Articles
Dialogue on Alpine Spatial Planning: Proceedings of the CIPRA Annual Conference 2025
How can Alpine Spatial Planning mitigate conflicts between the energy transition and nature restoration? This question was addressed at the CIPRA Annual Conference 2025 in Salzburg, which brought together more than 160 participants. The proceedings show key insights and recommended actions – not in a concluding way, but as part of an ongoing learning process and as an impulse for further debates. They underline the shared understanding that the energy transition in the Alpine region must be approached and implemented in a cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, and transboundary manner.
Inclusive youth camp in the Dolomites
Opening alpine horizons for young people with fewer opportunities: As the school year came to an end and most students set aside their academic responsibilities, a group of nine young people embarked on a unique adventure as part of the Via Alpina Youth project. Accompanied by a mountain guide and educators with a deep passion for the outdoors, we set off into the majestic Dolomites.
A journey through the endangered ice world of the Alps
The glaciers of the Alps are melting silently and inexorably. Since 2019, the “Glacier Caravan” has been making this loss visible, documenting the dramatic consequences of the climate crisis and calling for action. A guest article by Vanda Bonardo, President of CIPRA Italy and Head of Legambiente in the Italian Alps.
When mountains break away: living with danger
The collapse of the Birch glacier in the Swiss canton of Valais at the end of May 2025 buried a mountain village beneath it. What solutions are there for dealing with such devastating natural events in the Alpine region?
Green instead of white: the new face of glaciers
The melting of glaciers is creating new habitats: glacier forefields. According to a recent study in Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park, both vegetation cover and biodiversity are increasing on glacier forefields. However, species that are specialised for cold conditions are at risk.
Controversial dams
New dams for electricity and water supply are being planned across the Alpine region. Environmental organisations are warning of irreversible damage to the Alpine environment and calling for a rethink in favour of nature-friendly alternatives.
When research aids biodiversity
Researching and strengthening natural diversity across the Alps: with this goal in mind, the Interreg project AlpsLife brought together science, practice and politics in summer 2025 – in the Swiss National Park and at the meeting of the Alpine Biodiversity Board of the Alpine Convention in Liechtenstein.
Responsible bivouacking
Bivouacking is becoming increasingly popular, but spending the night outdoors can be problematic, especially in sensitive Alpine regions. A new, free handbook from CIPRA provides guidance on environmentally friendly behaviour along the Via Alpina.
Point of view: Climate protection requires clear legislation!
Glacier melt, disappearing permafrost, more frequent rockfalls and mudslides: temperatures in the Alpine region are rising faster than the global average – with dramatic consequences for nature and people. That is why decisive climate protection laws are now needed at regional and national level, demands Elisabeth Ladinser, chair of the South Tyrolean Umbrella Organisation for Nature and Environmental Protection and president of CIPRA South Tyrol.
Climate crisis: solutions from nature
A recent report with CIPRA involvement shows how nature-based solutions can help to tackle the climate crisis across the Alps.
A heat record for June at 5,000 metres
For the first time ever, above-freezing temperatures in June were recorded at over 5,000 metres in the Alps – a new heat record with symbolic significance. At the same time, the new climate report for Austria confirms that the Alpine region is particularly affected by climate change.
Alpine water: who gets the last drop?
Climate change, increasing soil sealing and pollution are all threats to water in the Alps. At the second Liechtenstein FutureForum Alps in Schaan, held at the end of June 2025, around 160 participants from various Alpine countries discussed the future of the water supply.
Innovation to counter emigration
Emigration and the brain drain in the Alpine region: a new EU project involving CIPRA aims to counteract this trend. It is testing innovative governance models to strengthen mountain regions and create a win-win situation for regions of origin, destinations and young emigrants.
Good prospects for bearded vultures
Once extinct, now once again native to the Alps: the reintroduction of bearded vultures to the Alpine region has been successful and the population is growing, as a recent study from Switzerland shows. The greatest threat to these birds of prey remains humans.
