News
Act now to protect forests: sign the #HandsOffNature petition!
More than 40 percent of the Alpine region is covered by forests. They are not only a defining feature of the landscape, but also a cornerstone of Alpine livelihood, providing building materials, supporting biodiversity, and delivering essential ecosystem services.
Milano-Cortina 2026: Fair play? Not a chance!
Artificial snow, traffic, concrete, fossil fuel sponsorship: numerous fouls were committed against nature before and during the 2026 Winter Olympics – and were also the subject of media coverage.
Survey on Intangible Alpine Cultural Heritage
The Italian Presidency of the Alpine Convention and the task force “Population and Culture” invite you to participate in a survey – the first step toward transalpine exchange on intangible Alpine heritage, particularly in the area of food culture.
Winter Olympics on shaky ground
Use as much concrete and steel as possible: that seems to be the sustainability strategy for the Winter Olympics in the Italian Alps. Mountain communities are particularly affected. The icing on the cake is the construction of a new cable car on a slippery slope in Cortina.
After the Games is before the Games
The French people were not involved in the planning of the 2030 Winter Olympics. Environmental organisations are mobilising for public participation and sustainable Games. Meanwhile, Switzerland is preparing its Olympic bid for 2038.
Point of view: Winter Games need to face reality
Major events promise modernity, revitalisation and global visibility. In the Alps, however, these promises are now being made in territories marked by the climate crisis, depopulation and, at the same time, growing tourist pressure. Looking closely at Milan-Cortina 2026, what emerges is not only a celebration of sport, but one of the largest public and infrastructure investment programmes ever concentrated in the Alpine area – with effects that are set to continue well beyond the time of the competitions, says Vanda Bonardo, president of CIPRA Italy.
Petition against oil companies in skiing
An oil giant as a premium partner: energy company ENI is sponsoring the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Athletes are now calling for a rethink in winter sports with the “Ski Fossil Free” petition.
Alps in Motion: new Alpine-wide Day of Action
The Alpine Fire is being reimagined. With Alps in Motion, CIPRA Switzerland and CIPRA International are launching an Alpine-wide Day of Action on 29 August 2026.
Experiencing the melting of glaciers
By 2100, only 12 per cent of today’s glaciers will remain in the Alps. In the webinar kicking off the Erasmus+ project “Young Glacier Voices”, glacier experts talked about the disappearing ice.
When nature loses, we all lose
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the safety of our homes – all depend on strong environmental laws. Right now, those protections are under attack. Once they’re gone, we hand the keys of our future to those who see nature only as a resource to exhaust. In the EU, environmental laws are being gutted, under the promise of “simplification” of the legal system. But in reality, these changes will only profit greed, while endangering the lives of all.
![[3 questions to … ] Francesca Pasetti Bombardella](https://www.alpeninbewegung.org/en/news/3-questions-to-francesca-pasetti-bombardella/@@images/image-600-93ddabd8343a686678bf11034747f4cf.jpeg "[3 questions to … ] Francesca Pasetti Bombardella")
[3 questions to … ] Francesca Pasetti Bombardella
2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) aimed at raising global awareness of the critical importance of rangelands and pastoralist communities, managed by FAO during the whole 2026. Francesca Pasetti Bombardella is co-chair of the Regional IYRP Support Group Europe.
Preserving the water ressource in the French Jura massif : using a holistic method to better share and adapt to climate change
Adaptation of pastoralism to climate change doesn’t only rely on the shoulders of shepherds and livestock farmers. To deal with climate change, it is important to have a global view, understand how stakes intertwine and think about the adaptation of an ecoregion as a whole - otherwise it cannot be sustainable. That’s what Olivier Erard demonstrates within a project led by the Community of Agglomeration of the Pays de Gex and the National Natural Reserve of the High Jura’s mountains range, which objective was to work on the preservation of the water ressource while answering the needs of pastoral farmers.
Generational change at CIPRA International
After seven eventful years at the helm of CIPRA International, Kaspar Schuler is taking well-deserved retirement. His former deputy, Jakob Dietachmair, takes over as Executive Director, while Magdalena Holzer becomes the new Deputy Director. There are also changes at CIPRA Austria: Paul Kuncio is moving to CIPRA International as Policy Officer.
