The Platform Ecological Network of the Alpine Convention, under the initiative of the forthcoming French presidency, has mandated the French research institute Irstea to carry out a study on ecological connectivity and spatial planning throughout the Alpine arc. The resulting report, known as the PLACE report, is organized in five parts.

Download the report below.

The final event of Destination Parks will take place on September 11, 2019 in Bern Switzerland.

The results of the projects will be presented along with some outstanding good practice examples, before exploring further ways to move ahead on the development of a common Alpine strategy on the future development and promotion of sustainable toursim in protected areas.

Please find the programme here.

From April 3rd to 4th 2019, ten key Alpine organizations put together AlpWeek Intermezzo, an international event on sustainable development and related Alpine issues. This event was a shorter version of AlpWeek, which is held every four years. Over a period of two days, a total of 60 invited guests from all over the Alps (e.g. Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention, mayors from Alpine cities and scientists) came together in Innsbruck, Austria to answer the question ‘what is your most relevant concern for the Alps tomorrow’? 

In total, three main topics were presented during the conference: land use, mobility and climate change. Each topic was introduced by a guest speaker and was then opened up to debate. The results of each debate session were presented (as recommendations for future action) to the Alpine Convention during the XV Alpine Conference, which occurred in parallel with the event. AlpWeek Intermezzo also featured presentations on 10 projects addressing Alpine issues. 

The final conference report is now available and presents crucial information from the topic sessions and project presentations.

Key information from the topic sessions:  

• Land use: Participants called for limits to land use for tourism infrastructure and heavy and individual traffic as well as putting in place tourist quotas in some areas.
• Climate change: Action is needed on all levels to address climate change. Greenhouse gases need to be immediately reduced and the proper funding and support should be given to local administrations and regional climate coordinators to facilitate pan-Alpine initiatives on this issue. 
• Mobility: There is a need for efficient and intelligent means of transportation in the Alpine region that reduce the burden on inhabitants and maintain prosperity without further expanding road networks. 

Highlights from project presentations: 

• Green economy in the Alpine region: The Alpine Convention published its Green Economy Action Programme (GEAP) in April which identifies concrete areas for action to make the transition to a green economy by 2030. It is a stakeholder-driven program which builds off existing achievements and works towards creating a transnational, common approach for the region. 
• ALPACA: Alpine Partnership for Local Climate Action: This project believes that municipalities and local authorities play a key role in climate change adaptation and mitigation and aims to address the major challenges they face when addressing climate change.
• The UrbaBio project: Urban areas are important niches for biodiversity. This project integrates knowledge from the Alpine cities of Annecy, Belluno, Chambéry and Trento to development innovative solutions for nature conservation. 

The complete conference report can be found here. 

The conference is one of the most comprehensive international meetings on mountain research, with more that 40 workshop topic announcements and keynote speakers from various disciplines and countries. This conference is an opportunity to be a part of a scientific exchange and the creation of new concepts in interdisciplinary mountain science.

Species living in mountainous areas depend on unique climate conditions, which vary with elevation, for survival. Climate change is modifying these areas and has already resulted in temperature increases, changes in precipitation patterns and more extreme climatic events such as droughts and heat waves. These changes are already having noticeable effects on Alpine fauna and flora and many international studies approach the question of how affected species are managing to adapt to climate change. 

According to a study published in July 2019 in Nature Research, most common species, such as birds and deer, are unable to acclimatize to the speed of the climate change crisis. The report looked at 71 studies across 13 countries to access whether species’ phenological changes or adaptive responses were adequate to deal with climate change. Out of the species studied, almost all species were unable to handle the changes. 

Species rely on the timing of biological events to adapt their behavior to new environmental conditions. However, this is becoming a challenge as seasonal shifts are accelerating due to human activities. In the Alps, the early arrival of spring and summer is causing ecosystems to be out of sync, impacting animal reproduction and survival. For example, peak vegetation is happening before Alpine Ibex have their kids in Autumn, resulting in a higher mortality rate for their young. Climate change is also affecting migration patterns, as many species are forced to move upward an average of 100m to deal with rising temperatures. This dangerous lag between the natural world’s ability to adapt is even greater for species that are already threatened by extinction. 

