Good Practice
Hike at the Marinet Glacier at St-Paul-sur-Ubaye
Discovering the glaciers on the Via Alpina - An opportunity to present this path that crosses the entire Alps, while at the same time bringing the young participants face-to-face with the impacts of climate change on our landscapes.
Mindful hiking through snow and silence
A snowshoe hike in the Liechtenstein Alps: under the guidance of a hiking guide, young adults experienced a sustainable form of winter sport, practised mindfulness and raised their environmental awareness.
Sharing Biodiversity on a Micro-Farm
A farmhouse in Canton Appenzell, Switzerland, surrounded by 3 hectares of land, aims to create a diverse, open-minded, and peaceful space.
Women as mountain rescuers
What skills do women have as mountain rescuers and why are they underrepresented? Young people discussed this with mountain rescuer Veronika Šenk during a "Visit Utopia" in the Slovenian Alps in July 2024.
Paths to sustainable agriculture
The first Utopia hike organised by the umbrella organisation for nature and environmental protection in its function as CIPRA South Tyrol took place on Wednesday, 7 August 2024. On this occasion, the functioning utopia of organic vegetable cultivation in the Puster Valley was visited on two farms.
Never again: Racism in nature conservation
How to counter nationalist ideologies in nature conservation: A workshop organized by CIPRA Germany and an excursion to Obersalzberg/D in September 2024 tackled this topic.
Sunny Hills of Istria, a sustainable living culture
A little ecovillage community in slovenian istria which is not only speaking about sustainability and regenerative lifestyle, but living it through four dimensions of sustainability and permaculture (ecological, economical, social and cultural).
From devastated forest to an art platform
In just a few minutes, the storm destroyed large parts of a centuries-old forest. We reflect on the consequences of climate change.
Scientific tourism on the mountain
Raising tourists’ awareness about climate change through science: the Lautaret Alpine Garden, located right in the heart of the Ecrins National Park in France, features alpine plants from all over the world.
Untamed river
Free flowing rivers, along with their ever-changing landscape, river course and bank structure, are a precious rarity in the Alps. One of the last ones is the Friederlaine. A group of young environmentalists explored the hidden gem in the German Alps.
Using less soil
Puy-Saint-André in the French Alps has reduced the buildable municipal area by confiscating "ownerless" land, is saving space thanks to community housing projects and promoting the supply of local food by means of pasture associations.
The best idea wins
Kindergarten, after-school care, flats for senior citizens, surgeries, village shop and family café: how the German municipality of Schwabsoien revived a vacant inn in the village centre with an urban development competition.
Stop to second homes
The Swiss popular initiative "Stop the rampant construction of second homes!" limits the proportion of second homes in municipalities in order to curb urban sprawl.
Shaping the community together
The German municipality of Ingenried shows how local residents and young people in particular can work together to develop a concept for village development.
Roads on a diet
Carinthia/A relies on unsealing and is narrowing kilometres of federal roads. Now they are flanked by green strips and cycle paths.
Remain rural and affordable
How the German municipality of Weyarn, close to the city, protects its soil, promotes affordable housing and creates a higher quality of life.
Rebuild instead of build
The Austrian municipality of Zwischenwasser on the edge of the Rhine valley is rebuilding instead of building – and doing so at the highest architectural level.
Making vacancies visible
The "Plattform Land" draws attention to vacancies in South Tyrolean pilot communities and shows how they can make good use of empty properties.
Lively mountain village
The village of Valendas in the Swiss canton of Graubünden shows how citizens can revive their village architecturally and culturally.
Ecological and community areas
With its ecological commons zone (“Zone d'écologie communale”, ZEC), the Free Quarter of Lentillères in Dijon/F invents a legal tool to legalise land occupation and thus prevent construction.
Climate-fit mountain regions
The "AdaPT Mont-Blanc" project uses a digital toolbox to show what measures are available for adapting to climate change at the spatial planning level.
Affordable primary residences
Second homes notwithstanding, the municipality of Zermatt/CH wants to secure affordable housing for the local population.
Urban life in the countryside
A drive-in cinema, indoor cycling, workshops – the “BASIS Vinschgau Venosta” project aims to create an inspiring venue in the northern Italian municipality of Schlanders, South Tyrol.
Picnic at the construction site
How a disused construction site in the middle of the Slovenian capital is becoming a popular meeting place.
Keeping free spaces free
How an association in Vorarlberg, Austria came up with the idea of buying land in order to save it from being built on.
Time and skills as capital
Why you can pay not only with cash but also with talents in Vorarlberg, Austria.
The politics of vegetables
Cooking together: not just sociable, but also political.
Municipal budget by postcard
How the Italian town of Mals decides how the municipality will spend its money.