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Newsletter alpMedia

Concise, relevant, all over the Alps: In its monthly newsletter alpMedia CIPRA informs about the primary topics from the Alps. It presents selected events, CIPRA’s point of view and an amusing fun facts. AlpMedia is published in German, French, Italian and Slovenian. Every two months, there is a best-of in English. With over 16'000 subscribers alpMedia is one of the most widely read newsletters about the Alps.

New French policy for the mountains

Thirty years ago, France passed a special law for its mountain areas. It is now undergoing a review. Here is a summary of the most significant amendments.

Ski lifts in Italy to become liable for tax

The Supreme Court in Italy has now ruled that cable cars and chair lifts do not count as public transport, meaning that municipal tax on real estate is therefore now payable. The judgment has led to uproar in ski resorts.

Strange but true...

…Are beavers really just great big clumsy rodents?

CIPRA: in pursuit of harmony on diversity

Animals and plants have to migrate in order to reproduce. That involves crossing land that is also used by human beings. In its 2014 Annual Report, CIPRA shows how animals, plants and people all benefit from networking within the natural environment.

Our green lungs are running out of air

Animals and plants have to migrate in order to reproduce. That involves crossing land used by human beings. Ecological networking therefore needs the support of a variety of stakeholders. CIPRA brings them together.

Alpine Rhine Valley Green Belt

[Project completed]

Youthful ideas for “My Green Alps”

What will it take for residents of the Alps to take responsibility for their own habitat? Participants of the Youth Parliament of the Alpine Convention provided some answers at Kamnik in Slovenia.

Nominations for Alps-wide architecture prize

Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with technical and organisational support from CIPRA, will for the third time be awarding prizes to buildings in the Alps that demonstrate particular aesthetic and sustainable qualities. The jury has now nominated 32 projects for the “Constructive Alps” Architecture Prize.

Energy and nature in the Alps: a balancing act

How do we manage the balancing act between renewable energy production and nature conservation in the Alps? The final conference of the recharge.green project can provide the answers. Organised by CIPRA, it will take place from 20 to 21 May 2015 in Sonthofen, Germany.

Bus and train: new moves in the Alps-Adriatic region

Public transport between Italy, Austria and Slovenia is moving forward. The consequences remain to be seen.

Stange but true!

…everything out of the ordinary in the Alps has a label.

Mountain Research and Development, Vol 39, No 1, available online and open access

Papers in this issue cover food sustainability issues in Kenya and Bolivia and in Chile; the water–food–energy nexus and tourism in Nepal; perceptions of parks in a neoliberal context in Poland and in Switzerland; behavior change of backcountry tourists in Switzerland; and postdisturbance forest recovery in Slovakia. The issue closes with an IMS member’s portrait and three tributes to Bruno Messerli.

EEA Report No 8/2014 - Adaptation of transport to climate change in Europe

Challenges and options across transport modes and stakeholders. This report explores current climate change adaptation practices concerning transport across European countries. It provides an overview on the challenges and state adaptation action, a review of a number of initiatives in different countries, and conclusions on a potential way forward. Its purpose is to stimulate discussions among the many different stakeholders concerned with transport adaptation. Opening the perspective on the transport system and sector as a whole should inspire and encourage learning from practices across modes and areas of responsibility and support efforts to mainstream adaptation within transport-related policy and practices. The factual information collected is based on data available in the Climate-ADAPT information platform, a literature review, case studies provided by many stakeholders, and a questionnaire on transport and adaptation addressed to EEA member countries in 2013.

Save the alpine rivers!

WWF European Alpine Program, 2014

Point of view: The Alps: on course for sustainability

It is time to reflect on the unique values of the Alps, emphasises the President of CIPRA International, Katharina Conradin, after her first 100 days in office. Her plea is for a common goal: the Alps as a model region for sustainability.

No breathing space in the Alpine regions

As CIPRA South Tyrol has flagged up, EU limits for nitrogen oxides are being massively exceeded in the region. There is an acute need for action, both in South Tyrol and in other Alpine regions.

Chamonix is the 2015 “Alpine Town of the Year”

Located at the foot of the highest mountain in the Alps, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, the “Capital of Alpinism”, has been awarded the title of “Alpine Town of the Year 2015”, mainly in recognition of its nature and climate protection policies.

South Tyrol commits itself to the common good

The “economics of the common good” represents a growing trend, including in the Alps. South Tyrol is now putting this into practice.

Biodiversity needs bold policy and stringent implementation

Biodiversity is a foundation for human wellbeing. However, strategies for its protection are not implemented effectively and projects often do not have the desired effect. The partners of the international project greenAlps present a series of recommendations for better implementation of existing policies in Alpine countries.

Mountain Research and Development, Vol 34, No 4, on Family Farming in Mountains

Based on centuries of experience in tackling mountain environments, farming families and communities have developed distinctive forms of institutions and organizational arrangements. This MRD Focus Issue on Family Farming in Mountains addresses the question to what extent these institutions and organizational arrangements have been able to cope with the current multiple challenges. It also explores whether family farming practices have succeeded in generating solutions in combination with new institutional arrangements and policies, and whether this enables family farmers in mountains to benefit from new opportunities.. The geographical range of papers in this issue reaches from Italy to Ukraine, Slovakia, China, Bolivia, and Spain.

Mountain Landscape

A decisionsupport system for the accessibility

Criticism of Alpine traffic policies in Brussels

Short-sighted, inadequate, inconsistent: a recently published study commissioned by the European Parliament questions the policies and projects intended to shift freight transport onto rail. Why European support for the Lyon-Turin link is crumbling and why the Swiss electorate will have the last word.

Point of view: Protecting the Alps – the responsibility of people

The diversity of the Alps is a challenge that at the same time holds great potential. It is up to the new German presidency of the Alpine Convention to put this into effect, states Federica Corrado, President of CIPRA Italy.

CIPRA presents pioneers of sustainable living

Lifestyles and economies that use fewer resources require new thinking and action that go beyond narrow limits and consumerism. This is the conclusion of the CIPRA annual conference held in Annecy, France.

Ill-timed winter tourism developments throughout the Alps

Despite rising temperatures and doubts about profitability, some Alpine regions are building new winter sports facilities. But who will pay the bill?

UPDATE ON INVESTMENTS IN LARGE TEN-T PROJECTS STUDY PROVISIONAL VERSION

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