In nature and species conservation a paradigm shift has started in the last few years: static nature protection in isolated protected areas is not sufficient for conserving biodiversity, but approaches are needed that take the dynamic of nature and land use change into account. This change of attitudes contributed to the establishment of the model of a functioning ecological network in the Alps, which can contribute to conserve the extraordinary rich Alpine diversity.
Although this background report makes no claim to be exhaustive, it provides brief information on the most important instruments, such as conventions, legislation, regulations and programmes connected with ecological networks.
This background report is available at http://www.cipra.org/en/alpmedia/dossiers, where you will also find up-to-date information on ecological networks in the Alps in the form of news, publications, events and links.
The initiative to compile an AlpMedia dossier comes from a seminar "Creation of ecological networks between alpine protected areas", which took place in Berchtesgaden, Germany on 7 and 8 November 2005 and was organised by the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC).