The Alpine Network of Protected Areas
In the territory of the southern French Alps, in particular under the authority of “Pays du Grand Briançonnais”, an organisation regrouping towns and villages in the region around Briançon and the managers of the Regional Nature Park of Queyras, are actively contributing to the drafting of a local Climate Plan.
The PCAET, Climate-Air-Energy-Territorial Planning, is going to be approved in early 2020. It has some ambitious goals that aim at aligning local dimensions to national and international objectives developed under the framework of the Ecological Transition (FR) and Agenda2030 (EU) climate plans.
Local goals appear to be in some cases even more ambitious than those developed at the higher levels. Among them the following objectives that are planned to be reached by 2030:
• Reduce by 20% energy consumption in the territory from the 2012 levels;
• Reduce by 40% greenhouse gas emissions from the 1990 levels;
• Develop renewable energy production in order to reach the amount of 32% of the total final consumption (compared to the objective of 27% at the EU level);
• Reduce the vulnerability of the territory to the effects of climate change and improve its resiliency.
Depending on their protection level, parks have a fundamental role to play in the protection of nature and the sustainable development of local production and exploitation of natural resources. In particular, parks are called to work on the adaptation to climate change not only of the fauna and the flora, but also of nature-based activities carried out in protected areas. Indeed, tourism, forestry and agriculture being central activities for Alpine communities, are deeply affected by climate change that is challenging the way of managing water, growing crops and dealing with natural hazards.
OpenSpaceAlps is one of the fifteen projects approved under the framework of Call 4 for the Interreg Alpine Space programme. It brings together seven partner institutions from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia to work on the topic of near-natural open spaces in the core Alpine and EUSALP areas.
The partner(s) from France is ALPARC, The Alpine Network of Protected Areas, who will be working on the project under its working field Biodiversity and Ecological Connectivity.
The main objective is to foster sustainable development of the Alpine area by contributing to the preservation of open spaces presenting environmental and natural values. These are decreasing due to the development of settlements and transport related to areas in the valleys, or are being dissected by tourism, forestry and agriculture related to infrastructures at higher altitudes. The approach envisaged is to initiate and facilitate processes towards the adoption of new spatial planning approaches in the Alpine countries as well as to promote multi-level, transnational spatial governance.
The initial meeting of the project partnership was held in Altenmarkt, Austria, on the 5th and 6th of November 2019. Besides discussing the first steps for the implementation of the project, presentations were held on the topic of the development of open space planning instruments in the project's case study area, as well as and more generally in the Alpine area.
OpenSpaceAlps is an Interreg Alpine Space project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
The 25th Edition of the Danilo Re Memorial – the trophy of the Alpine Protected Areas, will take place on January 16th-19th 2020 in Mittersill, Hohe Tauern National Park, Salzburg, Austria.
The event will host, as usual, the ALPARC General Assembly. It will be held on January 17th, 2020. All the ALPARC members are invited to participate.
Further information will be available in autumn on the Memorial Danilo Re website and on Facebook
From December 5th to 6th, HEALPS2 partners met for the first time in Salzburg (AT) to identify the first important actions to be developed for the project’s starting phase.
HEALPS2 is integrated into ALPARC’s field of work Regional Development and Quality of Life and aims at promoting specific Alpine natural health resources supposed to support the wellbeing of people and insert them into regional tourism concepts and strategies. Specifically, medical studies have shown that some Alpine natural resources have a positive impact on civilisation diseases such as asthma and rheumatism. Hence, the healing potential of those resources shall be further exploited while taking into account preservation issues allowing for a sustainable use. The project will overall contribute to the positioning of the Alpine Space as globally attractive and health-promoting location.
For the duration of two and a half years, 11 partners will work together on the potential of Alpine health resources as an innovation factor for regional development. The Lead Partner of this project is the Paracelsus Medical University based in Salzburg (AT). ALPARC will lead the work-package communication and stand in for the position of various protected areas and their development strategies.
For further information: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project-news-details/en/7006
The Facebook page of the project: https://www.facebook.com/Healps2-110626537156723/?modal=admin_todo_tour
HEALPS2 is an Interreg Alpine Space project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
2020 is here and brings with it the beginning of a new year and some good news. It is with great excitement that ALPARC invites you to take part to the 6th edition of Youth at the Top that will be held from July 16th – 17th, 2020 under the common theme ‘Alpine Fauna and Climate Change’. Keep an eye out for registrations which will open sometime in March.
After the successful conclusion of the 5th edition of Youth at the Top under the theme 'Myth and Mountain Legends', ALPARC is happy to share the videos that have were produced during the project.
For this edition, ALPARC decided to produce 8 videos: the YAT 2019 Official Video, which sums up all the events that took place along the Alps and the Carpathians; and 7 “Best of” videos containing the highlights of the events in each country. The videos are available in ALPARC’s resource library, on the Youth at the Top website and on YouTube .
Enjoy the videos and we’re looking forward to seeing you next summer for another adventure in the mountains.
Les ambassadeurs de l'initiative Be Part of the Mountain et le Parc national de la Vanoise vous invitent à un événement convivial dans l'objectif de concilier protection de la faune sauvage et pratiques hivernales de sports de nature.
L'engouement pour les sports de nature l'hiver se confirme chaque année un peu plus. Mais notre espace de jeu est aussi l'espace de vie de toute une faune qui tente de survivre aux conditions extrêmes de l'hiver en montagne...
