The Alpine Convention is an agreement within the law of nations for the overall protection and the sustainable development of the Alps. It was set up upon the initiative and after long preliminary work by CIPRA. The general framework convention (pdf), which in the meantime has been ratified by all the contracting parties, is applied by means of the so called Protocols of Implementation. The protocols of implementation are envisaged for twelve sectors, and protocols already exist for eight sectors:

• Spatial planning and sustainable development  pdf
• Conservation of nature and the countryside pdf
• Mountain farming pdf
• Mountain forests pdf
• Tourism pdf
• Energy pdf
• Soil conservation pdf
• Transport pdf

The protocols regarding the following sectors

• Population and culture, Prevention of air pollution, Water management and Waste management 

have not been drafted yet. The Protocols of Implementation have not been signed and ratified by all countries yet.

In addition, two additional protocols have been adopted, respectively on Solution of litigations (pdf) and on the Adherence of the Principality of Monaco to the Alpine Convention (pdf*)

In addition to protocols, two Ministerial declarations on specific topics have also been adopted in November 2006:

• Declaration on Population and Culture (pdf*)
• Declaration on Climate Change (pdf*)

* unofficial english translations provided by Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention

Since 2003, the Alpine Convention has been provided with a "Permanent Secretariat", with its office in Innsbruck. The website of the Secretariat to the Alpine Convention offers general information about the Alpine Convention.

The Alpine Convention has 16 official organizations with an observer status, one of them is CIPRA. CIPRA considers the Alpine Convention as a significant tool for sustainable development, but also as a tool for exchange and collaboration between the Alpine countries. CIPRA is active in the bodies of the Alpine Convention and constantly submits concrete proposals for the further development and the implementation of the Alpine Convention and its Protocols of Implementation.