The Reading Mountains Festival is a way to connect people who love books and mountains, even if they are physically apart. Book lovers and authors, mountaineers and artists throughout the Alps (and beyond) have a chance to discuss similar issues and evaluate the meaning, impact, and purpose of Alpine literature.

"Reading Mountains" was first launched to celebrate International Mountain Day in 2015. The idea is to initiate events dedicated to mountains and literature in various places around the Alps on International Mountain Day, declared by the United Nations and celebrated on 11 December every year.

The Reading Mountains Festival encourages the celebration of cultural differences and similarities in the Alps and, at the same time, connects mountains and culture. Partners organising various events in the scope of the festival are provided with posters, bookmarks, and stickers that they can use for the promotion of their event(s).

If you have any questions, please contact reading.mountains@alpconv.org.

The 38th edition of the Sondrio Festival (IT) will take place from 15th to 24th November 2024, in Sondrio, Italy!
Click here for more information.

The ALPARC Permanent Working Group on Environmental Education and Communication organized a two-day workshop on October 10-11, hosted by the Adamello Brenta Natural Park at the stunning Palazzo Lodron Bertelli in Caderzone Terme, Italy. The aim of the workshop was to promote exchanges between staff from different Alpine Protected Areas working in the diverse field of environmental education.

The event started on Thursday morning with a planned excursion to the Nature Park. Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions, the planned hike was cancelled and replaced by a (wet) walk past waterfalls to one of the park's visitor centres. Nevertheless, this proved to be an ideal introduction to the workshop, as the Adamello Brenta staff took the opportunity to present their own educational activities to the participants.

In the thematic sessions that followed, participants shared their park activities and best practices. One key discussion was the use of new technologies in environmental education. The UNESCO Dolomites Foundation presented its Geotrail online tool, while the Adamello Brenta Park demonstrated their virtual reality headsets used in their project "parks without borders", which participants were able to experience firsthand.

A major difficulty that was highlighted is the engagement of teenagers in park initiatives. Some participants reported specific activities tailored to this age group (e.g., the Capricorn Club in Nature Park Beverin), as well as the establishment of youth councils (e.g. in the Nature Park Orobie Valtellinesi) and junior ranger programs (e.g., in the Nature Park Prealpi Giulie) to address this challenge. Participants agreed that it is promising to also work with teachers in order to help them integrate environmental topics into their educational strategies. The Adamello Brenta Natural Park, for example, already organizes annual seminars for teachers.A key takeaway from the workshop was the importance of continuing to engage young people in environmental initiatives, as we need to see it as an investment in our future.

Also, all participants were open to the idea of participating in future joint projects (e.g., an Alpine Space project), possibly focussing on the adoption and revision of the criteria of the Alpine School Model.

This workshop was co-organized by ALPARC and the Adamello Brenta Natural Park.                             

© Photos: Guido Plassman / ALPARC

Biodiversity conservation for generations to come

The decisive and desired result of the project is to map a path toward a more efficient and coordinated protected area policy throughout the Alps. The results of the individual chapters are intended to provide technical support for this process and to highlight particular perspectives.

Specifically, the project is intended to contribute to:

a) harmonising the management and measures of the existing protected areas more internationally in the sense of an Alpine-wide protection of biodiversity and

b) to define new forms of protected area where necessary and meaningful. The involvement of the local population in a new protected area policy with horizon 2030 is essential.

Long-term effects are the implementation of an Alpine-wide coordinated protected area policy and an increasingly up-to-date adaptation of protected area management and the types of protected areas as well as their protection status with regard to informed and responsible nature conservation.

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future: “Observing globally, acting locally”.

With these words in mind, on October 7th and 8th the partners of AlpsLife gathered at Eurac Research headquarters (Bozen-Bolzano, IT) for the kick-off meeting of this new Interreg Alpine Space project.

AlpsLife promotes a common understanding of biodiversity processes in the Alps, with the aim of enhancing conservation and management measures, mainly in protected areas. Alpine biodiversity is threatened by climate and land use change, while the variety of monitoring schemes at different levels and the lack of Alpine-wide ecological indicators compromise the effectiveness of protection and restoration efforts.

AlpsLife will therefore create a methodology for the comparability and interoperability of biodiversity monitoring schemes across the Alps. It will then test the results in practice and adjust them to the needs of Alpine protected areas. By doing so, AlpsLife ensures the long-term integration of project achievements into their management measures. This will also help Alpine policymakers comply with international environmental commitments.

The kick-off meeting gave project coordinators the opportunity to present in detail the roadmap of AlpsLife (from its official start in September 2024 until its conclusion in August 2027). It also allowed all 12 partners to share their expectations for the project. Moreover, ALPARC engaged in a fruitful exchange with the representatives of the Alpine national parks, discussing the next steps for identifying common biodiversity indicators and for translating harmonized monitoring into effective management strategies.

For more information about the project: https://alparc.org/alpslife

This project 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).

