The Alpine Convention has recently announced the Publication of the Climate Action Plan 2.0 which supports progress towards the transformation of the Alps into a climate-neutral and climate-resilient region by 2050. The Climate Action Plan 2.0 has been developed by the Alpine Climate Board (ACB) and approved by the XVI Alpine Conference. It calls for joint activities across sectors and borders, aiming to close the implementation gap between strategies and actions to address climate change. The document operationalises the objectives laid out in the Alpine Climate Target System 2050 towards climate-neutral and climate-resilient Alps. It is based on implementation pathways, i.e. sequences of concrete measures designed in close cooperation with the Convention’s Thematic Working Bodies and further experts. Sixteen priority pathways have been indentified (see below). More information here.

Along the same lines, few days ago the Alpine Convention has announced the first edition of the Climate Hour that will be held on World Environment Day, on 5th June 2021. More information here.

In 2021, ALPARC is fortunate to count 2 new Austrian members: The Nature Park Mürzer Oberland and The Nature Park Weissbach.

In the north-east of Styria, surrounded by the mountain peaks of Rax, Schneealpe and Veitsch, lies the Mürzer Oberland. Extensive forests, alpine pastures and also limestone mountains characterize this cultural landscape along the upper Mürz Valley. The River Mürz rises from two springs north of the Schneealpe, flows to the southeast and leaves the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park last near Mürzzuschlag. The park has the particularity to count diverse cultural landscapes. Historically dominated by the iron industry, mining and forestry, today the region is committed to sustainable tourism, with forestry still playing an important role. The park management focuses on various leading themes such as: forest, hunting and forestry, spring water protection, biodiversity and climate change, and other key topics alpine farming.

Naturpark Weißbach, again ALPARC member, has a new director: Sandra Uschnig. She presents shortly the park and her upcoming projects:

“Hello, my Name is Sandra Uschnig and I am the new CEO of the Naturpark Weißbach, in the federal state Salzburg in Austria. Founded in 2007 the Park is area is about 28 km² and is characterized through different valuable biotopes, mountain streams and ravines as well as alpine pastures and rugged limestone rocks. The Naturpark is embedded in the Austrian Limestone Alps and provides a home for rare animals and plants (like the parnassius apollo, lilium martagon or Cypripedium calceolus).

This year will be dedicated to the evaluation and actualization of the established resources. We are planning to do some projects regarding young people like the Youth at the Top event of Alparc or the mountain forest project. Furthermore, we conduct environmental education through our summer programme consisting of different events and guided tours (like the golden eagle tour or the alp experience tour). Visit us on facebook ‘Naturpark Weißbach’ or Instagram ‘naturpark_weissbach’.”

We are pleased to warmly welcome these two protected areas as ALPARC members and we are looking forward to work together. Totalizing now 50 members representing 61 protected areas across the 8 Alpine Countries, ALPARC aims to foster synergy between Alpine Protected Areas.

Picture: Nature Park Mürzer Oberland - Wandern Falkensteinalm © nixxipixx.com-43

Euromontana recently published the OREKA MENDIAN Booklet of good practices, showcasing 31 inspiring examples for the sustainable management of mountain grasslands gathered across 18 European countries. These good practices are meant to inspire local actors to increase the biodiversity of mountain grasslands, tackled climate change impacts and better market their products, among many others. Good practices were selected through desk/web research and a survey done at EU level in December 2018.

OREKA MENDIAN is a seven-year project (2016-2022) funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. It aims to develop a preservation strategy for mountain pasturelands in the Basque country (covering both the French and Spanish regions), seeking to create a sustainable balance between the environmental preservation and socio-economic uses of these grasslands. In the project framework, Euromontana conducted a study of the current status of mountain grasslands throughout Europe, in order to have a precise picture of these grasslands in 2020.

To investigate these aspects, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, based in Venice, has developed a project aimed at offering a platform of knowledge and exchange that gives voice to the experiences of the different sites, primarily involving the coordinators of the sites themselves and local stakeholders, but also open to anyone interested in the topics.

After a first phase of investigation, which involved mainly site managers and the main stakeholders, a webinar series will be held with thematic focus (in Italian).

The online meetings, organized in a weekly appointment every Thursday for 3 weeks in April from 4pm to 6pm, will be held on the GoToWebinar platform, open to all participants subscribed to the links below:

·        Talking about rurality: 8 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4776879258228444686

·        Talking about school and education: 15 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/757513347823552014 

·        Talking about tourism: 22 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6870993711327879438

The objective is to voice experiences, share and implement the creative solutions of resilience identified in response to the current pandemic. This activity will also contribute to strengthening the collaboration among the UNESCO sites and with their stakeholders, inspiring the identification of solutions contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the potential of UNESCO sites as sustainability laboratories and facilitating the dissemination of good practices developed in them.

