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Stormy times in mountain forests

In the 1990s four storms in the Alpine regions caused quite a stir: in February 1990 Vivian and Wiebke, and in December 1999 Lothar and Martin. What they all had in common was the devastation they caused; what was also remarkable was the short time span between them. The Dossier's background report, which is available only in German, outlines the extent and causes of the damage caused in the forest areas and the way in which the storm areas were addressed depending on the different interests governing the use of those areas. Additional relevant material on the issue can be found in other language versions of this page.

Alpine ski resorts melting away

A quick demise looks to be on the cards for two ski resorts in the Ticino/CH. Indeed the ski station at Abondance/F did not even go into operation this season.

Will Europe's largest photovoltaic installation soon be in the Alps?

Europe's largest photovoltaic installation is set to be built in the French département of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Negotiations have already taken place for the lease of the plot of land on which the installation is to be built, at an altitude of 1,000 m above sea level.

Europe's highest toilets

This summer two public toilets were installed at an altitude of 4 260 m on the French side of the Mont Blanc. Every year some 30,000 climbers head up the Alps's highest mountain.

International workshop series "Disseminating Knowledge - Networking People" Rural-urban co-operation: A challenge for the Alpine region

The eighth workshop in the series on "Disseminating Knowledge - Networking People" was held in Autrans on June 4 and 5 and focused on the subject of regional concepts and rural-urban co-operation. The organisers, CIPRA France and the further education organisation Association de Formation des Ruraux aux Activités du Tourisme, provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on the shift in relations between rural and urban areas.

International Workshop: Services for people living in rural mountain areas

The next workshop of the international series "Disseminating knowledge - connecting people" of Future in the Alps is dedicated to the topic of innovation, community use and participation relating to services for people living rural mountain areas.

Initiative for mountain enthusiasts with disabilities

This summer the French Vanoise National Park is offering special programmes for visitors with physical disabilities.

From winter to all-year tourism

The French département of Savoie aims to promote all-year tourism with its 2007-2013 Tourism Plan.

Rainfall can trigger earthquakes

A new study shows causal links between rainfall and earth tremors.

Festival of occupational diversity in mountain regions

This year's international festival of "mountain professions" (Métiers de Montagne) is being held in Chambéry/F from 23 to 26 November.

Ecological wood-welding technology with a future

Scientists from Switzerland and France have now developed a new joinery method called wood welding.

Co-operation in the mountains of Europe

The Pro Monte final conference to be held in Chambéry/F on 8 and 9 June is entitled "Mountain Massifs and Territorial Co-operation in Europe". The Pro Monte Project launched as part of the EU Interact Initiative assists and networks players from European mountain regions looking for answers to urgent issues relating to environmental policy, regional planning and social matters.

New issue of the Journal of Alpine Research series

The latest issue of the Revue de Géographie Alpine series comprises five specialist articles on a variety of topics. One article examines the causes of flooding and the measures that are necessary to prevent it based on the example of the Isère/F region while another article focuses on sustainable water management in general.

Holidaying without barriers? A new Interreg project focuses on the disabled

Una montagna per tutti (a mountain for everyone) is the name of an Interreg project between Italy and France that was launched only recently and focuses on people with disabilities.

Alpine Protected Areas - from co-operation to ecological network

The Alpine Network of Protected Areas is celebrating its 10th anniversary as part of the international conference on "Alpine Protected Areas: Between History, Development and Challenges".

Why wait? Pull down those unused mountain installations now!

Anyone who comes across unused installations or buildings while out hiking or mountaineering in the Swiss Alps should take part in the Wilderness Olympics 2005 and notify Mountain Wilderness (MW) of their "find".

France ratifies all Alpine Convention protocols

Following the decision taken by the Chamber of Deputies on 10 March, the French Senate approved ratification of the remaining protocols to the Alpine Convention in a unanimous vote with just one abstention on 12 May.

Record investments in French winter sport areas

In 2004 France's winter sport resorts invested 348 million euros - more than ever before - in refurbishment and upgrade measures. In the last ten years, such investments have increased by about 200 percent compared with only 50 percent for ski area turnover. The number of skier days per season is now stagnating at 63 million.

From vegetable plots to supermarkets: land consumption in France

The French association for regional planning and rural development has recently published a white paper on the subject of land consumption as a result of urbanisation, entitled "The End of the Landscape?". More and more arable land is being built up with residential buildings and industrial parks, and land consumption is progressing at an alarming pace.

Mountains in the Mediterranean Region Project presented at the IUCN Congress

Italy's Environment Minister presented the Mountains in the Mediterranean Region Project at the IUCN Congress held in Bangkok from 17 to 25 November.

2004 Award for Sustainable Tourism: Take part now!

The authorities of the département of Haute-Savoie/F is presenting an award for the most sustainable tourist project as part of the 6th Tourism Summit of Chamonix Mont-Blanc.

Conference on "Cities in the Mountains"

The French mountain organisation Montanea is organising an international conference on "Cities in the Mountains" together with the Alpe magazine. It is to be held at the Chambéry Conference Centre on 29 June. Admission is free. The registration deadline is 22 June. The conference will offer simultaneous interpretation in French, German and Italian.

Centre for nanotechnology in the French Alps

The first European network for nanobiotechnology, Nano2life, is being co-ordinated in Grenoble/F since February 2. So after Paris Grenoble is now the second largest research centre in France, with 18,200 people working in 200 laboratories.

Plans for a network of the Alps' large lakes

Together with various partners the French Rhône-Alpes region is planning to submit to the EU Programme Interreg IIIB Alpine Space a project for setting up a network of large natural lakes in the alpine region. The project's main goals are to include environmental protection in harmony with the European Framework Directive on Water and sustainable tourist development of lake landscapes.

A thousand valleys - one challenge

Mega-events and impacts on tourism: the predictions and realities of the Lillehammer Olympics

Erosion and Landslide

ECONNECT Alpine Space Program – ETC Action 6.2: Bilateral Country Comparisons among the Legal Frameworks of Protected Areas France/Italy

The Legal Framework of Protected Areas in the Alpine States: France

Forest management in climate change