La manifestation de lancement au projet Vivre.Ensemble dans les Alpes le 22./23.01.2016, Grainau/D

La diversité des cultures augmente – qu’on le veuille ou non. Comment les communes peuvent-elles gérer cette situation et faire de la diversité une opportunité ? Comment créer une culture de l’accueil permettant de recevoir et d’intégrer les nouveaux arrivants dans les Alpes ?
Informations, bonnes pratiques et solutions créatives dans et pour les communes sur les thèmes suivants :
•    Migrations d’agrément dans les Alpes –  surpopulation étrangère ou opportunité ?
•    Vivre dans des régions en déficit migratoire – immigration souhaitée !
•    Migration de réfugiés - Comment l’intégration peut-elle réussir en milieu rural ?

Pour connaître le programme de la conférence et vous inscrire visitez ici:

http://alpenallianz.org/fr/actuel/un-cycle-de-manifestations-dans-le-cadre-de-la-presidence-allemande-de-la-convention-alpine-vivre-ensemble-dans-les-alpes/immigration-voulue

ASTERS, the Haute-Savoie Natural Areas Conservation Authority (Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Haute-Savoie /France) has published a book entitled «L’incroyable histoire de Gypa »  (“The Incredible Story of Gypa”).

This audiobook aims to make children aware of the protection of the bearded vulture. It includes a colourful illustrated book (48 pages) and a CD which tells the incredible story of "Gypa".

This book is for 5- to 8-year olds and can be bought from Asters. For the moment it is only available in French.

http://www.asters.asso.fr/telecharger-document.php?idfichier=466&page=INDEX&idapplication=page

Source : ASTERS  http://www.asters.asso.fr/

The Vulture Conservation Foundation  is committed to protecting vultures in Europe. A core part of their work is the reintroduction of the bearded vulture in the Alps. It was wiped out at the beginning of the 20th century because for a long time it had an ill-gotten reputation as a dangerous predator and was intensively hunted until it completely disappeared from the Alps in 1913. The recognition that bearded vultures are not insatiable predators has considerably supported efforts to reintroduce this fascinating mountain dweller. An international breeding programme was initiated in the 1970s. In order to not endanger existing bearded vulture populations, a decision was made at the beginning of the project not to introduce any animals captured in the wild. Instead, only animals descended from bearded vultures that are kept in numerous zoos and breeding stations as part of an international breeding programme are released.

After the first breeding successes in captivation, the first young bearded vultures could be released in Austria in 1986. A total of 212 young vultures have been released so far in Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland. The first successful brood in the wild was in 1997. Since then, 148 bearded vultures have flown off into nature. The total current population in the Alps is therefore estimated at over 200 birds.  In demographic terms the bearded vulture population in the Alps is growing, but genetic diversity is still very small. Further targeted releases are therefore being undertaken in the Alps to strengthen genetic diversity. Furthermore, releases in the Alpine foothills and the Massif Central in France are creating a corridor to connect bearded vulture populations in the Alps and the Pyrenees. Moreover, dangers to bearded vultures such as lead poisoning, poisoned bait traps and collisions with cable cars and electricity cables must be further minimised and prevented.

The "International Bearded Vulture Monitoring – Project"  collects all information and data about bearded vultures: observations, information about reproduction, GPS data, and individual genetic fingerprints. Over a dozen organisations are working together to reintroduce the bearded vulture. ALPARC has been an important partner from the beginning, guaranteeing the transboundary monitoring of the at first still small and sensitive bearded vulture population.  Overall the reintroduction of the bearded vulture is already a great success today, and that is only thanks to the very good and committed international cooperation between the breeding programme, the Alpine conservation areas and the Vulture Conservation Foundation.

Written by : VCF- Vulture Conservation Fundation

During the first test-edition of the “Youth at the Top” event on 16th July 2015, 370 young people between 7 and 28 years old from the Alps and 105 adults acting as accompaniers or contributors shared time together in 5 Alpine countries. (Read the complete article about the 2015 edition here )

We have collected  photos, videos, audio and in writing ….produced by the participants and have great pleasure in presenting to you this video which goes back over the highlights of this very successful first edition. Thank you to all who contributed!

More artwork and output can also be seen on the Internet site, after each of the 27 “event” files: http://www.youth-at-the-top.org/en/evenements
as well as in the many photo albums on the operation’s Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/YATevent

Feel free to share the 2015 video and rendezvous at the next edition of “Youth At The Top” on 12th July 2016 !

 We are pleased to provide you here a first list of events organized or co-organized by ALPARC and important dates to remember in 2016.

 Events of partners and other organizations:

Other events and meetings could still be programmed.

Don’t forget to check regularly the calendar of events at the website of Alparc.

You can also stream your own events on this site, under “Events of the Alpine protected areas" and “Other events in the Alps": for this, you have simply to provide us all useful information: info@alparc.org

The topic of the green economy in the Alpine region is at the heart of the 6th Report on the State of the Alps which is currently being drawn up within the framework of the German presidency of the Alpine Convention. Also within this framework a study has been carried out on how the implementation of the measures for Alpine connectivity contributes to the Green Economy in the Alps. Some initial results of this analysis were discussed in a workshop entitled “Jobs and Growth through Green Infrastructure”, organised by the European Commission’s Green Infrastructure working group at the latest GreenWeek in Brussels. In the coming months other measures selected from the catalogue of measures in favour of ecological connectivity in the Alps, together with examples of achievements from the pilot regions for connectivity, will be studied more in depth as regards their contribution to the local, regional and supra-regional economy and will be the subject of discussion in two international workshops.

For the promotion of the International Mountain Day 2015 – Friday 11 December, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention organize the "Reading Mountains"event. 

