Das Netzwerk Alpiner Schutzgebiete
The Interreg Alpine Space “OpenSpaceAlps” project and the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL) have joined forces in order to build a new network, based on the idea that especially approaches to open space planning should be developed and implemented across borders. The “AlpPlan” alpine spatial planning network aims to provide spatial and sectoral planning professionals, experts and decision-makers from all Alpine Space countries and regions with a platform for the transnational knowledge exchange of good practices and future solutions for sustainable land-use and spatial planning. The AlpPlan network will work in close cooperation with stakeholders among the existing transnational alpine cooperation framework, such as EUSALP and the Alpine Convention.
The planned activities of the AlpPlan network include:
- annual conferences, which deal with current topics of alpine spatial development
- workshops targeted at specific topics (e.g. international capacity building seminar for young professionals, scholars and advanced students on alpine open spaces)
- elaboration, negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in alpine spatial planning
Further information on:
https://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/openspacealps/en/pilot-cases-and-participatory-activities/alpplan-network/about_alpplan
Sustainable development of alpine open spaces by enhancing spatial planning governance.
The Project aim is to foster sustainable development of Alpine Space by maintaining open spaces as part of alpine Green Infrastructure through an interlinked, multi-level transnational spatial governance considering integration of ecosystems functions and needs into policies.
ALPARC is a project partner and is responsible for the coordination of the Alpswide strategy and governance planning. After the elaboration of a summary of results and relevant data from former EU projects with a focus on Open Spaces, a work over the Alpswide cartographic representation of Open Spaces has started.
The test phase for the mapping has been focused on the exchange through two workshops over the procedure to follow at the data processing, the research of data sources to identify some infrastructure categories and their classification and differential treatment according to their level of spatial disturbance, this data is being compared and analysed with some of the results from former projects such as ALPBIONET2030 and the JECAMI tool. This process aims to represent the zoning of open spaces in the Alps and to identify the potential open spaces to be conserved
Lessons learnt from the Alpine Space project HEALPS2 and the partners’ networks.
On December 9th, more than eighty people participated at the second transnational stakeholder workshop of the project HEALPS2 to learn about innovative approaches for sustainable lifestyles in the Alps. The exchange was organised online in the framework of the Alpine Week Intermezzo 2020.
The potential of peripheral regions and protected areas for using natural resources is still a treasure waiting to be revealed. Valorising natural resources and integrating them into sustainable local economic value chains is a major challenge for regional developers, municipalities and other local stakeholders. Hence, the guiding question of the workshop was how can we bring together healthy living, sustainable resource use and new job opportunities in the different Alpine territories?
In this sense, Stéphane Adam from the French Federation of Nature Parks explained the success story of “Valeurs Parcs” a trademark which labels products and services coming from the park region and fulfilling specific criteria on ecological and social standards. Daniela Bredow from Nature Park Nagelfluhkette, the first transnational park between Germany, provided valuable insights on the park’s cooperation networks in the accommodation and food sector. Special attention was paid to the local beef production initiative “Naturpark Vollmilchkalb” which was founded by three mayors particularly interested in sustainable agriculture and landscape management.
Beatrice Demeglio from the Nature Park Aree Protette dell’Ossola in Italy presented the project Sociaalp which aims at relaunching the agricultural sector in the very remote zones of the region. At the heart of this project stays an agricultural network of producers, cooperatives and local institutions which aims at valorising customs and traditions such as terrace cultivation and the breeding of old cereal varieties. Moreover, the project is a unique opportunity to create jobs for socially marginalized people. As climate change is an urgent issue in the Alps, Julia Plattner, member of the Association Wanderers for a Changing World gave a talk on the project Climate Walk where several young people want to combine research, education and media-art across Europe to understand regional experiences of Climate Change.
These project approaches were complemented by an input of Dr. med. Elisabeth Gaus which added precious findings on the health impact of natural resources and especially physical activity outside. According to Dr. Gaus, movement in nature is not only the basis for our wellbeing but also for our physical and mental health. Moving outside not only improves the cardiovascular system and increases the oxygen supply in the body - it can also improve depressive moods and contribute to a healthy sense of well-being. Indeed, several scientific studies confirm that exercising outside in nature is very likely the best medicine to prevent diseases.
