alpine protected areas.
Download the Excel file below, containing the questionnaire: inside you’ll find all the instructions.
Thank you for your valuable contribution to AlpsLife. Together we can build a more resilient and connected Alpine biodiversity monitoring system.
For more information about the project: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/alpslife/
The AlpsLife project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space programme, which supports cross-border cooperation projects between seven Alpine countries.
As one of the most visible signs of climate change, glacier retreat is reshaping Alpine landscapes at an alarming rate. The Alps, one of the most vulnerable regions, are experiencing rapid ecological changes that affect both nature and people.
In response, ALPARC has undertaken a study to explore the ecological consequences of glacier loss in Alpine protected areas - with a focus on landscape transformation, species colonization and adaptation. The aim: to understand key dynamics in post-glacial ecosystems and develop conservation and communication strategies that support emerging biodiversity.
Discover the results and download the final report.
Registration for Youth at the Top 2025 is now open! Click here to register your local event – registration is possible until April 30, 2025.
The 11th edition of Youth at the Top will take place on July 17 and 18, 2025 (or adapted to local conditions within the week of July 14–20, 2025) across various protected areas in the Alps and Carpathians. Kids and teens are invited to participate in local events as part of this international initiative.
This event is a great opportunity to raise awareness about nature conservation and preservation among young people. The 2025 edition focuses on the common theme "Our Footprints in the Alps", encouraging participants to explore the different impacts humans have on the Alpine environment.
For more information about the event's organization, please refer to the project sheet.
© Emanuele Rotta, Parco naturale delle Orobie Valtellinesi
The closing event of the WELCOME project will take place on 27-28 March 2025 at the House of the Mountains in Berchtesgaden!
Overtourism and the boom in outdoor activities are increasingly relegating the Alps to a mere backdrop for sporting activities, threatening their unique natural and cultural heritage. WELCOME addresses these challenges by exploring innovative, sustainable and integrative tourism strategies that balance recreational use with nature conservation.
The event will present and discuss the results of the project's three core themes: an exchange about existing offers of protected areas and their future perspectives, a presentation of emerging trends and innovative concepts for new activities, and a reflexion about the limits of visitor growth in natural sensitive areas.
The closing event is free of charge and open to all that are interested. Travel and accomodation costs are covered individually by each participant. The final agenda can be downloaded below! Click here to register.
The project is co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
The next meeting of the ALPARC Permanent Working Group on Education will take place on 26 March 2025, 15:00-18:00.
It will be held in person at the Haus der Berge, in Berchtesgaden.
Participants will also have the opportunity to join the closing event of the WELCOME project, which addresses topics strictly related to environmental education.
We kindly ask you to register by Sunday 16 March 2025, by selecting the specific option in the registration form of the WELCOME Closing Event.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@alparc.org