From 27–29 April 2026, the second meeting of the ALPARC CENTR’ALPS event series “Networking Nature Conservation” took place at the Naturpark Nagelfluhkette in Immenstadt (Germany), focusing on the topics of digital tools and biodiversity monitoring. Experts from German-speaking protected areas in Germany, Austria and Switzerland participated in the meeting.
The project “Networking Nature Conservation” is funded through an association support programme with the aim of strengthening the work of protected areas, intensifying cooperation among them and improving ecological connectivity. A central element of the project consists of exchange events for experts from protected areas, enabling them to share experiences, discuss common challenges and further develop new findings in a practical way.
The thematic focus of the meeting was the intersection of monitoring and digital tools and therefore the question: What is being monitored in protected areas and how?
During the meeting, it became clear that alpine protected areas face similar challenges despite differing framework conditions. Comprehensive biodiversity monitoring is resource-intensive and requires suitable technical infrastructure (traps, sensors, cameras, GIS, etc.), qualified staff and digital tools for efficient implementation.
A highly heterogeneous picture emerged between the different types of protected areas. While national parks generally have the resources to carry out comprehensive monitoring with the corresponding infrastructure, for example for standardized trapping methods, nature parks often have to focus their resources and staff on selected species. ALPARC presented the current AlpsLife project, which aims to develop a common system to represent the state of biodiversity across the Alps on a transboundary scale.
Another approach currently being developed jointly across protected areas is the socio-ecological monitoring system established by five nature parks in Bavaria and Austria. The aim is to monitor landscapes and habitats and to document landscape changes over the long term.
In addition to the technical presentations, workshop sessions were used to develop ideas for future cooperation and concrete collaboration opportunities. The open exchange contributed significantly to mutual learning and to developing shared perspectives for the continuation of the project work.
We would like to thank all committed participants as well as the hosts from the Naturpark, Nagelfluhkette who made the meeting both professionally and organizationally a highly interesting and productive event.
The third meeting of the event series, focusing on the topics “Cooperation with Agriculture” and “Visitor Management”, is scheduled for 15 - 18 September 2026 and will take place at Hohe Tauern National Park. The relevant information documents will again be published in advance on our website.
The project “Naturschutz vernetzt” is funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with financial support from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
© Image: Rolf Eberhardt – Nagelfluhkette Nature Park