Liechtenstein
News, publications, press releases, positions... on this page you find current and alpine-relevant information from Liechtenstein.
New web site for Mountain Partnership
The Mountain Partnership organisation went online at the beginning of July. The www.mountainpartnership.org internet site provides a wealth of information on mountains in English, French and Spanish, with a new Newsletter entitled "Peak to Peak" and facts and figures on the international day of the mountains. Read More…
CIPRA on film
To mark its 50th anniversary CIPRA, the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, produced a film about the Alps and of course the Commission's own activities. Read More…
Mountain regions and the elderly and disabled
Services for the elderly and the accessibility of accommodation by the disabled are the two key issues of a seminar at Feltre in Italy on July 2. The seminar is being held as part of the Interreg IIIA Programme Montagna Accessibile (Mountains Within Reach) of the Belluno Province and the Federal Province of Tyrol/A. Read More…
Switzerland: internet timetable for mountain enthusiasts
The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) has posted a new German and French internet page at www.alpenonline.ch , to help mountaineers plan their tours. Read More…
Restriction on new holiday homes
In future all new properties built in Zermatt/CH must have a principal residence share of 30%. This measure is designed to prevent Zermatt becoming a ghost town during the off-season. Read More…
Flora Alpina - An atlas of all 4,500 plants in the Alps
How many vascular plants make up the flora of the Alps? What do they look like? What is their correct designation? What species are annual, perennial or xyloid? When do they flower? Where can they be found? What ecology characterises the individual species? The answers to these and other questions can all be found in Flora alpina, a new publication in three volumes that covers all the flowering plants and ferns of the entire alpine region, from Vienna to Nice, from valley floor to eternal snow. Read More…
Ford Environment Award 2004: Special Award for Climate Protection
The Ford Environment Award of the Austrian Umbrella Organisation for the Environment and the Ford Motor Company Austria rewards with a total of €16,000.00 the three best initiatives for the protection of the country's natural and cultural heritage. Read More…
Fires aglow for alpine protected areas
The "Fire across the Alps" event aims to send a glowing message on behalf of alpine policy in 2004, too. The emphasis this year is on alpine protected areas. Other "pot burners" include transit traffic and local issues. The fires also symbolise the solidarity between alpine countries and regions. Read More…
Preserving traditional crops and livestock breeds
An agreement on plant genetic resources is to come into force in nine EU member states on 29 June, with only Germany featuring among alpine countries. The agreement is designed to secure the use of gene pools and free access to seed stocks and propagating materials for key agricultural crops. Read More…
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. Read More…
Ministers of alpine countries: More road safety and alternatives to road traffic
At a meeting in Switzerland the transport ministers of alpine countries underlined their commitment to improve road safety in cross-alpine HGV traffic in a joint and concerted effort adapted to the needs of the alpine countries, and to bolster the policy of transporting HGV traffic by rail. The meeting was attended by representatives from Germany, France, Italy, Austria and the EU Commission. Read More…
K2: Environmental impact of anniversary treks
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of the K2 summit in the Himalayas the Italian Alpine Association is organising several treks to the mountain's base camps. Up to 60,000 people are expected to pass through some of the intermediate camps this year. The problems this causes include the insufficiently rapid degradation of biological waste at high altitude, the pollution of rivers, or damage to the vegetation through the gathering of firewood. A number of expeditions are also to make greater use of helicopters. Read More…
7th CIPRA Summer Academy: Last opportunity to take part
There are still a few places left for the Summer Academy organised by the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA). The final deadline for registration, which can be made at www.cipra.org (de/fr/it/sl/en), is 30 June; the web site has details of this training and education event, including the course programme. Read More…
Invitation to compete for the International Environment Award
Exemplary environmental protection projects from all over the world that are closely linked to tourism are eligible for the International Environment Award. The Award is presented each year by the German Association of Travel Agencies and Tour Operators. Read More…
Alpine Week: Four organisations that operate throughout the Alps join forces
This year the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA), the International Scientific Committee for Alpine Research (ISCAR), the municipality network Alliance in the Alps and the Network of Alpine Protected Areas (Alparc) are organising a joint conference in the form of an "Alpine Week". It is to be held in Kranjska Gora/SI from 22 to 25 September. The conference has elected as its theme: "The Alps of the Coming Generation - From Forecasts to Action". Read More…
Project launch: Study of persistent organic pollutants in the Alps
