News
How do people perceive food products from European mountain regions?
The EuroMarc project looked at this very question from February 2007 to January 2010 and it has now published its findings. Ten teams carried out surveys among consumers, retailers and local initiatives in six European countries (France, Norway, Austria, Romania, Scotland and Slovenia).
Global warming increases frequency and extent of flood catastrophes in the Alps
In an article published in the magazine Geophysical Research Letters researchers at Italy's Politecnico University in Turin recently confirmed that more frequent and more extensive floods in mountain areas were one of the consequences of global warming.
Club Arc Alpin makes a stand on climate change, the expansion of fixed rope routes, and motorised offroad traffic
On September 12 the Club Arc Alpin (CAA) held its members' meeting in Innsbruck at which it formulated political demands on climate change and adopted a number of policy documents on fixed rope routes and motorised offroad traffic. On the subject of climate change the CAA called for a reduction in CO2 as well as a move away from a dependency on fossil sources of energy. It specifically addressed the issue of traffic, to which it suggested a number of measures.
New issue of the Eco.mont magazine
The latest issue of eco.mont - Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research is now available. It features scientific articles from European mountain regions and the Himalayas, with articles on amphibians, visitor monitoring, information management, resource utilisation, and the perception of biodiversity changes.
The construction industry as a key to the problem of climate change
The information provided through cc.alps is now available in the form of focussed background reports called Compacts, which can be downloaded from the CIPRA website at www.cipra.org/de/cc.alps/ergebnisse/compacts . The first three Compacts - on Energy, Nature Protection, and Construction and Refurbishment - address their subjects with reference to climate change in the Alpine context. The authors list and analyse activities relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, assessing them for sustainability, explaining the conflicts of interest involved, and presenting examples of good practice.
Extremes of climate affect spread of tree species
In a recently published study scientists at the WSL (the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape) working with an international research team demonstrated for the first time that the disappearance of tree species in certain regions is due not just to the higher mean temperature but also to extremes of climate-related events.
New alpMedia dossiers now online
The alpmedia dossiers on energy and nature conservation are now available in German and English on the CIPRA web. Besides a report the dossiers consist of more detailed information such as news items, publications, events and examples of best practice.
Catalogue of connectivity measures: new publication in English, French, German and Italian
The Continuum Project just published online a catalogue of possible measures for improving ecological connectivity in English, French, German and Italian language.
New ALPARC brochure available
"Large Carnivores in the Alps and Carpathians: Living with the Wildlife" is a recently published brochure containing the results of the conference on large carnivores held in Slovakia at the beginning of July.
New publication: Mountain Biodiversity and Climate Change
On the basis of papers presented at the International Mountain Biodiversity Conference held in Kathmandu/NP in November 2008, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has published a brochure on biodiversity in mountain landscapes and climate change.
11,000 invasive species in Europe
The first complete European report on the presence of invasive alien species of flora and fauna is now available for download at the DAISIE website. The DAISIE project was initiated by the European Commission to obtain an inventory and a documentation of the effects of immigrant species in Europe.
Special edition of the Mountain Forum Bulletin now online
The July edition of the Mountain Forum Bulletin, entitled "Mountain Biodiversity: Lifeline for the Future", is now available for download at www.mtnforum.org/rsmfnews.cfm?newsid=52 (en).
350 newly discovered species in the Himalayas
A flying frog and the world's smallest deer are among the species discovered in the Himalayas in the last ten years. According to a report recently published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), between 1998 and 2008, a total of 353 new species were identified.
cc.alps concentrates on raising awareness during the second half of 2009!
The Swiss MAVA Foundation for Nature is making further funding available to the CIPRA cc.alps Project in the second half of 2009.
Knowledge in a compact and understandable form
Cool heads and well considered strategies are required in these times of heated debate about climate measures.
The "Allgäu Moor Alliance" wins the German Government's Competition for Large-Scale Nature Conservation Projects
The winners of the German government's "idee.natur - Large-scale Nature Conservation Projects and Rural Development" competition were announced at the end of June 2009. Five regions came out on top with their concepts for new large-scale nature conservation projects. Over € 50 million will be invested in these regions over the next ten years. The "Allgäu Moor Alliance" was the winner in the Moors Category.
Dolomites named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
At its 33rd meeting held on 26th June 2009 in Seville, Spain the UNESCO World Heritage Committee approved the application from the Dolomites/I to be included in the list of "Natural World Heritage Sites of universal value" thus according it the highest worldwide status for a natural site.
eco.mont - new journal for research in protected areas
The first issue of the new journal "eco.mont - Journal of protected mountain areas research" has appeared.
II. Report on the State of the Alps feels the pulse of the Alpine watercourses
The Standing Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and an international group of experts under the joint chairmanship of Austria and Germany have compiled the 2nd Report on the State of the Alps focusing on "Water and Water Management Issues".
Further support for the Alpine ecological network
CIPRA, the Alpine network of protected areas, ISCAR and the WWF have been involved in the "Ecological Continuum" project for the establishment of an ecological network covering the entire Alpine region since 2007.
European Agro-Biodiversity Day
The European Agro-biodiversity Day (EAD) will take place on 29th September 2009 under the motto "Arca-Net - the European Ark Network".
New documentation on ecological networks in Europe
The KEN Projekt (Knowledge for ecological networks - Catalyzing the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of ecological networks in Europe), carried out by six project partners, came to an end.
Alps insight: Schengen for Flora and Fauna
CIPRA's Alps insight No. 90 (formerly CIPRA Info) "Schengen for Flora and Fauna" is devoted to the topic of biotope networking.
European Day of Parks 2009
The European Day of Parks is to take place on and around May 24, as it does every year.
"RiskPlan" facilitates risk management
The "RiskPlan" analysis software was developed by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Protection (FOCP) and presented as part of the AdaptAlp Project (Adaptation to Climate Change in the Alpine Space).
UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch wins TO DO! Award 2008
Every year since 1995 the Institute for Tourism and Development (Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung) stages its "TO DO!" competition for socially responsible tourism.
Results of the Workshop on Global Change Research in Mountainous Regions
A workshop on the global (climate) change and its impact on mountainous regions was held at the University of California Berkeley/US on 14 December 2008.
The Alpine Convention has no answer to climate change
At the 10th Alpine Conference held in Evian/F the Alpine states today debated a common approach to climate change. They were unable however to agree on a climate action plan for the Alpine region that is worthy of the name. Besides general formulations the climate action plan finally adopted by the Conference does contain a few concrete measures - thanks not least to pressure from CIPRA. However these measures are far too tentative to genuinely take climate protection in the Alps forward.
Latest update on ecological networks in the Alpine region
CIPRA has just expanded and updated its online dossier on "Relevant Instruments Relating to Ecological Networks in the Alpine Region".
Sylvia Hamberger awarded Bavaria's Nature Conservation Medal
On 12 March 2009 the German environmental organisation Bund Naturschutz awarded Bavaria's Nature Conservation Medal to Sylvia Hamberger in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the protection of the Alpine region.