Challenges and opportunities of long-distance hiking
What role does long-distance hiking play and how has it changed over the years? On 11 December 2025, International Mountain Day, CIPRA explored these questions with a panel discussion and film screening in Liechtenstein.
Open letter: Protecting the Alps from excessive transit traffic
The Alpine region is under increasing pressure from the climate crisis, air pollution and ever-growing traffic volumes: 67 organisations, led by CIPRA International, have therefore sent an open letter to EU Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the transport ministers of the Alpine countries.
To learn more about local governance & quality of life in the Alps, to simply take part in the discussion, or to share your community's example ... Join us!
The Interreg Alpine Space project GOVQoL - Empowering local governance of Alpine communities for a better quality of life is pleased to invite you to a series of online seminars we will be organising in February and March 2026!
H2Opportunities: Working together for a sustainable future for Alpine water
Water is one of our most precious resources – and it is increasingly threatened by the climate crisis. The new CIPRA project “H2Opportunities” aims to share knowledge and initiate a dialogue on fair water management in the Alps.
Podcast series: People talk about the Via Alpina
A Belgian trail runner, a French filmmaker, a Swiss researcher and a mountain hut warden from Piedmont: a multilingual podcast series gives a voice to different people along the Via Alpina.
Point of view: Every drop counts
Discussing, eating and laughing together, forging ideas, identifying problems, discovering projects and meeting inspiring people: commitment is contagious, according to Anna Mehrmann and Maya Mathias from CIPRA International, who organised the second Liechtenstein Future Forum Alps on the topic of water in 2025.
Learning from a region that spans four countries
From the Carpathians to the Alps: in mid-September 2025, partners in the Central Mountains project visited Feldkirch/A. The focus was on cross-border cooperation in tourism, spatial planning and youth participation.
Furthering the cross-border restoration of nature
A workshop organised by the Alpine Convention has initiated concrete steps for cross-border nature restoration. The aim is to define common priorities across national borders.
Rethinking our mountains
Images from a youth retreat in the Alps: A summer weekend in an alpine hostel, ideas, thoughts, and plans arise around the glowing ashes of a campfire. Members of the CIPRA Youth Council meet in person in Imst-Pitztal to envision a better future for their beloved mountains.
A journey to the heart of the glaciers
The Glacier Caravan 2025 visited eight icy giants in Italy, Switzerland and Germany, calling for concrete action on climate change. The international campaign is backed by Legambiente, CIPRA Italy and the Italian Glaciological Committee.
Going underground? One tunnel breakthrough, numerous question marks
On 18 September 2025, politicians from Austria and Italy celebrated the breakthrough of the Brenner Base Tunnel between Austria and Italy. They dream of “smooth traffic” through and over the Alps – but many questions remain unanswered.
Winter sports reach a tipping point
Hydrologist Carmen de Jong warns of the ecological consequences of Alpine ski tourism. Her research shows that, without a rethink, the industry is heading for its demise.
The sound collector
Equipped with a microphone and a keen ear, Ludwig Berger explores the sounds of landscapes. This sound artist makes the climate crisis audible and opens up fascinating impressions, entering hidden sound worlds of the living and the transient.
Making biodiversity visible
Mountains and sustainability: in mid-September, researchers from around the world gathered in Innsbruck for the International Mountain Conference (IMC). CIPRA Lab presented its AlpsLife biodiversity project to the conference.
Renewable energies: Alpine Convention becomes decisive
The EU wishes to accelerate the expansion of renewable energies. In the Alps, however, this must not come at the expense of sensitive natural areas. CIPRA International has now achieved two important clarifications through legal action: as a treaty under international law, the Alpine Convention takes precedence over secondary European Union law – that is, EU regulations and EU directives; consequently, its provisions must also be complied with when implementing the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
International Mountain Camp in the French Alps
Nestled in the breathtaking landscape surrounding majestic Mont Blanc, an unforgettable international summer camp brought together young people from Liechtenstein, France, Italy, Switzerland, and Slovenia. More than just a hike through alpine trails, the camp was a celebration of connection, discovery, and real inclusion.
My Travel Diary - Walking. Thinking. Feeling. Sharing.
Your travel diary for slow travel