CIPRA Successes for People and Alps
 |
Summer 2011: Seven regions build on an alpine ecological network With the completion of the Econnect project, which CIPRA participated in, the idea has finally gained a foothold in the Alps, that biological diversity can be obtained not only in protected areas – it also requires the exchange between the protected areas. Supported by a broad consortium and a jointly developed approach seven pilot regions implemented measures that link habitats beyond protected areas. Efforts of the CIPRA to get the Econnect project and the Ecological Continuum Initiative off the ground show first results and offer room for further activities on the subject. More |
 |
In the spring of 2010 the government of the principality of Liechtenstein praised out the architectural award “Constructive”, which was co-initiated by the CIPRA and endowed with 50,000 euros. The three winners were determined by an international jury. A total of 200 projects were submitted, from which 25 emerged winners and recognition awards. This broad collection of sustainable buildings in the alpine region is presented to the public with a traveling exhibition. The magazine "Hochparterre" also published a special multilingual issue portraying all the winners and nominees. The publication reaches over 60,000 readers across the Alps. More |
 |
The international conference «Cool heads in the hothouse» that CIPRA and the city of Bolzano have organized on 2 and 3 April 2009 in Bolzano (IT) was attended by approximately 200 participants from several countries. The presentations and examples illustrated, how climate change can be handled consciously. The conference took place in the scope of CIPRA's climate project "cc.alps". More |
 |
Two large independent projects have emerged from the CIPRA-project "Future in the Alps", dealing with the issues and knowledge of that project: DYNALP², a support program for communities, and NENA, an Interreg-project for building a network of companies. More |
 |
Backed by CIPRA, the contracting parties to the Alpine Convention – that is, the Alpine countries and the EU – during the 9th Alpine Conference in Alpbach/A have decided to define a concrete plan of action for climate protection, with the relevant time schedule. The Alps with their wood, water, sun, wind and geothermal resources have the potential to become a model region for climate protection that goes far beyond the Kyoto objectives. CIPRA will be carefully watching the process for defining an appropriate action plan. More |
 |
The „Central Asian Mountain Town Alliance“ was established on 22 June in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, on the model of the “Alliance in the Alps” community network. After the meeting held in September of the previous year in the Kirgiz capital Bishkek, this event was the second conference of mountain communities in Central Asia. The alliance was set up in collaboration with CIPRA. More |
 |
With the alpMedia website, CIPRA has received the "Alp Web Award 2002". The prize was given by the "Cervignano del Friuli Giusto Gervasutti" section of the Italian Alpine Association. The prize slogan is "Mountains on the Internet". The winning websites were suggested by Internet users. After a first selection, an expert jury selected the winners in the fields of Communication, Marketing, Design, Art and Technique. More |
 |
For a long time has CIPRA requested the setting up of a Permanent Secretariat for the Alpine Convention. Finally, the participants to the 7th Alpine Conference 2002 in Meran/I drafted a resolution, whereby they invite the Ministers for the environment of the Alpine countries and the EU commissioner to establish a Permanent Secretariat for the Alpine Convention. On 01.01.2003, the Permanent Secretariat was set up, with main office in Innsbruck and an external office in Bolzano. More |
 |
The board of trustees of the Binding-Prize for nature and environment protection awards every year the Binding-Prize, according to the wish of the donors Sophie and Dr. Karl Binding. In 2001 CIPRA received the Binding Prize because of its exemplary drives and work for nature and environment protection: "In appreciation of the commitment in the Alpine region of this non governmental organisation for the protection and for the development of the Alpine range over the last 50 years. Fundamental impulses for the introduction of sustainable developments in the Alps are the merit of CIPRA." |
 |
CIPRA had just been informed of the award of the TUI-environmental prize, when it was informed by the "Fédération des Associations des Journalistes de Tourisme“ (FEDAJT), that it had awarded this year’s "Etoile d’or“ to CIPRA. The prize is given every year for the efforts towards sustainable development in the field of tourism. FEDAJT was set up in 1993 and is an international association of 800 travel journalists from eight countries with main office in Belgium. |
 |
With the environmental award to CIPRA, the TUI appreciates the year-long, cross-border activities of CIPRA in the Alpine countries for a lasting protection and sustainable development of the Alpine area. Particularly important for the decision was, according to internal communication, the committed, independent and integrative work of CIPRA on the way towards the Alpine Convention and its implementation, up to the successful initiative of the "Alliance in the Alps “ community network. |
 |
To exemplarily implement the Alpine Convention at town level was the objective at the start in 1997 of the network of municipalities "Alliance in the Alps ". CIPRA started the Alliance in the Alps and accompanied the two-year pilot phase. Until the end of 1997 it gave fundamental impetus to the community network. Implementing the decision of the CIPRA annual meeting in Bovec/Sl, the community network was turned into an independent association. More |
 |
At its 26th conference, the working community of the Alpine countries gave the Gold Environmental Prize “in recognition of the start and contribution to the Alpine Convention" to CIPRA International. From the statement: "CIPRA has supported with its project in international collaboration applied alpine research and sustainable development in the Alps. CIPRA has contributed so that the Alpine System and how it is being damaged are better understood by humanity. From this, paramount premises have been drawn for the definition of effective measures for a sustainable use and development of the Alpine area..."
|
 |
The development of the Alpine Convention was a milestone in the history of CIPRA: "The most significant task of the Alpine commission must be to plan an International Alpine Convention and to contribute towards its acceptance by the countries involved.“ This sentence is in the preparation documents of 1951 for the creation of CIPRA. It took 40 years, until on 7th November 1991 in Salzburg an “Agreement for the Protection of the Alps – the Alpine Convention“ was signed by the Ministries for the environment of the Alpine countries and the Commissioner for the Environment of the EU. More |