"Reading Mountains" is an initiative of the German Presidency of the Alpine Convention 2015-2016 . The idea is to initiate events dedicated to reading Alpine literature in various places around the Alps on International Mountain Day (11 December). The goal of the initiative is to promote modern Alpine literature and Alpine Culture which is an essential part of the Alps as we know them. Each organization participating in the initiative will choose the alpine literature for its event.

To participate in the event and to learn more about it, please visit  the website of the Alpine Convention at:

http://www.alpconv.org/fr/organization/presidency/DE2015/IMD/default.html

ALPARC supported in particular  the event organised in Chambery.  To discover all the interesting programme of this event please visit : http://www.chambery-tourisme.com/noesit/!/fiche/lire-les-montagnes-720902

We owe a lot of recognition to Larry Hamilton, who has written the newsletter of the Mountain Protected Areas Network for decades. After all his efforts to bring the community of mountain protected areas together on a global scale, the work will now be continued by Gill Anderson.

Many thanks to you, Larry, from the ALPARC network. You brought an enormous added value to our work by communicating it around the world and you brought us a deep insight into other networks and activities around the globe for the protection of nature. Friendships could be created thanks to this permanent communication and your dedication to nature, ours as well.

ALPARC wish all the best to Gill Anderson, the new editor.

Since 16th November 2015, following ratification by the 195 UNESCO member states, the Geoparks have officially been the bearers of the new “UNESCO Global Geoparks” label.

The “UNESCO Global Geoparks” label recognises the geological importance of a site, its holistic management and the value of exceptional geological landscapes. This new label officialises the close collaboration between UNESCO and the Geoparks which began in 2001.

The goal of the label is to highlight the geological heritage of a geographical area (landscapes and geological curiosities, former and current uses of the soil and the subsoil) while guaranteeing sustainable development of the area. The UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to foster public awareness of biodiversity, while at the same time supporting good practices in conservation, education and tourism.

Congratulations to all the parks having this new label! In the Alpine territory, several sites including some regional natural parks have been given recognition by the “UNESCO Global Geopark” label.

Below is the list of the Alpine Geoparks:

France:

-          Parc naturel régional des Bauges

-          Parc naturel régional du Luberon

-          Géoparc de Haute Provence

-          Géoparc Chablais

Italy:

-          Parco Naturale dell’Adamello Brenta

-          Geoparco del Sesia e Valgrande

Austria :

-          Naturpark Eisenwurzen

-          Geopark Karnische Alpen

-          Geopark Erz der Alpen

Slovenia :

-          Idrija Geopark

Austria/Slovenia :

-          Geopark Karavanken

Source:  

http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/global-geoparks/

http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/global-geoparks/global-geopark-infosheets/

ALPARC is strengthening its work along the lines of “regional development and quality of life”. Last October, within the framework of the Innovalps project, and in close collaboration with the national federations of natural parks of France, Austria and Switzerland, the network selected three pilot regions: the Tiroler Lech natural park in Austria, the Baronnies Provençales regional natural park in the South of France and the Pfyn-Finges regional natural park in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. All three are characterised by a strategy of integrated development and particularly innovative projects, yet their regions are structurally very different.

The InnovAlps project analyses and highlights innovative approaches to regional development in the Alpine protected areas and their regions. The aim of the project is to promote the exchange of experiences between the protected areas with respect to innovation and regional development and to develop recommendations for other regions. What form can innovation in the protected areas take? How can new ideas be developed? How can other players be motivated to cooperate? How can successful innovative approaches be perpetuated ? Answers to these questions are expected to result from working with the three pilot regions. ALPARC has been asked to run this project by FOEN, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment.

For more information: www.alparc.org/innovalps

 
Contact : dominik.cremer-schulte@alparc.org

In close collaboration with :                

A look back at the October Workshop held in the Berchtesgaden National Park /D.

In the framework of the 20th Anniversary of ALPARC, from 12th to 13th October 2015, representatives from the Alpine protected areas were invited to the Haus der Berge visitor center in the Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany) to take part in the workshop entitled “Alpine Protected Areas 2030 – A Shared Vision for the Future”.

 
The workshop enabled thirty or so participants from all the Alpine countries to share their vision of the issues they will have to face in the coming years, while at the same time reflecting on what are the priorities for international cooperation in the Alps and inside the ALPARC network.
Several priorities and new challenges emerged during the discussions which were led by Andreas Götz.  Among other considerations, the participants expressed an obvious need for the coming years: the Alpine protected areas must play a key role in communication and heightening awareness in order to (re) establish the link between Man and Nature.

Concerning the role of the ALPARC network, several priorities and wishes were raised. In the years to come, ALPARC must increasingly be a permanent platform of exchange between the protected areas, by mutualising and sharing skills, experiences and innovative practices. The ALPARC network must also be the true voice of the Alpine protected areas by bringing their interests and needs on the Alpine and European level. Various suggestions were made as to the tools to be used (continued organisation of thematic conferences, leading working groups, web platform, etc…).

One thing is sure: in the years to come, ALPARC must continue too be an active, living network, while keeping humans at the centre of its actions and concerns.

The fundamental concepts brought out at the workshop are in the process of being included in the ALPARC work strategy and in the new communication strategy. All the cited documents, together with the new communication strategy, will be presented officially at the ALPARC General Assembly on 22nd January, 2016.

The Workshop was held on the sidelines of the ALPARC Council, on 14th October 2015, and of the 59th meeting of the Permanent Committee of the Alpine Convention which was held on 15th and 16th October 2015.

The Conference “The decline of rural areas? Demographic changes in the Alps – presentation of the Fifth Report on the State of the Alps” will take place in Villach (Austria) on the 30th  November & 1st  December 2015.

Please see attachments for the detailed programm (available in English, German, Italian and Slovenian)