Language of the event: Italian

For more information, please contact: Regional.bureau-sc@unesco.org

The international conference "MoVe the Alps" will take place on April 2021. During the conference, participants will discuss how to promote sustainable and climate-friendly cycle tourism in the Alpine region.
The translation into all the alpine languages and in English will be available.
The conference is organised by the Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE with the support of the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention in the framework of the Swiss Presidency of the Alpine Convention.

For more information please contact: alpineconvention@are.admin.ch

ALPARC is pleased to share the recent achievement of two of its members. Indeed, the Swiss National Park and the 6 mountain Nature Reserves managed by Asters (France) have just joined the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. This list which gives recognition to well-managed and well-governed protected and conserved areas only features 59 areas around the world. The Swiss National Park becomes Switzerland’s first Green List site. Under the appellation of "Haut-Giffre and Aiguilles Rouges", the IUCN lists 6 French protected areas: Aiguilles Rouges, Vallon de Bérard, Carlaveyron, Contamines-Montjoie, Passy and Sixt-Passy. These 6 Nature Reserves are administrated by Asters, conservatory of natural areas in the department of Haute-Savoie.

Sites on the IUCN Green List have demonstrated excellence based on a rigorous assessment against the IUCN Green List Standard of 17 criteria structured in four components: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management as well as successful conservation outcomes.

France counts the highest number of Green List sites in the world to date, with now a total of 22, including the Parc National des Ecrins which was first listed in 2019. In the Italian Alps, the Green List status of the country’s first National Park, Gran Paradiso, was renewed. ALPARC would like to warmly congratulate these protected areas for their unique accomplishment. This recognition of Alpine areas gives strength to all actors within the territory working on preserving the Alps and their invaluable environment.

For more information, please read the IUCN press release (available in English, French, German and Italian), the Swiss National Park's press release and Asters' press release.

Photo © Swiss National Park - Hans Lozza

Netzwerk Naturwald - Austria’s wild heart

In the triangle between the National Park Kalkalpen, the National Park Gesäuse and the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area - you will find exceptional natural and near-natural forests. The Dürrenstein Wilderness Area is home to the largest remnant of primeval forest in the Alps, covering some 400 hectares. Back in 2012, the three protected areas joined forces to strengthen the ecological connectivity of the forest areas in this region - the Netzwerk Naturwald was born. Netzwerk Naturwald means Network of Natural Forests. In the meantime, the Netzwerk Naturwald has grown and the Styrian Provincial Forests, the Austrian Federal Forests, the City of Vienna with its spring protection forests in the region as well as the three nature parks Steirische Eisenwurzen, Niederösterreichische Eisenwurzen and Ötscher-Tormäuer are now partners in the Natural Forest Network.

In a spatial analysis, a search was made for remaining old grown forests that could serve as stepping stones between the protected areas in order to functionally connect the beech-dominated mixed deciduous forests and thus maintain the high biodiversity in the long term. During this analysis, some suitable areas were found even though it became apparent that old-growth forests are already rare even here. In the meantime, three pilot areas have already been permanently secured as stepping stones.

In 2017, areas in the Kalkalpen National Park and the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area were declared UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites. It is the only World Natural Heritage site in Austria, in addition to numerous Austria’s World Cultural Heritage sites, and they are the only beech forest World Heritage sites in the Alpine region. This has further increased the priority for functional connectivity. It is now no longer a regional but a national and international concern.

In the spatial analysis, the area southwest of the existing wilderness area already stood out in 2015 due to the old-growth forests. This has led the province of Styria to start working with the Austrian Federal Forests and the management of the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area towards a protection of these areas. The planning and negotiations were lengthy but recently the final agreement was announced. An area of about 3,500 hectares in Styria complements the existing wilderness area and doubles its previous size. The fact that it has been possible to create a new wilderness area of this size in the Alps is a sensation in itself. The fact that this has been achieved across two federal states is an even greater achievement.

It is interesting to note that here, too - as in the case of the Netzwerk Naturwald - a private initiative provided the impetus. While the Netzwerk Naturwald was initially supported by the Swiss MAVA Foundation, two Austrian entrepreneurs accompanied the expansion of the wilderness area and also provided generous financial support.

For the Netzwerk Naturwald, this expansion means a big leap forward as can be seen on the map below. A large part of the remaining old-growth forest is now protected in the enlarged wilderness area. The distance between the protected areas has thus been significantly reduced. Nothing is as important to the ecological challenges of the coming decades as old growth forests. This realization is also increasingly finding its way into European policy under the term proforestation and will probably also shape the coming funding periods for the Alpine region.

The example in the heart of Austria gives courage that even in challenging times it is possible to take big steps for nature conservation if protected areas, the public sector, landowners and committed individuals walk together. The wild heart of Austria beats powerfully and steadily.

If you would like to experience the wild heart of Austria, the lynx trail is particularly suitable for this, which winds through the region on exciting trails in 11 stages. https://luchstrail.at/

Find more information about the Netzwerk Naturwald at www.netzwerk-naturwald.at and visit the wilderness area also at www.wildnisgebiet.at !