Au programme de cette matinée :
ALPARC took part to the “Reading Mountains Festival” in Berlin on December 11th, 2019. This international event, that takes in more than 100 places all around the Alps at the same time, made its way until the capitals of the signing countries of the Alpine Convention; a real step forward.
The event in Berlin, at the Federal Ministry for the Environment and organized under the topic of “Myths and Mountain Legends” gathered more than 200 people and gave way to an interesting exchange with some experts of the Alps including ALPARC’s Director, Guido Plassmann. Under this framework, he was also interviewed by the local radio during the program "Deutschlandfunk Kultur" on the topic of Alpine youth - you can download and listen to the podcast of the interview at the end of this article.
The topic of myths and mountain legends brought the discussion on issues regarding the preservation of the Alps, the involvement of young people in the future challenges for the Alpine territory and even on tourism and life quality in this mountain area. A round table of experts, the projection of the official video of “Youth at the Top” (ALPARC) and the performance of Andreas Weissen (a storyteller keen on mountain legends) contributed to the success of this evening that was particularly appreciated by the public.
The divide between public opinion and institutions
This year’s COP was characterised by a huge gap between the public and the institutions. On the one hand, a young and motivated crowd demonstrated in the streets of the Spanish capital showing a strong commitment to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change while on the other hand, the countries’ representatives did not reach any relevant agreement in the plenaries, leaving the “real action” for next year.
One of the main intents of the delegates gathered in Madrid was to set the rules for carbon markets and to agree on common tools in order to promote education and awareness-raising on the topic of climate change under Article 6 of the UNFCCC. However, a lot of the work has been left for next year, according to the rules of procedure of the conference. This not only adds pressure and further expectations for 2020, but also generates a loss of credibility of the United Nations in front of the public. “We are not satisfied,” said Chilean Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt, who chaired the conference. “The agreements reached by the parties are not enough.”
The discussion in the plenary room got stuck on technical issues like the procedural rules of the carbon market and no real commitments for next years have been taken. All this despite the alarming data of the emission gap report, which stated that with the current ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) the goals of the Paris Agreements will not be met by 2030, but emissions will be on average 38% higher than required.
A positive note
Chilem being a coastal state, a certain attention has been brought on oceans. In this context, 39 countries have promised to insert ocean care in their next NDCs and this topic is already on the agenda for the next meeting of the UN climate process.
A strong Europe
The European Commission - with the only opposition of Poland - took immediate action by approving a Communication to the EU Parliament, entitled “The European Green Deal”, committing to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 with a competitive and resource-efficient economic development.
For further information, we invite you to read the following article: https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop25-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-madrid
With the prompt support of the Regional nature park of Chartreuse, ALPARC organised a workshop on sustainable tourism in the Alps and the role of protected areas in its development.
The 5th of December, in the beautiful framework of Le Désert d'Entremont, the managers of various protected areas gathered to exchange and discuss on the topic of tourism in Alpine protected areas, its new trends and its impact on nature.
The current situation of tourism in the Alps
The morning was dedicated to four brief presentations – one from the parc of Chartreuse and three from ALPARC – that aimed at presenting the current situation of tourism in Alpine protected areas with some insights on specific issues that parks are currently facing.
After lunch – a meal made up of typical products from the Chartreuse – the group took a walk around the Nordic ski station during which the history, the characteristics and the model of sustainable exploitation of the region were concisely explained and discussed.
Towards a new and common strategy of sustainable tourism
The afternoon was dedicated to fruitful exchanges in the form of a “world café” on three topics:
The participants not only brought to the table their knowledge from the parks they work for, but they furthermore elaborated on new ideas in order to face problems that persist in the whole Alpine region and especially for its protected areas.
This collection of ideas and practical suggestions has been synthesised and will serve to set the basis for new projects on tourism and protected areas at the macroregional level including, if possible, an Interreg Alpine Space project.
This action was financed by the CGET (France)
The 5th edition of the Reading Mountain Festival will take place on December 11th, 2019 all over the Alps in scope of the International Day of the Mountain. This festival is an opportunity to celebrate Alpine culture through literature and to connect booklovers with the mountains. Event registration for the event is now open online.
On the 28th of October, Austria welcomed its second IUCN Ib Wilderness Area. Hohe Tauern Sulzbach valleys were recognised with this status thanks to their unmodified nature worthy of protection and untouched preservation. Here, the self-determination of nature is promoted and respected for the preservation of this unique ecosystem.
The 6,728-hectare area of the Sulzbach valleys, located in Salzburg's part of the park, is hardly accessible due to its steep rock faces and glaciers. For these reasons, it has never been affected by major human interventions and is now one of the natural treasures of the park conserving its wilderness status. Hence, Hohe Tauern Wilderness Area is the home of many characteristic animals like chamois, ibex, bearded and griffon vultures and golden eagle.
The category Ib IUCN certificate was handed over to Wolfgang Urban, the director of the park, by Andrej Sovnic, the Vice-Chair of IUCN Europe, at the presence of regional and federal Ministers of Sustainable Development and Tourism Maria Hutter and Maria Patek respectively.
This status brings international recognition and confirms the importance of the park.
On December 5th 2019, several Alpine stakeholders will gather in the Regional Nature Park of Chartreuse to exchange their views on the challenges of tourism in Alpine protected areas. The purpose will also be to discuss the opporunities and risks for the parks related to touristic development, against the background of climate change and new forms of outdoor sports. This workshop will also be an opportunity to define any possibility of a new common project regarding these topics.