ALPARC and the Alpine Convention



		The Alpine Convention , signed in 1991, is a framework agreement for the long-term protection of the alpine natural ecosystem and for a sustainable development of the Alpine region.
The Alpine Convention was ratified by the European Union and the 8 alpine States : Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Monaco.

The network ALPARC, a contribution to the Alpine Convention

The activities of ALPARC are firmly enshrined in the framework of the Alpine Convention and its accompanying implementing protocols. They are defined by the International Steering Committee , which is made up of representatives of protected areas in all the Alpine countries, and approved by the Permanent Committee of the Alpine Convention.

ALPARC works closely with the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention on all activities related to protected species, through the Task Force Protected Areas . Its main task is based on Article 12 of the protocol "Nature conservation and the landscape management" of the Alpine Convention:

Article 12 :

“The contracting parties take adequate measures to establish a network of existing national and transboundary protected areas, of biotopes and other protected elements or those to be protected. They commit themselves to harmonize the objectives and applicable measures in transboundary protected areas.”

The aim of this protocol is to strengthen the environmental protection, especially regarding species, biotopes and landscapes. Thus, it is necessary to harmonize the measures of conservation within the whole alpine space.

Presidency of the Alpine Convention in 2011/2012: Switzerland

The Alpine Convention has:

Mr. Marco Onida is the General Secretary of the Alpine Convention since 2007.

Mrs Regula Imhof is the Vice-General Secretary of the Alpine Convention since 2007.

To learn more, visit the Homepage of the Alpine Convention: www.alpconv.org