Mreža zavarovanih območij v Alpah
Alpine protected areas play a key role in the conservation of biodiversity but as well in the monitoring of species and habitats. Only protected areas can insure long-time monitoring over many years with professional equipment and staff on the ground far beyond normal scientific project durations. This feature makes protected areas so precious for sciences, for the development of management measures and their testing but as well for political decisions concerning the conservation of biodiversity.
Alpine protected areas should join their forces to develop a common transboundary monitoring system of species and habitats allowing an evaluation of the evolution of alpine ecosystems and biodiversity under the light of climate change for the next generation. ALPARC's latest General Assembly has approved principle of an international long-term monitoring of habitats and species (selected indicator species according to management and conservation goals of alpine protected areas) and propose the creation of a specific working group of protected area managers associating interested scientists to develop and test such a system during the period 2022-2025.
Several parks already made proposals, such as the Gran Paradiso National Park, in favor of an Alps-wide monitoring of the Otter.
The last observations of Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Alpine region go back to the late seventies, in relation to the decrease of the species observed in most of Europe. Causes behind this decrease are the same: habitat destruction, direct persecution of the species and, maybe in a smaller quote for the protected area, pollution of the aquatic ecosystem. But, while in the last years otters are naturally recovering throughout most of the European countries, in the Alpine region this phenomenon is absent or slowed down. [...] This may suggests that the actual conservation strategies are not enough to consistently favour the presence of the species across the Alpine region, which, anyway, represents a fundamental corridors for the expansion of the otters in Europe.[...] Making the point on distribution and conservation status of the otter in the Alpine region is the first step towards possible European strategies aimed at promoting the expansion and conservation of the species, also through the protection of its habitat.*
*Mountain Ecology vol 13 (2020) : read more
ALPARC held its Annual General Assembly on the 28th of January 2022. Due to the pandemic, the event took place in a digital format for the second-year consecutive. A total of 41 participants joined the meeting, among which the representatives of 31 ALPARC members. Partners from different alpine countries were also present, as well as Alenka Smerkolj -General Secretary of the Alpine Convention- and Simone Remund -representative of the Swiss Presidency of the Alpine Convention- who both kindly welcomed the participants.
ALPARC addresses a special thanks to the team of the Landscape Park Binntal (CH) where the Assembly should have taken place this year.
The 2021 activity report was presented during the meeting, as well as upcoming projects on visitor management and long-term monitoring of biodiversity. This was also the opportunity to announce further developments for ALPAR CENTR’ALPS with the hiring of a new ALPARC staff member. A focus on Alpine UNESCO Geoparks completed the discussions, with the expressed wish to encourage more of them to become ALPARC’s members.
The network was well represented which enabled the Assembly to validate the official reports of the president, the treasurer and the director and the activity programme and budget for 2022.
ALPARC's 2021 activity report has recently been released. The document is available in the 4 Alpine languages and presents the work of the organisation for the past 12 months. ALPARC's main fields of work are covered, from Biodiversity & ecological connectivy, to Education for sustainable development and Regional development and quality of life. The report also presents the main news from the network and the latest update of the Alpine Protected Area map.
MORE : https://alparc.org/alpine-resources/activity-report-2021
Last December, Xavier Eudes has replaced Eva Alicar at the head of the Vanoise National park (FR) while Dr. Tit Potočnik has been recently appointed as new director of the Triglav National Park (SL). In Switzerland, Moritz Clausen will fill up the vacant position of managing director of the Binntal Nature Park on the 1st of March 2022. On the very same day, Massimo Bocca will retire after years of dedicated work as director of the Mont Avic natural park (IT).
Before joining the Vanoise National Park, Xavier Eudes was deputy director of the Department of Territories and the Sea of the Hérault. For 6 years, he developed projects for economic actors and local authorities in rural areas, by promoting the identity of these areas and in relation to the preservation of agricultural, natural and forestry land.
With a concern for dialogue and consultation both internally, with the Park's teams, and with the partners and inhabitants of the Vanoise, he is committed to "working together" and the co-construction of projects to enhance the territory. As a practitioner of outdoor activities, he is also committed to opening up the Park to the various publics, which is essential in view of the current challenges of biodiversity, and associated with controlled tourism development.
Dr. Tit Potočnik was appointed as a director by the Slovenian Government at its regular meeting on 20th January 2022. He has been appointed for a limited mandate of 4 years (from 27th January 2022 up to 26th January 2026) with the possibility of reappointment.
Dr Tit Potočnik obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in October 2003, his Master of Laws degree in EU Commercial Law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Maribor in June 2006 and his Doctor of Laws degree in EU Commercial Law from the International University of Novi Pazar in October 2009. Since September 2010, he has worked in various managerial positions, mainly as a director of limited liability companies.
The board of the Binntal Landscape Park has appointed Moritz Clausen as its new managing director. The federally certified accountant from Ernen will take up his post on 1 March 2022.
Moritz Clausen, who grew up in Ernen, is a federally certified accountant. After his training and intensive professional years in Bern, he returned to the Valais and to Ernen in 2019. Since then, he has been working as a client manager for a fiduciary and auditing company in Brig. In his previous professional positions, he has worked in various teams and also gained some experience in team leadership. "Moritz Clausen brings a lot of experience with him, especially in project work. Thanks to his knowledge and his identification with the region, he will be able to represent the Binntal Landscape Park in the best possible way", says Moritz Schwery, President of the Binntal Landscape Park.