 “The fact that species struggle to adapt to the current rate of climate change means we have to take action immediately in order to at least halt or decrease the rate” –Viktoriia Radchuk

Human-induced climate changes has already caused irreversible damage to biodiversity. Without drastic cuts in CO2 emissions and habitat restoration, climate change could change the world as we know it. 

More info: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/animals-failing-to-adapt-to-speed-of-climate-crisis-study-finds 

Climate change impacts on the Alps: https://creamontblanc.org/en/climate-change-and-its-impacts-alps 

Involving and empowering Youth in nature conservation is becoming increasingly important. ALPARC itself is deeply convinced that young people participation is one fundamental tool to contribute to the preservation of the Alpine natural and cultural heritage. 

To all our young public:

• Do you want to "pitch your project" in order to contribute to the sustainable development of the Alpine territory?
• Are you between 16 and 25 and live in one of the Alpine countries?
• Do you have an innovative idea for a project to shape a sustainable future for your territory?
• Than submit your project idea before October 31st!

If your project is selected not only you will be able to present it to the EUSALP Annual Forum but you might also win up to 5.000€ for its implementation.

What are you waiting for? Submit your project by October 31st!

In their most recent editions, eco-mont wrote two interesting editorials on the mission of Protected Areas (PAs).

The general trend regarding PAs administration is to favor touristic and local development over preservation, education and research – PAs core mission.

With his 30 years of experience as a coordinator for the Research Council of the Swiss National Park, Thomas Scheurer explains that three factors are pushing PAs to invest in image building, branding, touristic offers and facilities:

• A change in social demand. Today’s PAs are expected to be a resource for local and touristic development.
• Economic development is preferred to nature conservation since it is dynamic and based on new technologies, giving an image of progress whereas conservation is seen as being static and only produces results on the long term.
• PAs tend to build a strong institutional presence in order to successfully interact with the governance system they are part of and, in particular, with municipalities and provinces.

The author finds two particularly simple and effective solutions: putting a limit (fixed percentage) on funds for institutional investments and separating management conservation from nature marketing management.

Eco-mont’s latest edition opens with an editorial by Herbert Wölger, the Managing Director of Gesäuse National Park. The author tries to address the matter from the perspective of PA managers and underlines that all managers should respect their core mission of conservation and, at the same time, contribute to regional development. However, he acknowledges the existence of a major problem: “We receive applause for short-term economic development but little recognition for long-term ecological conservation.”

PAs have one major challenge, gathering long-term funding for long-term results in nature conservation. If European instruments like LIFE program allow PAs to start pursuing their core mission, their limited duration still constitutes a major obstacle in the long run.

The editorial ends with some examples of nature conservation measures that can benefit PAs.

This is an invitation to develop new and innovative ways to find a conciliation between economic development and nature conservation by exploiting the first to enhance the second.

We invite you to read the full articles at the following links:

http://www.austriaca.at/0xc1aa5576_0x003abf00.pdf
http://www.austriaca.at/0xc1aa5576_0x003a2b4d.pdf

The Natura 2000 network is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It was established in 1992 with the Habitats Directive. Ensuring effective management of individual Natura 2000 sites remains a challenge in most EU countries which hinders the full implementation of the Nature Directives. 

What are the Core Competencies that Nature 2000 and Protected Area Managers should have?

The LIFE e-Natura2000.edu project tries to answer to this question in its Technical Report.

Starting from the analysis of the ‘Fitness Check’ of Birds and Habitats Directives, some critical issues have been identified in their implementation. More specifically, to ameliorate Natura 2000 management in its practical dimension, improvements in the following areas are required:

• management planning,
• provision of more and better information,
• increased guidance, more integration and joined-up delivery with other policies,
• increased awareness and involvement of stakeholders.

Specifically, it is fundamental to keep a strong connection between all Natura 2000 sites, without forgetting their specific context and needs.

Identification and Assessment of Competencies for Management of Natura 2000

This is the title of the Report that constitutes the first activity of the LIFE e-Natura2000.edu project. It is the result of the findings of a technical workshop in which the project team and invited experts analysed the IUCN Global Register of Competencies for Protected Area Practitioners.

