Two national parks have experienced major changes in their highest management unit : in the National park Gran Paradiso, Michele Ottino has already retired while the director of the National Park Kalkalpen Erich Mayrhofer will retire at the end of the year.

Special thanks to Erich Mayrhofer – Director of the Kalkalpen National Park
At the end of the year, Erich Mayrhofer will retire after managing the park for 25 years. It was only recently, in November 2017, that 5,250 hectares of beech forests of the Kalkalpen and 1,965 hectares in the Dürrenstein wilderness reserve were declared as the first Austrian UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Governor Mag. Thomas Stelzer forwarded the certificate to the officials of the Kalkalpen National Park, giving special thanks to Erich Mayrhofer for his long-term professional and personal engagement to promoting the protection and sustainable use of the park. “The Mayrhofer era is a success story” he states. Mayrhofer’s main concern was the promotion of slow tourism, this way raising awareness in different target groups of the sustainable development issues in the protected area.  Mayrhofer will be succeeded by Volkhard Maier who will be in charge of the park from January 2018

Gran Paradiso National Park welcomes its new Director Antonio Mingozzi
Michele Ottino, who had led the park’s activities since 1998, has been succeeded by Prof. Antonio Mingozzi. The new director is Associated Professor of Zoology at the University of Calabria and teaches Ecology at the Veterinary University of Turin. Antonio Mingozzi is looking forward to the new challenge, acknowledging the high levels of responsibility associated with it “This new assignment involves a big mission and I’ll face it with all my energy and competencies .I hope that I’ll succeed in reconciling the issues of conservation and the sustainable use of the nature and culture provided by the treasure of the Gran Paradiso National Park.”

The 1st EUSALP Annual Forum took place on 23-24 November 2017 in Munich. It included a large variety of events and workshops presenting mostly the first results from the Action Groups.
Action Group 7 on ecological connectivity, in which ALPARC is actively involved, also presented its first results. ALPARC contributes to the work of Action Group 7, in particular via the ALBIONET 2030 Interreg project. In this framework a first draft report on “Framework Conditions for a Comprehensive Ecological Connectivity Scheme in the Perimeter and Framework of the Alpine Macro-region” has been drawn up. The report gives a comprehensive overview of the links between the Alps and the Macro-region.

Also during the EUSALP Forum, the teaser of the Interreg GaYA project produced by ALPARC and the project partners, was officially awarded by the Alpine Space programme among two other projects of the Interreg programme.

For further information about the video please read the GaYA article.

On Wednesday 9th December “Sensible”, the new documentary on Alpine fauna, was broadcast on French TV.

We are immediately transported into the reality of Alpine protected areas with the interview of the co-filmmaker, Geoffrey Garcel, Ranger in a natural reserve in Haute-Savoie (ASTERS, FR), followed by other mountain actors.
The film shows the beauty and richness of Alpine fauna while raising awareness about the pressure it is facing. Indeed, this heritage is fragile and we (human beings) can be a source of disturbance. The modification of our natural environment impacts species qualified as “sensible”/sensitive such as ptarmigan and black grouse and can also lead to extinction in the Alps, as in the case of the capercaillie.

So what can we do? A lot of mountain actors are now taking these thematics into account in their daily work, protecting the most exposed areas, particularly in winter. They are also joined by professional athletes such as Sébastien Chagneau, an Ultra-trailer who has made it a priority to respect the wilderness while training and to stick to the hiking tracks.

We all have to remember that Nature is about living together, sharing the environment. We don’t own the mountains; we have the privilege of being guests in Nature’s wilderness and this can come to an end if we are not aware of the issues. So, let’s stop and observe the beauty around us in mutual respect.

Film trailer here

Territorial perspectives in the Alps are subject to change and constantly developing. Thus, the Ammergauer Alpen Region was given Nature Park status while in the Rätikon, the idea of a nature park has been further developed.

A new nature park in Germany
In August 2017 the “Ammergauer Alpen” Region was given “Nature Park”, status, making it one of the 104 nature parks in Germany. According to the objectives set by the Deutsche Naturparke e.V. Association and the network for Europe’s natural and cultural heritage in Europe, EUROPARC, this nature park shall protect and sustainably promote the cultural landscape of the Ammergau. In order to involve interested people, the newly designated park has already launched a first set of guided tours regarding biological and geological topics.