© photo: Andrea De Giovanni / Eurac Research

The Vercors Regional Nature Park is proposing an experimental and innovative approach to the issues of tourism transition and support for change. 'L'horizon pour s'étendre' is an artistic project based on the commitment of the 'No Mad' collective from May 2024 to the summer of 2025.

In the Vercors, the effects of climate change are already visible. It raises questions about individual and collective practices, as well as the ways in which we can adapt and mitigate the impact of our activities. Some have not waited to embark on this process, others are just beginning and still others are wondering what action to take... Initiatives do exist and they deserve to be better known, explained and shared with everyone, social tourism professionals, residents and visitors alike.

Exploring and promoting tourism transition initiatives

How to talk about transition? The Parc du Vercors wants to study and promote tourism transition initiatives through a unique and creative approach. Since the spring of 2024, the 'No Mad' group has been criss-crossing the region, meeting socio-professional players in the tourism industry, local residents and visitors in group workshops and individual meetings. Combining their knowledge and imagination, the artists produce artistic, poetic, illustrated, visual and sound creations that address the issues raised by the tourism transitions. 'L'horizon pour s'étendre' is the name of this collective adventure, in which every voice counts, and of this project that will be invented along the way.

An 18-month creative residency

By offering different perspectives on the issues of tourism transitions, this creative residency will broaden the field of possibilities to create a Vercors as we envision it. After an immersion in the region and meetings with committed tourism stakeholders, the artistic team will formalise a creation aimed at empowering these stakeholders, engaging them and raising awareness among residents and tourists. An artistic record of this journey will be produced, shared and disseminated. It will accompany others on the path of their own transition and allow the collective’s intentions to continue and multiply in the region and beyond, outside the artistic presence.

© Image: Regional Nature Park Vercors

Among the seven nature parks, the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park is the oldest in the province of South Tyrol/Italy. On 16 September 1974, the foundation for this first nature park in South Tyrol was laid by decree of the Governor of South Tyrol. In 2003, the Sciliar Nature Park was expanded to include the Catinaccio and expanded to the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park with a total area of almost 7300 hectares. Since 1995, the nature park has been part of the Europe-wide Natura 2000 protected area, which also protects biodiversity. In 2009 - as part of the Dolomites - the UNESCO World Heritage Award was added.

During a conference on 27.9.2024 on the occasion of the anniversary at the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park House in Siusi, Governor Arno Kompatscher praised the decision 50 years ago to designate the area as a nature park as forward-looking and also courageous. From the initial scepticism of the farming population, the attitude towards the protected area has turned positive over the decades. The challenge is to balance the interests between protecting and using. The head of the nature park, Enrico Brutti, who has been in charge since 1993, on the other hand, called for joint ways to preserve the incomparable landscape and counter the effects of over-tourism.

Solutions for tourist use
The challenges for the future using the example of tourism were also the focus of the subsequent round table: Helmut Mitterstieler, President of Alpe di Siusi Marketing, explained the development of tourism in the nature park region. Photographer and filmmaker Matteo Agreiter spoke about the power of images. "In order for the protected areas to continue to fulfil their protection mandate, solutions are urgently needed to the sometimes escalating tourism," emphasised Guido Plassmann, Director of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas. The aim is to "get to the heart of the journey," explained tourism expert Elide Mussner, "and to reconcile economic and social needs and thus promote the common good."

Finally, Leo Hilpold, Director of the Provincial Office for Nature, explained that the homework of the EU Strategy 2030 must be done within 2030 and that the missing approximately seven percent protected area, i.e. about 40,000 hectares, in South Tyrol still has to be designated. The knowledge and experience of the past 50 years in the protected area are of great use for this purpose.

© Image: Fabio Brucculeri

As part of the 10th edition of "Youth at the Top," the multifunctional pedagogical tool The Alps in My Backpack has been updated and enhanced. Originally developed in 2016 by the "Environmental Education in Alpine Protected Areas" working group, this simple yet powerful tool helps participating organizations address common environmental challenges faced across the Alpine region—challenges that transcend political borders.

Although countries may be divided by borders, the Alpine nations share similar environmental issues, particularly in their mountainous regions. Nature knows no borders, and The Alps in My Backpack aims to help children and young people understand this interconnectedness, fostering a sense of belonging to the Alpine ecosystem. Considering global developments, such as the Montreal 30x30 goals for conservation, educating and raising awareness among young people has become more critical than ever. This tool plays a key role in cultivating environmentally conscious young citizens who will help shape a sustainable future.

“The Alps in my backpack” is a big sheet, measuring 240 x 150 cm and printed on a durable fabric. It shows the map of the Alps and all their principal protected areas. It features a detailed map of the Alps, highlighting key protected areas and offering an engaging way to explore the region's natural and cultural richness. The updated version incorporates a hidden puzzle with the Alpine Arc at its centre, encouraging children to actively explore and learn. The sheet also includes illustrations of iconic Alpine wildlife, showcasing animals in both their summer and winter coats, alongside depictions of biodiversity and socio-cultural aspects of life in the Alps.

