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Water in the alps: Striking the balance

Winter Tourism and Climate Change in the Alps: An Assessment of Resource Consumption, Snow Reliability, and Future Snowmaking Potential

Ecological Niches and Geographical Distributions

The Alps

Energy Self-sufficient Regions in the European Alps

Winter Tourism, Climate Change, and Snowmaking in the Swiss Alps: Tourists' Attitudes and Regional Economic Impacts

Webs of Life - Alpine biodiversity needs ecological connectivity

Documentation on ECONNECT results now available

The ECONNECT partners have now compiled their results in a series of publications. There are dedicated reports for ECONNECT's key target groups: all different kinds of stakeholders (final booklet), experts (synopsis, species reports, reports on legal barriers), policy makers (policy recommendations) and practitioners (implementation recommendations).

ECONNECT's results discussed at the final conference

After three years of research and fieldwork, the ECONNECT project has come to a conclusion. From 26 to 28 September political representatives of the six Alpine countries as well as experts and scientific researchers from local and international institutions attended ECONNECT's final conference in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

ECONNECT's battle and success with data management

In order to analyse and visualize connectivity on an alpine-wide level as well as on a regional level for the seven Pilot Areas ECONNECT partners needed geographic data.

Innovative online tools to assess and visualise connectivity

Real connectivity depends on a comprehensive planning process. The complex system of interactions and mechanisms in human societies calls for an analytic and comprehensive approach.

Alpine barriers and the way they affect species

ECONNECT researchers analysed how barriers affect selected species: lynx, brown bear, wolf, red deer, black grouse, griffon vulture, bullhead and fish otter. For the terrestrial species they found out that altitude and forest availability are the major factors influencing species distribution.

The promotion of a common Legal Framework

The Alps consist of eight different countries, each of which has its own legal framework. A specific working group provided an overview of the different legislations in force at various governance levels that potentially affect ecological connectivity.

Connectivity in pictures

Besides classic communication tools such as newsletters and press releases ECONNECT used innovative tools to raise awareness among the general public and the stakeholders.

Benefit for wood picker, capercaillie and co.

In ECONNECT's Pilot Regions a number of actions were implemented improving connectivity for selected species and habitats.

Sharing experience to strengthen green infrastructure

How can green infrastructure and its contribution to the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services be strengthened at different spatial scales? An expert workshop on 'Green infrastructure policies and projects' aimed to answer this question. The workshop took place in Brussels on 7 September 2011 and was organised by Ecologic Institute with support from GHK and Institute for European Environmental Policy.

One step further towards ecological connectivity in France

The French law on ecological networks ("trame verte et bleue") has recently been updated with two decrees, which asses and divide the implementation roles of the state and the regions. Further information: www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news

Life+ Projects increasing ecological connections along the Alps-Apennines corridor and in Lapland

In the frame of the LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity programme 2010 two projects regarding ecological connectivity have been implemented. The objective of the project in Lombardy, Italy, is to increase the functionality of the ecological corridor between the Alps and the Apennines.

NGOs send joint message on the EU biodiversity strategy

A group of 22 nature conservation NGOs, joined in The European Habitat Forum EHF, have expressed their beliefs that increased political effort is required at EU and Member State level to meet the new EU biodiversity target of halting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU by 2020.

Distribution, habitat suitability, and connectivity of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Alps

Distribution and connectivity of the Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) in the Alps

Distribution and connectivity of the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Alps

Habitat distribution and connectivity for the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) in the Alps

Distribution and connectivity of Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx) in the Alps

Modelling potential breeding sites for the Griffon Vulture in the Alps

From ecological islands to connected landscapes

Many animals live in particular outside of protected areas; most persons are not aware of the importance of ecological networks; a functioning economy needs biodiversity. These are the most important findings of ECONNECT. The Alpine-wide project came to its end in November 2011 after a bit more than three years of work.

Monitoring and Modelling of Mountain Water Resources

Water Management in a Changing Environment: Strategies against Water Scarcity in the Alps

Water Resources Management and Water Scarcity in the Alps

Protection of landscape connectivity for large mammals