Search

Good prospects for bearded vultures

Once extinct, now once again native to the Alps: the reintroduction of bearded vultures to the Alpine region has been successful and the population is growing, as a recent study from Switzerland shows. The greatest threat to these birds of prey remains humans.

Keeping our eyes on the stars

Dark nights have become a rarity in our bright world. Artificial light from settlements, industry, street lighting and billboards illuminates the night sky. In Austria, a new natural night sky area is being created that will preserve the view of the starry sky.

AlpWeek 2024 Report

The AlpWeek 2024 Report highlights the main tools and ideas that were discussed during the AlpWeek. It focuses on the three priorities of the Multi-Annual Work Programme (2023–2030) of the Alpine Conference (MAP): Biodiversity, Climate Action, Quality of Life.

Visiting “Utopias” all over the Alps

In 2024, the Via Alpina Youth project inspired young people across the Alps for social, cultural and everyday utopias of sustainability – but above all for shared adventures in the mountains.

YOALIN wins climate competition

CIPRA’s project received the Clima Now Foundation’s Spotlight Prize, worth CHF 50,000. YOALIN is committed to climate-friendly travel.

Microplastics in the Alps

Plastic pollution continues to threaten our health and our most precious landscapes. The latest findings show that microplastics can even be found on the highest Alpine peaks.

Too much water, too little water: excursion to the Vienna Woods

How do drones detect illegal campfires? How do settlements protect themselves from the next flood? What do forest fires have in common with avalanches? At the end of November 2024, an excursion to the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve by participants in the MultiBios project looked for answers.

An end to snowmobiles and heliskiing

In France, snowmobile tours are now officially banned in the Chamrousse ski resort; other areas could soon follow suit. In Austria, environmental organisations are calling for an end to heliskiing.

FutureForum Alps 2025

“H2O: precious, powerful, scarce”: How is the climate crisis affecting the alpine water resources? What will it take to ensure that we continue to have sufficient water as a habitat and resource in the future? These and other questions will be addressed at the Liechtenstein FutureForum Alps.

Climate Bridges network in action

New momentum for climate protection and cooperation in the Western Balkans: the “Climate Bridges Network in Action” project is launching an action plan to revitalise the newly established Western Balkans network. Together with local organisations, the project partners are developing a wide range of measures for both the environment and the climate.

JeloviZA

Agorà on large carnivores

Challenges in managing large carnivores and the role of large carnivore centers

Webinars for cities and municipalities

The battle for Alpine water

A revival of the hydropower boom: 70 years ago, many Alpine rivers were dammed for the benefit of power stations, while valuable high valleys were built over. Today, new requirements are threatening their ecological functions. In view of the dwindling glaciers and increasing utilisation demands, a distribution battle is looming.

Getting stones rolling

Workshops, excursions, art cards, podcasts: the results of the CIPRA “SteinReich” project, which focused on drystone walls and cairns, are diverse and tangible.

AlpWeek 2024: time for action

A look back, a look forwards: twenty years after the first AlpWeek, the eighth edition of the international conference brought over 200 people to Nova Gorica/SL to discuss what is important in the development of the Alpine region.

Protecting Alpine biodiversity

In September 2024, CIPRA launched two innovative Interreg projects: LiveAlpsNature and AlpsLife. These projects are helping to protect biodiversity in the Alps and meet the growing challenges posed by the climate crisis and intensive tourism.

AlpsLife – observe globally, act locally

The successful protection of biodiversity in the Alps is only sustainable through Alpine-wide monitoring and management. This is the aim of the AlpsLife project.

Alarming findings of the Glacier Caravan 2024

Italy's Alpine glaciers are disappearing at a disturbing rate: this is the alarming finding of the Glacier Caravan 2024, organised by the environmental organisation Legambiente in collaboration with CIPRA Italy and the Italian Glaciological Committee.

10 Key Concepts of the Pastoral economy

LiveAlpsNature

The LiveAlpsNature project contributes to the preservation of biodiversity in Alpine protected areas, which are increasingly being used for nature and health tourism. To this end, the project team is developing new visitor guidance concepts and leisure activities and integrating them into digital platforms.

Nature-based solutions and their governance structures in the Alpine region

In view of the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, the use of nature-based solutions (NbS) is becoming increasingly important. On behalf of the German Federal Environment Agency, ifuplan (lead) and CIPRA International are preparing a report on “Nature-based solutions and governance structures in the Alpine region”. The aim of the report is to analyse the potential of various NbS in the Alpine region and the governance mechanisms behind them that ensure their success. Based on this, their transferability to other Alpine regions will be analysed and recommendations for action formulated.

Webinar series on cross-border mobility

The webinar series on cross-border mobility and European strategies and grants for mobility solutions aimed to strengthen the common understanding and European approach to local mobility solutions. The workshops were open to all stakeholders interested in these topics and provided a platform for exchange and cooperation.

A delegation from Chartreuse visits Bad Hindelang to discuss mobility in Alpine areas

As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised exchange study visits between two pilot territories : the Chartreuse massif in France (represented by the regional natural park and the local authority "Coeur de Chartreuse") and the municipality of Bad Hindelang in Germany.

DINAMO Erasmus+ project: a new white paper on mountain mobility

The "DINAMO" project aims to address the challenges of rural mountain mobility by encouraging cooperation between different stakeholders and stimulating creative processes through international exchanges. The main objective is to promote sustainable mobility solutions in rural mountain areas, to help them become less dependent on individual car transport.

Learning about Alpine cross-mobility in the DINAMO Erasmus+ project webinars

As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised two webinars on the topic of cross-border mobility and Alpine mobility strategies in June and July 2024.

DINAMO Erasmus+ project: the return trip from Bad Hindelang to Chartreuse

As part of the European ERASMUS+ project "DINAMO - Developing International Nature Adapted Mobility Options", CIPRA Germany and CIPRA France organised exchange study visits between two pilot territories : the Chartreuse massif in France (represented by the regional natural park and the local authority "Coeur de Chartreuse") and the municipality of Bad Hindelang in Germany.

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.

Alpine huts: the first victims of the climate crisis?

Water shortages, disintegrating mountains and renovation needs: managing Alpine huts has always been difficult, but the climate crisis is making the situation even worse. The Austrian Alpine Association has already issued an “Emergency call from the Alps”.

20,000 climate-friendly kilometres

At the end of June 2024, 35 young people – previously unknown to each other – met in Slovenia. They were part of the Yoalin project, in which 105 (out of over 2,200 applicants) are travelling the Alps this summer in a climate-friendly way using an Interrail ticket.