The Platform on Natural Hazards of the Alpine Convention (called hereafter PLANALP) was set up to develop common strategies designed to prevent natural hazards in the Alps as well as to deliberate on adaptation strategies. The extent of the damage caused by such hazards is constantly increasing and the reasons well known. Measures agreed across the whole Alpine region therefore make sense and in some fields are urgently needed.
1. What is PLANALP?
After the devastating avalanches and floods of 1999, the Alpine Conference appointed a working group to develop common strategies and activity fields on the level of the parties to the Alpine Convention. Based on the recommendations of this working group, PLANALP was established by the Ministers at the 8th Alpine Conference in 2004. The mandate of PLANALP covers both the formulation of strategic concepts on integrated risk management against natural hazards and the coordinated implementation of subsequent measures.
The contracting parties to the Alpine Convention delegated high-level experts to PLANALP in order to ensure effective networking and coordination of activities in the Alps and exert influence on national strategies. Switzerland has held the chair of PLANALP since 2005. PLANALP works closely with the relevant professional international and national institutions in this field. The Platform consists of up to two representatives (national and/or regional) per contracting party. Observers to the Convention may put forward two representatives selected by the observers themselves. PLANALP meets at least once a year.
List of members
2. Objectives
The main objectives of the Natural hazards platform are:
- to discuss concepts for an integrated reduction of natural hazards;
- to identify “best practices” ;
- to implement the subsequent measures ;
- to intensify the cross-border exchange of experience.
3. Activities, Documents, Results
4. Links and Additional Information
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Liechtenstein
- Slovenia
- Switzerland
* un-official English translations provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention