Mreža zavarovanih območij v Alpah
All over the Alps nature parks are working at challenging the view on regional development and lead them to change. Due to their experience and expertise in social and spatial innovation they can be seen as “ambassadors of change” who can be an inspiration to others. The project InnovAlps aims at showing innovative approaches and projects that are being realised in cooperation with various actors and at identifying their recipes of success and encountered problems.
Project centered around 3 pilot regions
Therefore, ALPARC has been working directly with 3 pilot regions since 2015. After a spatial analysis of all three regions a transnational exchange has been started with a series of workshops that enable the pilot regions to get to know each other and to immerse in the topic of innovation. The intention is to establish a common view on regional development and innovation in nature parks and to identify success factors and potential problems. By offering an “external view” on the regions a mutual learning process should be stimulated.
Every workshop is divided in 3 steps:
First exchange in Tirol: The Nature park Tiroler Lech and its lighthouse project “Lechweg”
From April 20th to 21st the first workshop took place in the Nature park Tiroler Lech in the Reutte region of Tirol, Austria. The Swiss and French partners had the possibility to immense in the landscape of the river Lech, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the northern Alps (protected area 44km²).
Contrary to the predominant strategy of progressive ski development in Tirol this region positions itself as a sustainable tourism region. The lighthouse project of this strategy is a 125km trail that starts in Vorarlberg and leads all the way through Tirol to Füssen in Germany, the Lechweg or “Lech trail”. This trail is made for hikers of all abilities as it does not include difficult passages or steep ascents. It lets the hikers observe the transformation of this last free-flowing river as the landscape changes from mountains to plain. The biggest part of the trail lies inside the protected area of the nature park which has been a popular attraction for visitors, hikers and locals since its inauguration in 2012. The Lechweg is the first trail to be labeled “Leading Trail Quality – Best of Europe” for its routing and quality. The touristic offer has undergone quite a development in the last years with alternative routes to the lateral valleys, a cycling track or a whole set of regional products carrying the brand “Lechweg” being developed.
Regarding spatial innovation, this project managed to bring the stakeholders together in a long-term cooperation. The Lechweg is a touristic product that connects different territorial regions and their local players at different levels and valorises the natural and cultural heritage of the region and the nature park in respect of the environment. This projects gives a strategic guideline to regional development in the region of the nature park. The principles of the Lechweg: discovery, deceleration, authenticity, proximity to nature, inspiration and encounters also reflect current trends in society.
Common questions and needs
During the workshop the success factors of the Lechweg were presented and discussed: the strategic and integrated approach to regional development, the cooperative climate between stakeholders, the existence of strong ambassadors fighting for the idea and exterior views of the region. In spite of the differences between the pilot regions concerning national and regional frameworks, the participants found themselves in the problems and challenges that the Lechregion faces. The workshop was able to determine common questions and needs: How can we induce change in conventional structures, procedures and conventional ways of thinking? How can we realize an idea? How do we convince critics? What should be the role of nature parks in regional development and innovation?
These questions will be discussed in details during the following two workshops that will take part in the regional Nature Park Pfyn-Finges (Switzerland, May 11-12) and in the regional Nature Park Baronnies Provençales (France, June 20-21).
A final conference on innovation in alpine nature parks
On September 29th and 30th ALPARC and the pilot regions of InnovAlps would like to invite you to the final conference on innovation in the regional nature park Pfyn-Finges in Valais, Switzerland “Alpine Nature parks – Models for change”. As the final event of InnovAlps the conference aims at presenting innovative approaches and projects in the regions of nature parks and to enable an exchange on spatial and social innovation on an alpine scale. A detailed program will be sent out soon. Registration will open by the middle of May.
The InnovAlps project is part of the ALPARC thematic priority “regional development and quality of life”, which addresses directly the needs of rural areas in the Alps and their populations. The project is supported by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN.
For further information
Video: Extract Wanderlust ARTE „le Lechweg“
Official site of the Nature Park Tiroler Lech
Official site of the regional development Außerfern
La diversité des cultures est un enjeu croissant pour les communes. L’intégration est une préoccupation majeure. Pour réussir, elle a besoin d’une large mobilisation.
Les facteurs essentiels : l’apprentissage de la langue, le logement, l’emploi, mais aussi l’accueil et la mobilisation dans le nouvel environnement.
La conférence propose aux communes d’identifier et de discuter des voies possibles pour soutenir ce processus. Nous vous invitons à découvrir des exemples de bonnes pratiques, à échanger avec d’autres communes, à présenter vos expériences et à chercher conjointement des solutions. Cette conférence est la deuxième manifestation du projet « Vivre.Ensemble dans les Alpes » financé par la Présidence allemande de la Convention alpine 2015-2016.
