Articles
Isère Department: Tearing down the barriers
The French Isère Pilot Region is very active in the field of ecological connectivity. Besides ECONNECT, since February 2009 the region is engaged in another EU Project named "Paths of life". This project will last six years and has a budget of nine million Euro.
Abondance Ski Area reopened
In the last few years, lack of snow was a major problem for the ski area in Abondance/F, which is located at 1500 m above sea-level. Because of poor snow conditions, the lifts did not open at all in the last two winter seasons.
Why do you go hiking?
Together with the French Ramblers' Association and the French Alpine Club, the French association "Grande Traversée des Alpes" are trying to find the answer to the simple question, why do tourists go hiking on mountain and woodland paths or through dunes and deserts?
First carbon-footprint calculation for a ski school
The carbon footprint of a ski school in France has been measured for the first time.
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.
French municipality against heli-skiing
In mid-November 2008 the municipal council of Pralognan la Vanoise/F voted unanimously to put a stop to tourist helicopter traffic on its municipal territory in the Chavière/F valley.
2018 Olympics - How green are France's candidatures?
Four French towns are bidding to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics:
Alpine Crossing
The "Alpine Pearls" co-operation venture is organising a "softly mobile" winter trip through the Pearls of the Alps between 19 and 30 January 2009 - specially for members of the press.
Latest issue of the Journal of Alpine Research
The latest publication in the bilingual series Journal of Alpine Research comprises four specialist articles on different topical issues. The first feature deals with the rivalry for public commodities, illustrated with the specific example of an irrigation system in northern Italy.
Solar thermal power plant in the French Hautes-Alpes
The energy companies Dalkia and Solar Euromed have joined forces and plan to build the first solar thermal power plant in France. The plant is to be built in Chevalet d'Aspres sur Buech and will generate some 60,000 megawatt-hours of electricity.
More winter passengers handled by France's Alpine airports
Passenger volumes at the airports in Grenoble-Isère/F and Chambéry-Savoie/F increased by 7% and 20% respectively in the 2007/2008 winter season. In the last two years, Grenoble-Isère has had the highest rates of growth in passenger totals of all French airports.
Energy supplies at risk from shrinking glaciers
The shrinkage of the Mer de Glace in the French Alps is having a tangible impact on the use of hydropower.
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.