The Rätikon Nature Park Project
The idea of a regional nature park in the Rätikon has been picked up by Prättigau/Davos regional development in order to take advantage of the opportunities for tourism in the Rätikon and create a platform for the development and provision of services. Due to its geographic location and the positive experiences regarding transnational cooperation, it is planned to create an international park by taking it over the border in the direction of Montafon/Walgau in Austria and the principality of Liechtenstein. At present a feasibility study is being carried out focusing on potentials, challenges and citizens’ acceptance in the different regions. The study will be concluded in spring 2019 and pave the way for the eventual foundation of the park.

For further info:

https://www.ammergauer-alpen.de/Naturpark-Ammergauer-Alpen

A challenging mission for the Ecological Network Platform of the Alpine Convention

Members of the Ecological Network Platform of the Alpine Convention met in Valdieri in the Alpi Marittime Nature Park (I) at the beginning of November 2017. At the centre of the discussion was the work on the report commissioned by the Alpine Convention that aims at giving an overview about how aspects of ecological connectivity are currently integrated in spatial planning documents in the Alpine countries. Based on the analysis of a series of case studies, planning documents and expert interviews, the Platform will draft a state of the art report and formulate a number of conclusions that should be presented at the next Alpine Conference. The integration of ecological networks, wildlife corridors and green and blue infrastructure in spatial planning documents is the only sustainable way to insure the conservation of this vital ecological functionality. The report will highlight some examples of good practice and provide the opportunity to start a wider discussion on the topic.  

The Final conference of the Interreg Alpine Space project GaYA - Governance and youth in the Alps - Young Ideas for the Alps will take place in Chambéry, 30 November 2018, Centre de Congrès Le Manège, Chambéry/F
Are you a decision maker, a young citizen, a youth worker, an NGO or an interested Alpine inhabitant? Would you like to improve the possibility for young people to express their ideas and engage in the life and development of their municipality or region? Do you want to address the challenges of youth participation and find interesting solutions?

The GaYA – Governance and Youth in the Alps - conference is a unique experience, a chance to enjoy interactive sessions about youth participation and governance, music, an Alpine buffet and films made by young people. Come and appreciate the exchange with and creativity of participants from different alpine countries and speaking different languages.

The GaYA – Governance and Youth in the Alps - conference is a unique experience to enjoy interactive sessions about youth participation, music, an Alpine buffet and films made by young people. Join the conference and make your voice count!

During the conference, will be shown the best video made by the alpine young generation, in the frame of GaYA Film Festival “My Alps – My Chance".

For further information, programme and registration: http://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/gaya/en/home

The mid-term conference of the Interreg Alpine Space project ALPBIONET2030 will take place in Berchtesgaden, (Berchtesgaden National Park - Germany), July 02 -03, 2018.

During the conference the first project intermediate results for the development of a sound cartography on ecological connectivity for the Alpine arc will be presented.

All project partners, observers and large public are invited.

Further information available soon at: http://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/alpbionet2030/en/home

The 8th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks "Geoparks and sustainable development " will take place at the Adamello Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark,  Trentino Province, Italy, from the 11th to the 14th September 2018.The Conference will be held at the Palacampiglio Conference Centre in Madonna di Campiglio at the heart of the Geopark.

It will be an unique opportunity for all participants to share their experiences, networking and exchange innovative and best local practices.

Beside the Conference sessions, thematic workshops will be organised in collaboration with the relevant GGN Working groups. As usual, in the course of the Conference, one day is dedicated to the mid-conference field trip: participants can choose one of six available options to become familiar with the specific geological, natural and cultural characteristics of the Adamello Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark.

For further information, the programme and the registration form please visit : www.campigliodolomiti.it/ggn2018

The aim of this ALPARC event is to provide an overview about the variety of possible uses of the new and rapidly evolving technology for different tasks in the missions of protected areas. Potential dangers of unappropriated use of UAS will also be highlighted.

The use of drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems/UAS) has considerably increased during the last years, also in the alpine Protected Areas. This new technology has integrated the modern park management and is used for multiple purposes (monitoring, mapping, remote sensing, photography, technical interventions in inaccessible areas…), offering numerous interesting possibilities. On the other hand the use of drones by park managers but particularly also by external persons may cause important disturbances to the protected areas. 

