Water is one of the 12 main issues listed within the Alpine Convention in Article 2. However, this specific issue has not yet been covered by a specific protocol. The objective of the Alpine Convention concerning water management is to preserve or re-establish healthy water systems, in particular by keeping lakes and rivers free of pollution, by applying natural hydraulic engineering techniques and by using water power, which serves the interests of both the indigenous population and the environment alike.
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1. What is the Water Platform?
The Alpine Convention instituted a platform on water issues at the Xth Alpine Conference in Evian, March 2009 after the elaboration and adoption of the second report on the state of the Alps on „Water and Water Management Issues“. The platform follows the objectives and recommendations identified in this report. In addition the Climate Action Plan of the Convention, adopted at the Xth Alpine Conference in Evian, contains several issues related to water management, such as, for example, to reinforce implementation of the Water Framework Directive, to prevent water shortages and to develop plants according to the ecology of water courses.
More specifically the Action Plan requires prompt and collective action from all Contracting Parties of the Alpine Convention to limit the impact of climate change, particularly by developing guidelines for the construction, optimisation and rehabilitation of small hydroelectric power stations while respecting aquatic environments and biodiversity.
Members of the platform are delegations of the parties of the Alpine Convention and the official observers of the Alpine Convention. Switzerland and Austria hold the co-presidency of the platform until the XIth Alpine Conference in spring 2011.
List of members (Find in DE, IT, SL, FR)
2. Objectives
The mandate of the platform for the years 2009-2011 focuses on the development of guidelines for hydropower in the Alps, taking into consideration existing legislation, economic efficiency and ecological criteria. Further, the platform has the task of assessing whether the existing River Basin Management Plans (elaborated in the frame of the Water Framework Directive) take sufficient account of alpine specific aspects as well as climate change aspects. Finally, members of the platform address good practices examples in the sphere of hydropower generation, monitoring and last but not least on-going research questions.
The mandate of the platform for the years 2011-2012 encourages the Parties to focus mainly on two specific issues: transport of sediments and hydro-peaking. To facilitate this, the platform will organise two one-day workshops. Germany further supports the implementation of the 4th water conference in autumn 2012.