Though the workshop was organized online, innovative methods allowed for an interactive participatory exchange of the participants: two groups analysed the potential of internal and external success factors for the development of health tourism strategies; another group worked on youth perspectives and engagement aiming at involving young peoples’ wishes and needs for the Alpine region in order to stay or come back. And still another group prepared an outlook on the future scenario of health tourism in the Alps.
The workshop results are published on our project website and Facebook.
Stay tuned!
Website: www.alpine-space.eu/healps2
Facebook: @Healps2
HEALPS2 is an Interreg Alpine Space project co-financed by the European Union via the European Development Fund and the New Regional Policy in Switzerland.
Education for sustainable development plays a key role in protected areas: Children, young people, and adults are informed, sensitized and mobilized by numerous educational activities. As part of the working group led by ALPARC, a first online exchange was organized last November. The aim of the workshop was to present the innovative approaches taken by the staff responsible for educational activities despite this year's strict health regulations.
The Nature Park Nagelfluhkette presented the park's digital nature school concept. Via short videos made by the park rangers themselves this additional tool enables the park to maintain contact with schools and teachers. The National Park Kalkalpen presented its approach on organizing activities by applying health recommendations, which allowed to continue offering educational activities and guided field trips, but also to promote the central aspect of participation. The National Park Berchtesgaden took advantage of the period of restrictions to test a "mobile education” concept, with the installation of different theme stands in different areas of the park according to visitor flows. In addition, the annual "Youth at the Top" event organized by the ALPARC working group took place this year despite the unfavorable conditions and was a great success among the young participants. These examples show that many creative ways of implementing educational activities have been found and remote and on-site activities have taken place all over the Alpine arc.
ALPARC, on behalf of the French Presidencies of the Alpine Convention and EUSALP and in cooperation with UNEP and the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention, organised a worldwide conference on "Mountain Biodiversity" which, virtually, took place on 13 January 2021 with up to 350 participants from many countries around the world.
Global biodiversity in the mountains has been analyzed from various angles, as the situation of biodiversity in the Alps with a focus on ecological connectivity.
In its recent workshop on biodiversity (December 2020), the ALPARC working group adopted a major focus on the following topics:
- Facilitating habitat- and species monitoring projects in alpine protected areas.
- Impact of tourism and new outdoor trend sports on biodiversity.
- In the field of communication, ALPARC will inform about the link between biodiversity, intact habitats and health, in particular in the context of the current pandemic.
Within the framework of the Alpine Convention, ALPARC intend to support efforts to foster the implementation of the provisions of the Protocol on Nature Conservation and Landscape Conservation and will develop strategic and policy recommendations for greater efficiency of the System of Alpine Protected Areas for Biodiversity.
Throughout several Alpine and Carpathian protected areas and natural sites, young people explored nature, shared a physical, human, cultural and artistic experience in the mountains. The event took place from July 16th to September 30th, 2020.
The common theme for the 6th edition of Youth at the Top event was 'Alpine Fauna and Climate Change'.
For more information: https://www.youth-at-the-top.org/
The ninth General Assembly of ALPARC - the Alpine Network of Protected Areas will take place online at the 22nd of January 2021.
The Agenda will be sent to the ALPARC's members in december.
We are sad to announce the cancellation of the 26th Edition of the “Danilo Re Memorial” initially planned from Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th of January 2021 in Parc national des Ecrins
( France) due to the Covid Pandemic.
After important consultation and exchanges within the ALPARC Board, the Danilo Re Steering Group and the Ecrins National Park regarding the current evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been decided to shift the Memorial Danilo Re, scheduled in Les Ecrins National Park to 2023 as the event 2022 has already been planned in the Swiss Binntal Park.
We regret that the situation doesn’t allow to organise this unique event bringing staff from all the alpine protected areas together during this winter.
Independently, the ALPARC general Assembly will take place online the 22nd of January 2021 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. ALPARC members will receive further information about the procedure during the next weeks.
