Tracking knowledge on ecological connectivity in the Alps: the 50 most important questions on ecological connectivity in Alps have just been identified

It was in Liestal, Switzerland, that a group of 20 scientists and practitioners from all alpine countries and different specialties met the 6th and 7th December in order to define together the 50 most important questions on ecological connectivity in the Alps.

This project, which is based on a methodological approach developed by the British scientist Bill Sutherland and has been applied various times on topics related to biodiversity by himself, is led by professor Chris Walzer from the University of Vienna (A), Econnect leadpartner, and has already begun last summer.

More than 150 persons from the 8 alpine countries and different fields of work were invited to submit their proposals for possible questions on this topic. At the end, the 50 most interesting questions among the 500 questions received were selected using scientific criteria. The questions that were defined cover a large number of different topics with a certain focus on questions linked to climate change.

The final list of questions will soon be published in an international peer reviewed journal and also be communicated to a broader public. In the future, this catalog of questions should serve as an orientation to scientists working on this topic as well as to governmental institutions and other potential funder when developing projects or deciding about the attribution of financial support.