“The Alpine Convention in small bites”: in this webpage we present, in a simple and dynamic way, the main topics in order to get to know the Alpine Convention. The dynamism stems from the fact that the described issues (" small bites") in this web page will be periodically updated in order to deal with all the important policies for the Alps.
Whoever would like to know about all the up-to-date "small bites" that are currently available can download the book -The Alps-Eight countries, a single territory (pdf, 9MB) published by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention in March 2009, where meaningful photographic images can be found next to the texts .
3. Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development
Less than 20 percent of the Alpine region is suitable for settlements. As a consequence, there are great conflicts in this region, caused by different interests. In addition to this, in the central regions there is a growing need for transport surfaces, industrial and handicraft areas in the central regions. At the same time, demand for living spaces increases, and recreational areas must be preserved, as well as sufficient areas for agriculture. But in peripheral areas as well, there are clashing interests between the preservation of nature, tourism, energy, etc.
The “Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development” Protocol offers some mechanisms to try and find answers to these complex issues. In the preamble, which is also included in other Protocols, one can read that the Alpine population “must be able to determine its own social, cultural and economic development”. However, the Alps are a tourist and recreational area for millions of people from all over the world. Together with the consequences of climate change, the threat to the sensitive Alpine ecosystems grows and requires some active measures. In line with the tasks indicated, the Spatial planning Protocol is a multidisciplinary topic, the core of which resides in the concept that sustainable development is only possible when spatial planning projects are drafted in line with such directions. Therefore, a cross-regional and cross-border framework is mentioned.