Keeping our eyes on the stars
Dark nights have become a rarity in our bright world. Artificial light from settlements, industry, street lighting and billboards illuminates the night sky. In Austria, a new natural night sky area is being created that will preserve the view of the starry sky.
Fréjus: end of the road for the “Alpine motorway on rails”
After an 18-month closure caused by a landslide, the beginning of April 2025 saw the first passenger trains once more running through the Fréjus railway tunnel connecting Italy and France. The transport of trucks on freight trains has not been resumed, however.
Point of view: Holidays have a lasting impact
Holidays mean time out, a change of scenery, relaxation. But where and how we spend our holidays doesn’t just affect us; it also has an impact on other people, regions, the climate and nature. Magdalena Holzer, project manager at CIPRA International, is convinced that travelling is a decision that brings with it with great responsibility.
Creative spaces for change
Inspire and empower: culture plays an essential role in the transition to an environmentally and socially just society. The second international meeting of the Erasmus+ project CultureAlps in Rovereto, Italy, at the end of March showed exactly what this can look like.
Climate risks: better to prepare than to wait
Early warning systems for heavy rainfall, prediction models for droughts: the MultiBios project, completed in April 2025, saw biosphere parks from German-speaking countries sharing their experiences in dealing with climate risks. A research team investigated their role in natural hazard management.
Voices along the Via Alpina
The Via Alpina has been connecting people, cultures and landscapes across the Alps for 25 years now. A multilingual podcast series tells its story, highlights the challenges and opportunities of long-distance hiking and raises awareness of sustainable tourism in the Alps.
Working together for the future of the Alps
On the 22nd of January the Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention hosted the Alpine Conference in Brdo/SI. A central theme was the quality of life in the Alpine region, which is also the subject of the tenth Report on the State of the Alps.
YOALIN wins climate competition
CIPRA’s project received the Clima Now Foundation’s Spotlight Prize, worth CHF 50,000. YOALIN is committed to climate-friendly travel.
Visiting “Utopias” all over the Alps
In 2024, the Via Alpina Youth project inspired young people across the Alps for social, cultural and everyday utopias of sustainability – but above all for shared adventures in the mountains.
Too much water, too little water: excursion to the Vienna Woods
How do drones detect illegal campfires? How do settlements protect themselves from the next flood? What do forest fires have in common with avalanches? At the end of November 2024, an excursion to the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve by participants in the MultiBios project looked for answers.
Point of view: Let’s plan the energy transition and restoration together!
Alpine spatial planning can help to resolve the contradictions between restoration and the expansion of renewable energy. This requires joint efforts involving the interests of the population and environmental organisations, says Paul Kuncio, Executive Director of CIPRA Austria.
Sporting commemoration of a ranger
The 29th edition of the “Danilo Re Memorial” took place from 16 to 19 January 2025 in Scuol in the Swiss National Park. This year, for the first time, CIPRA took part in the international meeting of representatives of Alpine protected areas and organisations.
Microplastics in the Alps
Plastic pollution continues to threaten our health and our most precious landscapes. The latest findings show that microplastics can even be found on the highest Alpine peaks.
Italy to chair Alpine Convention in 2025
Italy is preparing to chair the Alpine Convention for the period 2025-2026, while Liechtenstein and Austria will co-chair the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) in 2025. Sustainability and cross-border cooperation are the focus of both initiatives.
An end to snowmobiles and heliskiing
In France, snowmobile tours are now officially banned in the Chamrousse ski resort; other areas could soon follow suit. In Austria, environmental organisations are calling for an end to heliskiing.
Alarming findings of the Glacier Caravan 2024
Italy's Alpine glaciers are disappearing at a disturbing rate: this is the alarming finding of the Glacier Caravan 2024, organised by the environmental organisation Legambiente in collaboration with CIPRA Italy and the Italian Glaciological Committee.