During the conference the legal situation in the different alpine countries will be presented and an introduction to general UAS technology given. Protected areas managers and other professional drone users will present very diverse possibilities of use of drones in the day to day tasks of protected areas and discuss further potential challenges for the new technology with the participants. A demonstration of flying performances by experienced drone pilots is forseen. An overview about potential negative impacts of the flying devises and how to limit them will close the event.

Discover the programme here.

The Conference will take place the 26th and 27th March 2018 in the Grand Hotel in Toblach/Dobbiaco (Italy). Registration is open !

To register for the conference, please click on the button below.

REGISTER

The event is organized with the logistical and financial support of :

Le 37ème congrès des Réserves naturelles de France 2018 se tiendra du 4 au 7 avril 2018 à Ronce-les-Bains (La Tremblade), en Charente-Maritime
 
 Thème du congrès :
« 500 Réserves naturelles en 2030 ? Quelle vision d’avenir ? Quelles clés de réussite ? Quels financements ? »
 
Ouverture des inscriptions début janvier 2018

Pour plus d'informations: www.reserves-naturelles.org

In the frame of the EU Interreg Alpine Space project GaYA (Governance and Youth in the Alps), 15 pilot sites engage in experimental approaches to involve young people in local politics. Four ALPARC members are participating in the project. Besides, the project already boasts some successful actions: an award-winning project teaser and the participation of young people at the EUSALP Forum on 23rd November.

Over the last months, ALPARC and the seven other GaYA partners have selected 15 pilot sites in which work on pilot activities has started. Supported by the GaYA partnership and accompanied by external experts, a set of first workshops involving decision makers, administrations, youth organisations, youth workers and young people have taken place in the majority of the pilot regions. The aim, in a first step, is to develop local participatory action plans that fix objectives for youth participation in policy-making for the years to come; in a second phase, the pilot groups can implement one action within the GaYA project terms, i.e. until December 2018.

The ALPARC operational unit is responsible for this last project stage in 2018. It also has the task of assisting and supporting the pilot activities in the Baronnies Community of Communes (part of the Baronnies Regional Nature Park, France) and in the Préalpes d’Azur Regional Nature Park (both Southern French Alps). Two other areas of the ALPARC network are involved in the project as pilot sites: the Grosse Walsertal in Austria and the Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park. Major outputs in 2018 will be a participatory toolkit and political recommendations for the inclusion of young people in all Alpine languages.

GaYA teaser awarded at EUSALP forum
On the occasion of the first annual EUSALP forum on November 23rd in Munich, the GaYA project and its teaser which was produced by ALPARC were awarded by the Alpine Space programme among two other projects. The international political forum also was the occasion for a group of young people to express their opinions before decision-makers from the Alpine region. In order to give youth a voice in the Alps in a creative way, an international film contest has recently been launched by CIPRA. The winners are invited to present their films at the final conference of GaYA on November 30th 2018 in Chambéry (details below).

GaYA runs from November 2016 to February 2019 and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Alpine Space programme (Total budget: 1,092,748 € - ERDF grant 928,836€). ALPARC is work package leader in the pilot stage (End 2017-2018).

Further resources
Spread information on and take part in the GaYA film competition. Learn more here.
Watch the GaYA teaser video-clip
Take a look at the GaYA comparative report

On November 22, the ALPARC operational unit had the pleasure of welcoming a group of researchers and park managers from the Republic of Korea. The group, led by Mr Kim Won Kyung, Senior Researcher at the Korea National Park Service, (KNPS) who also provided translation from English, came to Europe for a benchmarking visit and exchange. Composed of researchers from the KNPS, Jeju Research Institute and the Hallasan National Park Service (Jeju Special Self-Governing Province), the group’s objective is to get inspiration from European nature conservation policies and protected area management for a new millennium management plan of Hallasan National Park on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (founded in 1970).

The operational unit presented the ALPARC network, its organisation, partnerships and activities in the fields of ecological connectivity, regional development and mountain-oriented education. Following the presentation, the group had a lively discussion on the organization and activities of the ALPARC network, as well as on management practices and current challenges for protected areas. Besides the visit to the ALPARC office, the group will visit the Vanoise National park in France and the Swiss National Park during their stay in Europe.

Mount Hallasan is situated on Jeju volcanic island, the largest island off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. The highest mountain in South Korea with 1950 m A.S.L., Mount Hallasan is a massive shield volcano. The Mountain and Jeju Island have been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (2002), World Heritage Site (2007) and Geopark (2010).