Alpine Convention International treaty for the protection and sustainable development of the Alps Taja Ferjančič, Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention

Nature Drinking Water Habitat Cultural Landscape EconomyTourism Inhabitants: 13,6 million Territory: km 2 Alps

Aims of the Alpine Convention Promoting sustainable development in the Alpine area; protecting the interests of the people living in the Alps; embracing the environmental, social, economic and cultural dimensions of the Alps.

Short history : 1991: signing of the Framework Convention; 1995: Convention enters into force in all the countries; 2002: 8 Protocols enter into force; 2003: establishment of the Permanent Secretariat. Contracting Parties: EU Austria France Italy Lichtenstein Germany Monaco Slovenia Switzerland

Member States percentage of Area and Population AreaPopulation Italia27,3 %30,1% Avstria28,7%23,9% France21,4%18,0% Switzerland13,2%12,8% Germany5,8%10,1% Slovenia3,5%4,7% Monaco0,001%0,2% Lihtenstein0,008%0,2% ALPS km 2 13,6 million

Nature of the Alpine Convention and its Protocols Focus on cooperation (in particular, on research); environmental protection considering development perspective; efforts required at various levels: national, regional and local (most important); Dynamic aspect: implementation requires a continous effort from the Contracting Parties.

Main Instruments of the Alpine Convention Activities of the Working Groups; multilateral projects of the Contracting Parties; activities of the Permanent Secretariat; informing and communicating; observing and understanding; exchanging experiences.  Cooperation with networks and other partners is essential.

Alpine Convention Organogram ALPINE CONFERENCE PERMANENT COMMITTEE WORKING GROUPS PLATFORMS Compliance Committee PERMANENT SECRETARIAT Environmental Minister Focal Points OBSERVERS

Alpine Conference: political decision-making body; consists of the Ministers of the Contracting Parties, meetings held every two years in the Member State holding the the Presidency. Permanent Committee: executive body, ensures that the Convention’s decisions, principles and aims are carried out in practice, meets generally twice a year. Compliance Committee: body controling if the commitments and obligations resulting from the Alpine Convention are complied with. Report every four years (First in 2009). Working Groups and Platforms: set up according to the current needs; responsibility: recommendations and implementing measures, studies of ongoing developments. Set for a two-year term.

Permanent Secretariat Established: 2003 Office in: Innsbrucku (A); Branch Office in Bolzano/Bozen (I) The main tasks: Administrative and technical support to the bodies of the Alpine Convention;, public relations (communicating and disseminating information about the Convention, its protocols and their achievements); co-ordination of the Alpine research projects; facilitating the implementation of the Convention and the compliance with its protocols; observation and information system for the Alps (SOIA), translating and interpreting.

Observers Exchange of information, experience and good practices in order to implement the Objectives of the Alpine Convention: AEM Alpe Adria Arge Alp Alpine Town of the Year CIPRA International Club Arc Alpin Euromontana FIANET International Steering Committee of the Network of Protected areas IUCN Managing Authority of the European Cooperation Programme Alpine Space Pro Mont Blanc UNO/UNEP-ROE ISCAR

Framework Convention and its Protocols The Convention is a framework that sets out the basic principles of all the activities of the Alpine Convention and contains general measures for the sustainable development in the Alpine region. In the Protocols, concrete steps to be taken for the protection and sustainable development of the Alps are set out. Signed and ratified Protocols are legaly binding in the Contracting party. Tourism Transport Framework Convention Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development Conservation of nature and countryside Soil conservation Energy Mountain farming Mountain forests

Declaration on Climate Change … with respect to the progressive climate change for the future, indicates that it is necessary to develop appropriate strategies and activities for the Alpine area for the adaptation to the consequences that will result from the climate change. Average temperature increase since the pre- industrial age is clearly above the global average in this area  visible in: increase of the threat through natural hazards; visible effect in the form of the progressive melting of glaciers and the reduction of the permafrost. Recommendations for action to avoid a further progressive climate change.

Recomending alpine-specific measures; long-term initiatives, joint projects, exchange of experiences; precise schedule; support scientific research projects; addressing a variety of subjects: –public – at local, regional or national; –private –influencing the behavior to cope with climate change. Climate Action Plan

ATTENUATION STRATEGIES ENERGY SECTOR  Passive houses, renovation of existing buildings;  renewable energies;  broadcast existing techniques to reduce energy consumption. TRANSPORT SECTOR  Encourage cooperation between national rail network companies and authorities to improve the existing service;  reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles;  encourage policies to reduce the use of private cars. TOURISM SECTOR  Incorporate sustainable transport options into tourist operator practices;  refurbishment of tourist accommodation by adapting to CC (instead of building new – „cold beds“);  develop long-haul access to tourist sites by rail and the connection to the „last kilometer“. ADAPTATION STRATEGIES REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT  Intensify the prevention of natural risks;  inform the population and build up its accountability. BIODIVERSITY  Ensure ecological continuity to allow migration of fauna & flora;  joint special programs to protect typically alpine species;  ensure eco-certification of all the forests in the public domain of each member State. TOURISM  Ban new tourist infrastructures in glacier areas and natural virgin spaces;  adopting provisions to restrict artificial snow;  encouraging inter-season tourism (alternative to skiing). WATER & HYDRIC RESOURCES  Reduce water consumption (promote water economies in all sectors by encouraging an integrated approach to the resource and uses made of it);  reduce the impact of hydroelectric power plants on nature (improve efficiency of holding lakes and existing electric power plants, only authorize any new project if it is part of a plan or program respecting the ecology of the water course).

Implementation Work of the Working Groups and Platforms Publications 17

Thank you for your attention; let‘s play!