Projects
Responsible management of mountain water resources
Mountain regions constitute a unique yet fragile natural environment that provides habitat for numerous rare and endemic species. Their biodiversity is rich, yet highly vulnerable. These areas host a variety of aquatic ecosystems—rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and peat bogs — which have very limited self-purification capacity and are extremely sensitive to change. Their condition is directly affected by climate change and human activities.
Alpine Changemaker Network
How can we advance eco-social transformation in the Alpine region? The Alpine Changemaker Network project combines Alpine traditions, as reflected in contemporary art, culture and design, with current approaches to overcoming global crises.
Heating of buildings and air quality 2.0
The project represents a continuation of efforts to reduce air pollution resulting from improper combustion in individual furnaces. Particular attention is paid to the use of outdated wood biomass combustion devices, which contribute significantly to emissions of particles that are harmful to health.
H2Opportunities
Water is one of our most precious resources and is under serious threat from the climate crisis. The project “H2Opportunities – Opening dialogues on a sustainable Alpine water future” shares knowledge and encourages discussion about fair water management.
Young Glacier Voices
The glaciers in the Alps are melting at an ever-increasing rate. The Erasmus+ project “Young Glacier Voices” is making the consequences of the climate crisis tangible and encouraging young people to use their voices to call for more climate protection.
MultiBios
[Project completed] In addition to well-known natural hazards such as mudslides and floods, heatwaves and droughts are increasingly affecting the Alpine region. The international project MultiBios is working together with biosphere parks to explore how affected communities and regions can better prepare for multiple climate risks.
Caretaker Tourism
The Alpine Climate Board (ACB) is a body of the Alpine Convention that is committed to climate-neutral and climate-resilient Alps by 2050, with the “Tourism” pathway also in this sector. Within the framework of “Caretaker Tourism”, certain organizations and individuals assume responsibility for developing climate-friendly and sustainable tourism strategies.
OUT4INGOV: Shaping youth migration
The emigration of young people poses major challenges for many Alpine regions. The OUT4INGOV project is working with local organisations to develop innovative approaches to better manage youth migration and raise awareness of the issue in society.
GOVQoL – Empowering Alpine communities to improve their quality of life
Alpine communities’ quality of life (QoL) is currently facing several challenges such as the depopulation of remote areas, reduced provision of services of general interest, the impacts of climate change, and mistrust of governance. These issues are not only reshaping the Alpine territories but also impacting the daily lives of its inhabitants. Despite the urgent need for responsive and inclusive governance, there is currently a significant gap in understanding and addressing QoL at the local level which our project aims to address.
Yoalin (Youth Alpine Interrail)
Since 2018, 100 to 150 people aged between 18 and 27 were invited to apply for a Yoalin ticket every year. Equipped with an Interrail Global Pass, they are able to discover the Alps in a climate-friendly way using public transport. They also become part of the active community, which is constantly growing.
FutureForum Alps Liechtenstein
The FutureForum Alps is a series of events on various topics in the field of sustainability in the Alpine region.
Climate Bridges network in action
New momentum for climate protection and cooperation in the Western Balkans: the “Climate Bridges Network in Action” project is launching an action plan to revitalise the newly established Western Balkans network. Together with local organisations, the project partners are developing a wide range of measures for both the environment and the climate.
CultureAlps
When art and culture give climate protection a fresh lick of paint: the Erasmus+ project “CultureAlps: connect, share, act!” opens up new ways of climate communication and collaboration.
LiveAlpsNature
The LiveAlpsNature project contributes to the preservation of biodiversity in Alpine protected areas, which are increasingly being used for nature and health tourism. To this end, the project team is developing new visitor guidance concepts and leisure activities and integrating them into digital platforms.
AlpsLife – observe globally, act locally
The successful protection of biodiversity in the Alps is only sustainable through Alpine-wide monitoring and management. This is the aim of the AlpsLife project.
Climate-friendly streetscapes
Whether travelling by car, public transport, bicycle or on foot, roads and their immediate surroundings are probably the most important part of our daily journeys. Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, they can become a problem because they increase the heat island effect and seal the ground. The project, based in the Alpine Rhine Valley, aims to make road spaces fair, climate-friendly and health-promoting.
Nature-based solutions and their governance structures in the Alpine region
In view of the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) is becoming increasingly important. On behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency, ifuplan (lead) and CIPRA International are preparing a report on “Nature-based solutions and governance structures in the Alpine region”. The aim of the report is to analyse the potential of various NbS in the Alpine region and the governance mechanisms behind them that ensure their success. Based on this, their transferability to other Alpine regions will be analysed and recommendations for action formulated.
Ars vivendi
[Project completed] How can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be learned and taught? In the project «ars vivendi» a didactic tool for the Global Agenda 2030 is being developed.
DINAMO
[Project competed] In many rural areas of the Alps, public transport services are inadequate for daily needs and tourism development. In some remote mountain regions, this is one of the reasons why there is a considerable amount of car traffic, especially on weekends, public holidays and during rush hours. There are various reasons for this, including the high cost of public transport solutions due to low population density, inadequate public transport options (such as timetables, accessibility, connectivity, travel time and costs) and political and social preferences in favour of private motorised transport.
LISTEN
The LISTEN project is analysing the use of space in suburbs on the basis of three pilot regions in Belgium, Sweden and Austria. CIPRA Lab GmbH is working together with partners from research and regional stakeholders.
Haus am Katzenturm Association
[Project completed] Along with the association of the same name in Feldkirch/A, the “Haus am Katzenturm” networks NGOs from the environmental and nature conservation sector in the Lake Constance region and makes their topics accessible to a broad public.
EmpowerLIFE – simply do it
Simply do it is the motto of the EmpowerLIFE project launched in 2023. It supports people in realising their do-it-yourself ideas and plans in relation to climate protection.
speciAlps Podcast
[Project completed] From artificial intelligence to the last kilometre to carrying capacity limits and "nudging": the speciAlps podcast series and a webinar delve into the topic of visitor guidance for a broad audience.
Ground:breaking
Soils are among the most important resources we have. CIPRA's new Ground:breaking project shows why desealing land benefits everyone and what is needed at political, legal and local level in the Alpine region to achieve this.
Central Mountains
The Central Mountains project strengthens the transfer of knowledge in and between the Alps and the Carpathians. Together with the project partners, CIPRA International Lab is working for the cross-border and sustainable development of mountain regions in Central Europe.
StoneRich
[Project completed] Stones create life: the SteinReich project aims to raise awareness of valuable elements of the Alpine cultural landscape, such as rock fragment piles and dry stone walls.
Alpine Compass: Youth for quality of life in the Alps
[Project completed] How to improve the life quality of young people in the Alps? The project “Alpine Compass” empowers young people, raises awareness among decisionmakers and strengthen the transnational collaboration.
Trata 2.1
[Project completed] Commuting made easy: The mobility of commuters in the Slovenian industrial area of Trata is to become more environmentally friendly - with the help of experiences from similar projects in the border triangle of Switzerland-Austria-Liechtenstein.
Dialogues on wolves – strengthening shepherds’ networks in the Alps
[Completed] A project that promotes exchanges of knowledge across national and linguistic borders between shepherds in the Alpine region.
Alpine Changemaker Network (2021-2023)
[Project completed] The «Alpine Changemaker Network» is an international team drawn from NGOs, academia, social innovation and regional development organisations. We wish to strengthen Alpine society and we envision the Alps as a thriving ecosystem, one that offers an appealing life both to ourselves and to future generations. We combine regionally developed knowledge, social innovation practices, scientific teaching and researching skills, project management skills and much more besides – and we want to collaborate, share and learn!