Today the effects of climate change are also obvious in the protected areas and the phenomenon is accelerated in the Alps compared to other European regions.

The alpine ecological network will have to play an important role in the years to come. The global warming of the planet entails important changes for species and habitats with a real risk of biodiversity loss.

2008 was a very important year for ecological networks in the Alps. Here is a brief overview of everything that has been done.

Dear colleagues and friends, 2009 has been a fruitful year, abounding in discussions, projects and ideas on how to strengthen international cooperation among the Alpine protected areas. The International Year of Biodiversity 2010 will be an opportunity to develop cooperation between protected area managers

The international conference « Alpine Ecological Network: a response to climate change that will preserve biodiversity? » was held on 15th and 16th October 2009 in Berchtesgaden, Germany.
This event, organised by the Berchtesgaden National Park and the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, brought together 110 administrators of Alpine protected areas, international researchers, research institutes, academics etc.…

ECONNECT is a project of the European ETC « Alpine Space » programme. It aims at the enhancement of ecological connectivity in the Alpine Space by overcoming physical and juridical barriers.

A new tool available in the ALPARC Resource-Library: The Continuum Project just published online a catalogue of possible measures for improving ecological connectivity in English, French, German and Italian language.

The first meetings of the pilot regions took place during 2009 with already encouraging results concerning the definition of data needs, the importance linked to legal aspects and the choice of species within the ecological network.