Photo credit: Christoph Nitsch, Netzwerk Naturwald

To investigate these aspects, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, based in Venice, has developed a project aimed at offering a platform of knowledge and exchange that gives voice to the experiences of the different sites, primarily involving the coordinators of the sites themselves and local stakeholders, but also open to anyone interested in the topics.

After a first phase of investigation, which involved mainly site managers and the main stakeholders, a webinar series will be held with thematic focus (in Italian).

The online meetings, organized in a weekly appointment every Thursday for 3 weeks in April from 4pm to 6pm, will be held on the GoToWebinar platform, open to all participants subscribed to the links below:

·        Talking about rurality: 8 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4776879258228444686

·        Talking about school and education: 15 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/757513347823552014 

·        Talking about tourism: 22 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6870993711327879438

The objective is to voice experiences, share and implement the creative solutions of resilience identified in response to the current pandemic. This activity will also contribute to strengthening the collaboration among the UNESCO sites and with their stakeholders, inspiring the identification of solutions contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the potential of UNESCO sites as sustainability laboratories and facilitating the dissemination of good practices developed in them.

Language of the event: Italian

For more information, please contact: Regional.bureau-sc@unesco.org

The first HEALPS2 image film in English has been published. This video provides a glimpse of the project work and explains the main idea. Have a look below! The clip will soon be translated in French, German, Italian and Slovenian. It is the first of a series of videos which will be produced until project end.

The overall objective of HEALPS2 is to develop and improve framework conditions and tools for a better utilisation of Alpine-specific natural health resources for the development of innovative tourism products and service chains. It connects academia, different business sectors such as the health sector, tourism and local service providers, as well as innovation and transfer agencies to jointly implement new business models that improve value creation across sectors in Alpine destinations. This transnational and transversal approach is built on unique Alpine natural health resources and strengthens the Alpine territorial innovation capacity.

After being forced to cancel the 2021 event due to the pandemic situation, ALPARC is pleased to officially announce that the 26th edition of the annual Danilo Re Memorial event will take place from January 27th to January 30th within the Binntal Nature Park in Switzerland.

The event traditionally gathers the Alpine rangers, staff and managers of protected areas that are daily engaged in the conservation and protection of the alpine biodiversity. Once again, participants from all around the Alpine countries will compete in four categories: mountaineering ski, giant slalom, shooting and cross-country.

As usual, the event will also host, the ALPARC General Assembly. It should be held on January 28th 2021. All the ALPARC members are invited to participate.

More information to come

To investigate these aspects, the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, based in Venice, has developed a project aimed at offering a platform of knowledge and exchange that gives voice to the experiences of the different sites, primarily involving the coordinators of the sites themselves and local stakeholders, but also open to anyone interested in the topics.

After a first phase of investigation, which involved mainly site managers and the main stakeholders, a webinar series will be held with thematic focus (in Italian).

The online meetings, organized in a weekly appointment every Thursday for 3 weeks in April from 4pm to 6pm, will be held on the GoToWebinar platform, open to all participants subscribed to the links below:

·        Talking about rurality: 8 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4776879258228444686

·        Talking about school and education: 15 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/757513347823552014 

·        Talking about tourism: 22 April 2021 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6870993711327879438

The objective is to voice experiences, share and implement the creative solutions of resilience identified in response to the current pandemic. This activity will also contribute to strengthening the collaboration among the UNESCO sites and with their stakeholders, inspiring the identification of solutions contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the potential of UNESCO sites as sustainability laboratories and facilitating the dissemination of good practices developed in them.

Language of the event: Italian

For more information, please contact: Regional.bureau-sc@unesco.org

Youth at the Top event is back for a seventh edition and registration is now open! The 2020 edition will take place on July 8 th 2021 (and the night of July 8th to 9th). On this common date, protected areas all around the Alps and the Carpathians are invited to take groups of curious kids and teens to the mountains, to experimente their surroundings in a new and creative way. Organizations, protected areas, youth associations, local professionals, and refuges are invited to take part in this international event and to plan educational activities on this year's common theme: "Local Food".

Organizations willing to join the project should fill up the online form before April 15th.

What is Youth at the Top?
Youth at the Top is an international event that aims to help young people (re)discover nature and connect to their mountain heritage. It is organized through local events that take place simultaneously in different countries across the Alps and Carpathians. It has a highly symbolic dimension as hundreds of young people go out and experience nature on a single date through an overnight stay in the mountains. Each registered organization is invited to plan a hike, an overnight stay in the mountains, an activity on a common topic and other educational activities to help the younger generation reconnect with the mountain environment. The project leaves a lot of leeway to the participating organizations to organize local events according to their goals and capabilities.

ALPARC has been responsible for the general management and international communication of the project since its very beginning.The 7th edition of Youth at the Top is coordinated by ALPARC with the financial support from the German Ministry for the Environment.

Photo credits: Naturpark Pfyn-Finges