Vous trouverez le programme détaillé et le formulaire d’inscription sur www.alpenallianz.org
Das Klimaschutzsymposium – Impulse. Austausch.Kooperation des Deutschen Alpenvereins findet am 29./30. April 2016 im Kongresszentrum in Garmisch-Partenkirchen statt. Wir laden Sie herzlich ein!
Der Deutsche Alpenverein (DAV) veranstaltet am 29./30. April das Klimaschutzsymposium – Impulse. Austausch. Kooperation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Im Mittelpunkt des Symposiums steht der Austausch zwischen teilnehmenden Organisationen und Akteuren, um Klimaschutz weiter voranzubringen. Dazu wird u.a. im Rahmen von Fachforen über gemeinsame Aktivitäten in den Bereichen Mobilität, Tourismus, Bergsport und Bildung diskutiert.
For further information please visit: http://www.alpenverein.de/Natur-Umwelt/Klimaschutz/Klimaschutz-Symposium
Gentiana et le CBNA organisent les Rencontres botaniques alpines 2016 qui se tiendront du 28 au 30 avril prochain à Grenoble.
« La place de la flore dans l'aménagement du territoire »
Toutes les informations ainsi que le programme sont disponibles sur le site Internet http://www.gentiana.org/page:RBA
A unique training opportunity for managers and executives in protected area management
In July 2016 the „European Parks‘ Academy” takes place in Klagenfurt. In two one week modules on „Effective Financial Management of Protected Areas“ and „New Challenges in the Governance of Protected Areas“ participants work intensively with renowned nature conservation experts of IUCN and discuss emerging and pressing issues in conservation in a practical context.
During workshops, presentations and excursions participants discuss practical case studies, problems and challenges of their working environment and how they can make use of international guidelines and innovative approaches.
Attractive side-offers allow for an intensive professional exchange and building new contacts and networks. The participation is a unique opportuntity for professionals and executives of protected areas to get both an update on recent international developments, trends and new knowledge and the opportunity to discuss individual problems, challenges and ideas in a highly professional environment.
The Academy was developed in cooperation with IUCN/WCPA Europe, E.C.O. Institute of Ecology, University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy, TU Wien, Universitaet Klagenfurt and the University of Capodistria. The initiative is supported by the Austrian Ministry of Enviroment.
Applications will be accepted until 30.05.2016. The number of participants is limited to 15 per module.
For further information, please go to www.e-c-o.at/eurpean-parks-academy.html or contact us: epa@e-c-o.at
The biannual ALPARC Council Meeting has been held on April 7th & 8th 2016 in Monaco (FR). The meeting was hosted by the Principality of Monaco.
On the agenda: work in progress on alpine ecological connectivity, InnovAlps project and Youth at the Top Event. Furthermore have been presented the new projects submitted to the 2016 EU INTERREG program. During the meeting the strategy of the network has been discussed.
Miss. Valérie Davenet, of the Monaco Governement – Direction de l'Environnement took part in the meeting.
The Principality of Monaco as a member of the ALPARC Council supports multiples ALPARC’s project, in particular those focused on the biodiversity and ecological connectivity axes.
The Alpine Network of Protected Areas thanks the Gouvernement Monaco for hosting the meeting, the perfect organization and its engagement in the network.
ALPARC's first 2016 Council Meeting will be held in the Principality of Monaco on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th April 2016.
A group of around 15 people will get together to discuss various points such as the finances, the work programm and the projects.
If you are a photographer then don't hesitate to participate in the first contest "Photo Nature" organized the Contamines Montjoie in partnership with the Nature Reserve/ASTERS and the magazine Terre Sauvage.
This first edition will focus on winter wildlife.
Information, conditons and registration:
http://photo.events.lescontamines.com/concours-photo-nature
Feedback from the international “Wildlife and winter sport activities” workshop
3rd and 4th March 2016, Lescheraines (Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park (RNP) FR). Organised by the Massif des Bauges RNP, ASTERS and ALPARC
Throughout the Alpine arc, sports and leisure activities have mushroomed as never before. Ski touring, free riding, trekking with or without snowshoes, practised by amateurs or sportspeople during the winter, have become widespread in our societies and all over the Alps.
While open-air activities are beneficial to humans, they do have significant negative impact on mountain wildlife. Species such as mountain galliformes, chamois and ibex, as well as the mountain hare, have become the involuntary targets of this disturbance. Many scientific studies have clearly demonstrated this impact (see the workshop presentations of Friday 4th March). So, how can winter sports activities be reconciled with the preservation of wildlife? How can those who practise such activities be made aware of this reality? Is coexistence possible and under what conditions?
