Regional value added, Governance capacity, Protected areas, Policies and instruments
Short description
In 2001, 21 communities founded the nature park "Parc Ela" following the rules of the Swiss Nature and Homeland protection law (Bundesgesetz über den Natur- und Heimatschutz, NHG). The Parc Ela fosters sustainable regional development in the Surses and Albulatal Region. It focuses especially on sustainable tourism and nature preservation. On May 31 2005, a patronage committee and a branch office were founded, which should organize the park's development and NHG-application.
Participants
21 communities, local population, members of the society Parc Ela, branch office Parc Ela, nature protection organisations, agricultural and forestry organisations, tourism organisation, local industry, cantonal and federal offices
Objectives
Stabilization of the economy and preservation and/or creation of new places of work; diversification of the touristy offer and stabilization of the summer tourism; sustainable use of the endogenous resources and care of ecologically sensitive habitats; common marketing of products from the area (agriculture, wood, tourism, craft and other); promotion of regional commodities circuit and added value concatenation; quality improvement of companies and products (labelling); care and preservation of the cultural heritage; stabilization of the regional identity and promotion of a narrower cooperation among the two valleys Albulatal and Surses; promotion of innovative projects; promotion of projects elevating energy efficiency; promotion of applied research;
Activities
Workshops with the interested population and interest groups included the following tasks: 1) Defining regional products, 2) collaboration in defining concepts for use and protection rules, 3) developing concepts for traffic regulation, marketing, business plans etc.
Results
Sponsorship Parc Ela founded; Parc ela office founded; byelaws charta, concept for park, marketing, mobility and action plan fixed, rules for labelling and marketing of the parc ela products; other products: Pfad der Pioniere, Geologieweg und Alp Flix (http://www.flix.ch); designing bookable offers; hiking map of parc ela
Evaluation
is planned
Difficulties
combining and balancing the different interests; communicating the importance of cooperation; involving all stakeholders in bottom-up approach; gaining confidence in regard to future developments
Budget
80000.-- (Euro)
Financial backer
Communities, members of the Parc ela, sponsors, at best canton of Graubeuenden and Swiss federation; Nature protection organisation Pro Natura sponsored CHF 200 000.-- for various projects