Moritz Clausen has known the Binntal Landscape Park since its foundation. He is convinced of its charisma and knows the different demands and wishes. "I am pleased that I will henceforth be able to play an active and creative role for my home region," says Moritz Clausen about his future commitment. Moritz Clausen wants to lead the Binntal Landscape Park into the future together with the existing team and develop it further in accordance with its goals.
In the context of the Healing Alps – HEALPS2 project, several tools are being developed to facilitate the development of health tourism value chains in different Alpine regions. Destination managers need concrete instruments to determine the healing potential of their region and match it with the needs of potential visitors. The scenario tool is an innovative platform which helps to identify the healing profile of a specific region and developing nature-based health tourism offers in line with customers preferences and needs. Enjoy the video!
The Reading Mountains Festival is a way to connect people that love books and mountains, despite them being 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.
In the lead up to International Mountain Day 2021, the #ReadingMountains Festival will once again pay tribute to the linguistic and cultural heritage in the Alps. This year too, there can be no limits to the creativity of events in the Alpine-wide festival, which can take place online, in-person, or in hybrid form. Registration to organize an event for the 2021 edition goes through the dedicated online form. The Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention will support the promotion of events through social media as well as with posters, bookmarks, and other promotional materials. Only events registered by 30 November 2021 will be guaranteed promotional materials.
The award is a new competition to support Green Economy in the Alpine Macroregion. The competition is an initiative of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), financially supported by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and operated by PLANVAL.
EUSALP is looking for innovative and sustainable ideas, products, services and business models in the Alpine Region. Everyone from the Alpine Region can participate in the competition: start-ups, long-established companies, institutions, associations, private persons or teams. An international jury will select 6 winners.
Proposals can be submitted until 15 January 2022! Participation is easy. Applicants just have to enter the official website and fill in the short application form.
More information at www.gi-goes-business.eu.
The global pandemic saw school closures in over 180 countries. Many protected areas had to cancel or downsize their education activities outdoor over several weeks and months. However, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is crucial to be maintained as it can help to build resilience, raise awareness, and change behavior to transform our lives towards more sustainable patterns. Even though many activities outside could not be performed as before, several protected areas found new approaches for implementing activities even digitally. In the present survey we wanted to gain an overview on how the protected areas dealt with the challenge and adapted their activities according to national regulations.
250 guests, twelve speakers from five countries, a common vision: last October Bad Hofgastein was the venue for the fourth international symposium Healing Power of the Alps, this year for the first time spanning the Alps. The topic: How to use the healing power of the Alps to redefine sustainable tourism. Representatives of international initiatives from across the Alpine region met in Bad Hofgastein to discuss this new approach to tourism. “The overall goal is to position the Alpine region as a globally attractive health destination with a vibrant regional economy, especially after the pandemic,” said Salzburg State Minister Daniela Gutschi at the opening of the symposium. She continued, “The wealth of the Alpine region lies in its healing power.”
Since the times of the Roman empire, thermal waters being one of the Alpine healing resources have been used and recommended for nurturing body and soul. Nowadays an ever-increasing part of the population is interested in innovative touristic services for health and wellbeing, for keeping themselves vital and active. The Private Medical University Paracelsus of Salzburg is a forerunner regarding evidence-based research on different Alpine healing resources such as waterfalls, microbioma or dairy products. For example, Asthma in patients could be significantly reduced after repeated stays close to specific waterfalls. Moreover, clinical studies found a positive correlation between a holiday stay in the Alps and the relationship quality for couples aged between 50 and 65 years. These are just some concrete findings which hold substantial potential for Alpine regions to unfold their hidden healing power and developing new touristic products. In this sense even remote regions suffering from brain drain and low economic power might be able to develop new local value chains, valorizing their region and leading to vital businesses while promoting also resilience of Alpine resources and the soundness of ecological systems.
Top-class speakers such as Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner and Franz Fischler, President of the European Forum Alpbach and former EU Agriculture Commissioner provided interesting insights on the development of tourism in the Alps and the different notions associated to sustainable development. Several stakeholder workshops on different topics such as agriculture and farms, forests under guidance of Prof. Robert Lymann, Julia Saller, Dr. Michael Bischof and many others allowed for discussion and in-depth exchange in smaller groups.
“Healing Power of the Alps” was part of a series of events in the framework of the Alpine Convention dedicated to sustainable Alpine tourism and was organised in cooperation with ArgeAlp. More information can be found on the official website: https://healing-alps.eu
PHOTO: © Agentur Salic David Wedenig
This colorful publication gathers 26 local recipes from all over the Alps and the Carpathians and it includes drawings made by the young people who took part in Youth at the Top 2021. Each recipe is described in the 4 Alpine languages + English.
The event "Leaving small traces on the way – a virtual afternoon hike to selected examples of visitor guidance in the Alps" is addressed to the 4 pilot regions from the "speciAlps2" project as well as interested parties from the entire Alpine region. It is co-organise by CIPRA internal and Alliance in the Alps. The event aims to share good examples, experiences and grievances as well as inspire all participants and discuss together a selection of possibilities to guide visitors in the Alps. Therefore, all participants are invited to bring in personal examples on the topic of "visitor management". In this context, ALPARC will present the alpine project "Be Part of the Mountain" (see programme below).
The public exchange meeting will take place online and will be interpreted simultaneously in the four different Alpine languages.