MOUNTAIN-GOV Co-existing

The increase in tourist activity in mountain areas results in soil degradation, particularly through the development of new infrastructure (roads, car parks, etc.) or intensive use (mountain biking, habitat fragmentation). Furthermore, natural areas are no longer given the same rest periods as before, reducing the capacity for biodiversity to regenerate and affecting the practices of professional farmers. Furthermore, economic inequalities are widening between sectors and conflicts over land use are intensifying, not to mention competition over the use of water resources, which is itself becoming increasingly uncertain due to climate change.

These dynamics reveal a governance structure that is ill-suited and lacks cross-sectoral coordination across rural Alpine territories.

MOUNTAIN-GOV ‘Co-existing’, a Franco-Slovenian Euro-Alpine project, will therefore assess the current state of this governance in order to develop solutions to address these growing challenges. CIPRA France and the Maribor Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry in Austria will share their knowledge and expertise to create an inter-sectoral governance model that promotes the development of a sustainable economy, respectful of local populations, both human and non-human, and enabling the long-term co-existence of tourism and agricultural practices in rural mountain areas.

Full Project name: Moderating Tension in Alpine Landscapes: Governance Strategies for Sustainable Co-existence 

Project objectives: 

• Strengthening interregional understanding and governance to achieve greater integration

• A better understanding of the similarities and differences between regional authorities and associations across the entire Alpine region

• Enhancing the multifunctionality of rural areas by promoting cross-sectoral dialogue and the sharing of responsibilities

• Transferring knowledge on the significance of tourism’s impact on farmers and their land to foster a better shared understanding of the related challenges

• Combining a holistic Alpine perspective with locally rooted processes, particularly in Slovenia

• Transforming a conflict-ridden coexistence into a structured, cooperative and sustainable model for the long-term future of Alpine rural areas

Main Activities:

• Organisation of online workshops with various stakeholders, including SUERA working groups, to discuss issues relating to European territorial governance in the field of tourism

• Production of a best-practice guide providing an overview of the coexistence of tourism and agriculture in the Alpine region

• Franco-Slovenian meetings on the subject to assess the extent to which CIPRA France’s expertise in sustainable governance and moderation in rural mountain areas can be transferred

• Management, development and support for the agriculture/tourism coexistence model created during the various Euro-Alpine workshops and meetings

Project partners: 

• Comité français de la Commission internationale pour la protection des Alpes - CIPRA (FR)

• The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia – Institute of Agriculture and Forestry Maribor (KGZS - Zavod Maribor) (SI)

Participating countries: France, Slovenia

Project dates: Septembre 2026 – August 2028

Project language: English

Funding: The project is part of the Erasmus+ Programme. Funded by the European Union, this programme promotes teaching, research, networking and debate on European issues.