Its structure:

1. An analysis of functions required to be performed by site managers for the efficient implementation of Natura 2000, based on the results of the Fitness Check of the Nature Directives (2016) and on the Nature Directives’ legal requirements;
2. A methodological framework for the development of a coherent, competence-based approach to capacity building for Natura 2000 site management;
3. A defined list of key competencies identified as being particularly relevant for Natura 2000 site managers across Europe, which lies in the fields of communication and collaboration, awareness and education and biodiversity conservation practices.

Building capacities for Nature 2000 Site Managers

The project also aims at offering 3 blended-learning opportunities for Natura 2000 & Protected Area Managers in 2020 to enhance management practices in the protection of nature, with the support of e-learning and other innovative tools. The call to participate will open at the end of 2019.

To assure successful international cooperation, ALPARC relies on its numerous partners at the regional, national and international level. Concerted action is the key for making a difference in nature conservation and promoting sustainable development in the Alps.

Discovering the power of witches, outsmarting evil spirts and finding magical remedies in the mountain wilderness… Mountain educators and guides used these elements of fantasy to immerse the almost 600 young participants across 40 destinations in the Alps and Carpathians in an imaginary world to reconnect them with nature. This was all part of the 5th edition of Youth at the Top’s common theme “Myth and Mountain Legends”.

From July 11th-12th, hundreds of Alpine and Carpathian youth went out to discover the mountains under the framework of the international project, Youth at the Top. This year’s edition brought about a completely new way to discover nature as organizers, associated with the protected area, planned exciting and artistic activities around local myths and legends. By using their natural surroundings, kids discovered more about their heritage by plunging into a world full of mystery and wonder. These stories transcend borders and language barriers, as seen with a group of French and Italian youth who met up at the top in Mont Avic Nature Park. The young participants, averaging around 12 years old, left behind their smartphones and computer screens to reconnect with the mountains through an overnight stay either in a tent, hut or by sleeping under the stars.

Myth and Mountain Legends 

Myths and legends are part of the Alps’ and Carpathians’ natural heritage. The 5th edition was marked by this common theme as activities were organized such as storytelling, theater and painting. Learning about myths and legends within a local context helped reconnect the young participants to their mountain identity. This was done in unique ways as seen through the example of the Parc naturel régional de Chartreuse who hired an actress to dress up as magical beings. This theme was a hit with the young participants.

Discovering Fauna and Flora 

Hiking in the mountains was a great opportunity for the young participants to discover the fauna and flora unique to the Alps and Carpathians. Some highlights include seeing herds of Ibex scaling cliffsides and marmots coming out of their holes. Some participants even tasted edible local plants. In the Naturpark Ötztal in Austria, the young participants were pleasantly surprised during their hike to discover that a bearded vulture was following them. French youth with the Parc naturel régional de Chartreuse even had a hands-on experience as they walked through the forest barefoot and blindfolded, to feel nature through their senses.

Cultural Exchange between Italian and French Parks 

This year, a group of French youth, associated with the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges, headed to Italy to meet up with youth from the Parco Naturale Mont Avic. The kids from the two countries took part in an artistic activity on the common theme, where they worked together to illustrate a mountain myth. The youth from Mont Avic also helped the French group create a video on a legend focused on the game loups-garous or ‘werewolf’ which came to life. There was a great exchange between the two groups as they bonded over the mountains and it was positive experience for the two parks who cooperated for the first time on an educational project. Both protected areas are already thinking of repeating the activity next year.

The international project Youth at the Top Project gives the younger generations a chance to experience the mountains by meeting up for one day and one night on a common date in several destinations throughout the Alps and Carpathians. This initiative is open to all the protected areas of the Alps and the Carpathians as well as to all the organizations working in the educational field. Each action set up by local actors aims to reinforce the links between young people and nature and to raise their awareness about the protection and conservation of the mountain environment.

The 5th edition of the project is led by ALPARC – The Alpine Network of Protected Areas, with the financial support of the German Ministry of the Environment, the Principality of Monaco and the CGET - Commissariat général à l’égalité des territoires (France).

The official press release is available here in English, French, Italian, German and Slovenian. 

Photo Credit: Gesäuse National Park @ Raimund Reite

The 5th Edition of  Youth at the Top   will take place on 11th - 12th of July 2019 all over the Alps & the Carpathians.

The common topic of the 5th edition will be: Myths and Legends in the Alps

Further information and the registration form will be available soon at:  http://youth-at-the-top.org