The next General Assembly of the network ALPARC will take place on September, 7th 2012 in Valposchiavo (CH). This day will be a very special one for the network, because on this occasion, the ALPARC Association will be created.

It is one step that allows ALPARC to structure and close cooperation and legally binding to the Alpine Convention and still to maintain a strong self-reliance as a club. This step is the increasing number of projects and requests of protected areas can be coordinated more effectively. The only currently known solution of such a large "community" as the network it represents a legal status is to announce the founding of an association.

The new strategy will allow ALPARC to get a new legal basis and to obtain, despite the strong cooperation and connection to the Alpine convention, a strong self-reliance as an association. With this step the increasing number of projects and requests of the Alpine protected areas can be coordinated more effective. The only known solution for such a large network to receive a legal status is to announce the founding of an association.
For further information about the creation of the ALPARC association, please take a look at the special edition of the Newsletter .

On the occation of the inaugural meeting and the general assembly of the network there will be also the opportunity for all the stakeholders to discuss the main topical focus points of ALPARC and to develop joint ALPARC projects. It is essential that we strengthen this newly established association together.

The participation of the various Alpine protected areas is indispensable, especially for the following various tasks:

• to lobby local and regional political decision makers;
• to disseminate information in the relevant regions, cantons and states concerning the collaborative efforts that the protected areas have been engaged in over the past 16 years, and the fruits these efforts have borne;
• doing PR concerning the importance of protected areas for the entire Alpine region and the role that each of the various protected areas play in the network;
• and finally to help finding funding sources for joint projects and events.

The General Assembly of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas takes part in the program of the 3rd Alpine Week, which will be held from the 5th to the 8th of September 2012 in Valposchiavo (CH).