With their rich biodiversity and vital ecosystems, mountains play a key role for the well-being of people worldwide and for the protection of biodiversity on a global scale. However, these precious environments are strongly exposed to climate change, pollution and land use changes that threaten their flora and fauna as well as local mountain communities. Effective tools and mechanisms are needed to protect mountain biodiversity. Mountain regions can offer multiple approaches for adaptation and sustainable responses to climate change that strengthen the resilience of wildlife and people. The Alpine and Carpathian Convention, as the two mountain conventions, can provide valuable insights into interregional coordination and can give incentives to join forces in protecting precious mountain environments.
MOUNTAIN BIODIVERSITY DAY
One voice to protect Mountains, Wildlife and People in times of global change
13 January 2021
INTERACTIVE ONLINE EVENT
9 AM – 5:30 PM (CET)
The one-day event offers a platform for discussions between experts and representatives from mountain regions all over the world, working in the field of biodiversity, with a strong focus on mountains. The main goal is to share experiences, identify shared challenges and showcase best-practice examples and solutions from various regional perspectives. As an outcome of the event, a Joint message on the importance of protecting global mountain biodiversity will be developed to be then taken forward to major global events such as the IUCN World Conservation Congress and the COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The different perspectives will be covered during three successive segments:
1.Global mountains (thematic sessions on key biodiversity areas in mountain regions, global drivers for loss of mountain biodiversity and tools for conservation)
2. High level segment on mountains in the Post-2020 process (with CBD focal points and representatives of the Alpine and Carpathian Conventions)
3. Alps (thematic sessions on current threats to biodiversity in the Alps and strategies to protect biodiversity for future generations
Discover the programme here.
The full programme (speakers included) is available here
This event will be in English and translated into German, Italian, French and Slovenian.
The Mountain Biodiversity Day is hosted by the outgoing French Presidency of the Alpine Convention in cooperation with the French Presidency of the EU-Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP). The event is jointly coordinated by the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Covid-19 pandemic led to several changes in the protected areas’ visitor flows from what we had expected at the beginning of the year. A significant reduction of the outdoor activities during the lockdown period was followed by a rising demand for nature-based tourism in the summer season. The alpine protected areas had to adapt to these changes, particularly by increasing awareness raising actions on correct behaviour in the mountains. We will discuss these elements and further aspects during the workshop, and we will especially focus on the communication campaign on outdoor winter tourism “Be Part of the Mountain”. The workshop will be an opportunity to exchange with different committed organisations and actors about specific experiences and needs for the future of sustainable tourism in Alpine protected areas.
Date: December 14th 2020
Time: 10:00 to 12:00.
The agenda is available for download below.
Registration: please click here
The link for the online event will be sent out to all registered participants a few days in advance. We will use the Zoom platform.
We are very glad to invite you to the online workshop "Health – Work – Life! Ideas for sustainable lifestyles in the Alps. Lessons learnt from the Interreg Alpine Space project HEALPS2 or how a health tourism strategy can contribute to improving living and working conditions in the Alps."
Our precious Alps are under growing pressure: the impact of climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable socio-economic patterns call for new approaches in creating sustainable job opportunities and lifestyles. Hence, the sustainable valorisation of natural resources is a crucial element for building healthy job opportunities in line with the natural constraints of our sensitive ecosystems.
In this context, protected areas can play a major role in serving as model regions for developing sustainable economic activity. Stéphane Adam from the National Federation of Nature Parks in France will provide insights on the success of the French Label “Valeurs Parc” and how nature parks allow for flourishing local development in remote regions. Moreover, Beatrice Demeglio from the Italian nature park Aree Protette dell’Ossola will share key findings from the project SOCIAALP, aiming at favoring sustainable practices in tourism and agriculture.
Do you want to know more about this? Have a look at the program!
Date: 09.12.2020, 14:00-18:00 via ZOOM
Registration: please click HERE
The link for the meeting will be sent out to all registered participants a few days in advance.
Organization: Community Network “Alliance in the Alps”, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, ALPARC and the partners of the Interreg Alpine Space HEALPS2 project
HEALPS2 is co-financed by the Interreg Alpine Space program 2014-2020 through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