A large variety of initiatives across the Alps
Currently, different initiatives, from national to local level, are being undertaken across the Alps. They relate to monitoring studies and methods, management measures or awareness raising campaigns for those who practise winter sports. Even if they come from different spheres, those stakeholders concerned today acknowledge the extent of the problem and its potential development, a factor that calls for action on different fronts.
A selection of current studies and initiatives was presented and discussed during the international “Wildlife and winter sport activities” workshop. This workshop was the first of its kind and brought together a large number of participants (around 50), coming from different fields across the Alpine arc (6 countries were represented): governments, Alpine Clubs, scientists, environmental NGOs and, of course, the protected areas. For those taking part it was an opportunity to present their at times creative initiatives, to discuss practices and to pool knowledge, experiences and ideas.
As for the initiatives, there have been large-scale awareness-raising campaigns such as the “Respektiere Deine Grenzen” campaign (“Respect your Limits”) which has been carried out by the Voralberg (AT) federal state government for more than 10 years now, or the “Respecter c’est protéger” (“To Respect is to Protect”) campaign, an adaptation of that campaign at a national level in Switzerland and supported by the Swiss Alpine Club and the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. These two campaigns stand out by their political will to support this approach using significant means. Herbert Erhart from the Vorarlberg region explains: “We have chosen to say: Yes, nature is worth these efforts”.
On the other hand, diverse initiatives are being carried out in the Alpine protected areas in their own territories, bringing in other different local stakeholders. Examples of this are the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, AT), the Triglav National Park (SI), the Mont Avic Nature Park (IT), the transborder Nagelfluhkette Nature Park (Bavaria/Vorarlberg, DE/AT) and the Bauges RNP: management of visitors by marking out and demarcating quiet areas is generally accompanied by awareness-raising actions targeting different types of activity (see presentations of Thursday 3rd March). The workshop has proved that the protected areas play a key role in the development of these measures in the Alps as they are at one and the same time mediators in approaches to governance and pilot regions for innovative practices which can spread beyond the parks themselves.
During the workshop there was an opportunity to see a local measure implemented by the Bauges RNP: the setting up of a perimeter of protection for the wintering areas of the black grouse at the Col de Chérel.
A single will: one common approach for the Alps
It is clear that, for the moment, approaches and initiatives are scattered over the Alpine territory, developed and carried out in very assorted ways. Some territories have made more progress than others with respect to the different lines of intervention: monitoring, management of visitors and awareness-raising. In Italy, for example, awareness-raising campaigns and actions remain limited. Nonetheless the problem is the same throughout the Alpine arc.
So, the delegates identified one central need during the discussions: the need to pool experiences and advances and develop a common approach on an Alpine level, from monitoring to visitor management to a common form of communication, while at the same time mobilising the different stakeholders and interested parties. Such a project would guarantee greater visibility of the issue, awareness-raising of greater impact and a better quality of management throughout the Alps. A common approach would moreover contribute to more coherence and cohesion in the Alpine arc.
A first step in this direction was taken during the workshop: delegates expressed their wish to set up a working group on this theme in order to work in networks on an international scale, go into some ideas in depth and develop a common project.
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to all the delegates for attending and for the rich, animated exchanges and discussions! Thanks also to the Bauges RNP and Asters teams for organising the workshop, and in particular to the Bauges RNP for hosting the event in their territory.
Alpine protected areas contributing
The Gesäuse National Park (Styria, AT), The Triglav National Park (SI), the Mont Avic Regional Park (IT), the transborder Nagelfluhkette Nature Park (Bavaria /Vorarlberg, DE/AT), the Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park (FR), ASTERS Conservatory natural areas of Haute Savoie (FR)
To read the full report on the workshop, see below:
This section includes the part 2/2 of the Powerpoint presentations shown during the Workshop Wildlife and winter sport activities " Your space of freedom - my living space" that took place the 3rd and 4th of March 2016 in Lescheraines, Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park (France)
This section includes the part 1/2 of the Powerpoint presentations shown during the Workshop Wildlife and winter sport activities " Your space of freedom - my living space" that took place the 3rd and 4th of March 2016 in Lescheraines, Massif des Bauges Regional Nature Park (France)
The first Alpine Building Conference “Towards Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB)“ offers the exciting opportunity for the thorough exchange of experience and ideas in the field of zero-energy buildings and neighbourhoods, sustainable and energy-efficient construction, building culture and related building design topics.
The main aim of the conference is to develop future strategies and solutions to create a net-zero-energy building culture in the Alpine regions.
Conference time frame: March 16, 2016 from 12:00 pm to March 17, 2016 15:00 pm
The presentations will be translated into French, German, Italian and Slovenian.
Participation is free of charge. Please register before March 7, 2016
For registration and further information please visit: https://www.events.tum.de/frontend/index.php?sub=46/