The Alps in My Backpack is designed to be a versatile resource for educational activities focused on the Alps, mountain heritage, and protected Alpine areas. Developed collectively by members of ALPARC's Permanent Working Group on Environmental Education and Communication, it is an invaluable tool for rangers, educators, and youth leaders.

Copies of The Alps in My Backpack are available for a small contribution to all protected areas within the Alpine region.

To request a copy or learn more, please contact info@alparc.org.

Coordination: ALPARC
Concept and content: ALPARC and Permanent Working group on Environmental Education and Communication
Cartographic data: SIG ALPARC 2024
Graphic design: www.graphi.media

We thank the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) for the funding of the tool.

Below is a picture of The Alps in My Backpack. Click here to zoom in.

Hotspots for biodiversity, tourism & outdoor activities - how do they go together? A challenge for the Alpine Protected Areas (APA), covering 30 % of the Alpine territory, which the LiveAlpsNature project aims to tackle. 

On September 2nd and 3rd, the kick-off meeting for the Alpine Space project LiveAlpsNature took place at the AlpSeeHaus in Immenstadt.

The project, which officially started on September 1st and will last until August 2027, aims to promote biodiversity protection in Alpine Protected Areas by encouraging sustainable, health-focused nature-based activities (NBA).

Ecologically fragile alpine sites are exposed to overcrowding and nature-based activities, which impact species by fragmenting or destroying their habitats and disturbing their recreation phases. Biodiversity loss from nature-based activities, a trend observed across the Alps, requires region-wide solutions. LiveAlpsNature analyses the impact of nature-based activities on alpine biodiversity, develops innovative biodiversity-friendly solutions for NBA and then directly implements, assesses & enhances the NBA solutions in Alpine Protected Areas and beyond. By involving local stakeholders, LiveAlpsNature addresses the increase in tourism by guiding long-term behavioural changes to reduce impacts on biodiversity and create sustainable nature-based activities.

During the two-day meeting, all 12 project partners gathered to present the three main work packages and further refine the project’s work plan. After productive office sessions, the event concluded with an excursion to the nearby Nagelfluhkette Nature Park, where participants gained valuable insights into the park's digital visitor management system. This helped to promote both theoretical and practical exchange on this important topic, supporting the project’s overarching goal of sustainability in alpine tourism.

For more information about the project: https://alparc.org/livealpsnature

This project 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).

© photo: Guido Plassmann / ALPARC

What opportunities and potential do protected areas have to meet the major challenges posed by climate change? And how can the protection of nature, landscape and biodiversity also be strengthened outside of large-scale protected areas? In order to answer these questions and to find and implement joint approaches, ALPARC CENTR'ALPS has launched the project ‘Biodiversity conservation in times of climate change’, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. 

The ALPARC Permanent Working Group on Environmental Education and Communication organized a two-day workshop on October 10-11, hosted by the Adamello Brenta Natural Park at the stunning Palazzo Lodron Bertelli in Caderzone Terme, Italy. The aim of the workshop was to promote exchanges between staff from different Alpine Protected Areas working in the diverse field of environmental education.

The event started on Thursday morning with a planned excursion to the Nature Park. Unfortunately, due to bad weather conditions, the planned hike was cancelled and replaced by a (wet) walk past waterfalls to one of the park's visitor centres. Nevertheless, this proved to be an ideal introduction to the workshop, as the Adamello Brenta staff took the opportunity to present their own educational activities to the participants.

In the thematic sessions that followed, participants shared their park activities and best practices. One key discussion was the use of new technologies in environmental education. The UNESCO Dolomites Foundation presented its Geotrail online tool, while the Adamello Brenta Park demonstrated their virtual reality headsets used in their project "parks without borders", which participants were able to experience firsthand.

A major difficulty that was highlighted is the engagement of teenagers in park initiatives. Some participants reported specific activities tailored to this age group (e.g., the Capricorn Club in Nature Park Beverin), as well as the establishment of youth councils (e.g. in the Nature Park Orobie Valtellinesi) and junior ranger programs (e.g., in the Nature Park Prealpi Giulie) to address this challenge. Participants agreed that it is promising to also work with teachers in order to help them integrate environmental topics into their educational strategies. The Adamello Brenta Natural Park, for example, already organizes annual seminars for teachers. A key takeaway from the workshop was the importance of continuing to engage young people in environmental initiatives, as we need to see it as an investment in our future.

Also, all participants were open to the idea of participating in future joint projects (e.g., an Alpine Space project), possibly focusing on the adoption and revision of the criteria of the Alpine School Model.

This workshop was co-organized by ALPARC and the Adamello Brenta Natural Park.                             

© Photos: Guido Plassman / ALPARC

The 10th edition of Youth at the Top will take place on  the 18th and 19th of July 2024, 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. For the 2024 edition, the common theme is "Alpine flowers and pollinator insects".