Very little is known to date about the actual extent of the threat to the Alps caused by persistent highly toxic environmental pollutants, also known as POP chemicals. However initial studies suggest that they do represent a burden on the Alps, especially since POPs tend to deposit in cold areas such as mountain regions. Read More…
European Mountain Forum launches Mediterranean co-ordination agency
The European Mountain Forum has launched its new Mediterranean co-ordination agency at Les Planes de Son/E on 16 and 17 June as part of the international conference on "Sustainable Development in Mediterranean Mountain Regions: Past, Present and Future". Its aim is to promote the idea of sustainable development and its implementation in the Mediterranean region, and to raise the awareness of the significance of Mediterranean mountain regions not just among the local population but throughout Europe and the world. Read More…
Italy: MOMO project for the development of new technologies in mountain regions
The EU MOMO project, which focuses on applied research benefiting small and medium-sized companies, was recently unveiled in the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Plastic materials for nanotechnology for example are to be developed at the Centre for Technological Innovations in Amaro. Read More…
World's first institute for holiday, travel and altitude medicine
"Our aim with the founding of the Institute for Holiday, Travel and Altitude Medicine at the Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology is to demonstrate and substantiate by medical and scientific means the favourable health effect of a high-altitude holiday. We also intend to establish a form of certification for tourist regions and tourist enterprises," explained Tyrol's Provincial Governor Herwig van Staa at the official presentation of the new Institute in Innsbruck/A. Read More…
Environmental management for the Everest region
The University of Torino/I and the Ev-K2-CNR Committee are currently conducting an international co-operation project called "Everest: A Remedy Against Damage Caused by Tourism" in the Everest region of Nepal. The aim is to develop an environmental management methodology to be able to lessen the negative impact of the 70,000 or so western tourists a year in the sensitive eco-systems of the Everest region. Read More…
Second Himalaya Film Festival: Time to submit your films!
Films can now be submitted for the Second Himalaya Film Festival, which is to be held at the Cultural Centre of the Free University Amsterdam/Netherlands on 6 and 7 November. Read More…
Comprehensive study on mountain areas in Europe
The European Commission recently published the results of a study on the economic and social situation of European mountain areas. The study provides an in-depth analysis of mountain areas in 29 countries in Europe, including the EU Member States, the 10 new Member States and Switzerland. Read More…
Projects to protect bearded vultures and golden eagles show positive results
The species preservation projects "Golden Eagles in the Eastern Alps" and "Resettlement of Bearded Vultures in the Alps" were presented on 26 March as part of the 16th National Park Weeks at the Hohe Tauern National Park in Salzburg/A. Read More…
St Moritz: the AlpenAkademie and a tourism, energy and agriculture alliance
The Swiss region of Engadine/St Moritz is focusing on the appeal of educational tourism, with the founding of the AlpenAkademie by the Academia Engiadina. A range of offers including language and computer courses as well as tourism, tour guide and management studies are already in place, and others are in preparation. Read More…
Electricity and heat essentially from renewable energies
By 2050 65% of electricity consumption and 50% of heating requirements in Germany could be provided by renewable energy sources. Read More…
EU decisions on the issue of transport
During a Conciliation meeting held on 16 March the European Parliament and the European Commission reached an agreement on issues concerning the Second railway package. Under the agreement rail freight markets (incl. cabotage) are to be completely opened up as of 2007. Agreement was also reached on new regulations for railway safety and interoperability as well as the establishment of a European Railway Agency. Read More…
World Water Day: Calls for waterway conservation and a stop to deregulation
The motto for this year's International Water Day on March 22 was "Water and Natural Catastrophes". A number of organisations seized the day to put forward their demands for better water conservation. Read More…
Presentation of an international umbrella brand for leisure & fitness holidays in the Alps
From the end of this year 80 businesses from Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland and southern Tyrol are to join forces and carry the new umbrella brand Alpine Wellness International GmbH. Read More…
Taking the train and bus to the ski slopes proves popular
More and more skiers are making use of the ski trains and buses operated by the Vorarlberg Transport Authority. The main ski resorts of Austria's westernmost federal province, i.e. the Montafon, the Kloster valley and the Arlberg region, can all be reached by public transport. The good results achieved this season have prompted the Transport Authority to expand its offers as far afield as southern Germany, among others. Read More…
Early warning system for wolves
The New York Wildlife Conservation Society has developed an early warning system for wolf attacks to help prevent conflicts between man and beast, and as a result also protect the wolves. Read More…