Biodiversity & Nature Conservation

The Alps are home to more than 30,000 animal and 13,000 plant species. Almost 30% of the Alpine area is protected, but many species roam over larger distances. Ecological corridors and “steppingstones” are crucial for enabling these movements. Moreover, it is important that the whole territory remains permeable and liveable for all species.

Large carnivores (wolf, bear, and lynx) and wild ungulates (ibex, chamois, red deer, etc.) are an important part of the Alpine imagery and ecosystems, but may come into conflict with human activities such as pastoralism, forestry, and hunting. Sustainable wildlife management requires us to balance and harmonise these and other interests. Well-balanced solutions have to be sought in cooperation with all involved actors (Article 2, 2f of the Framework Convention).

In 2023 a Trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the CBD, the Carpathian Convention, and the Alpine Convention to deepen cooperation on the topic of biodiversity.

Protocols and Declarations

• Declaration of the XVI Alpine Conference on the Protection of Mountain Biodiversity and its Promotion at International Level

• Nature Protection and Landscape Conservation Protocol

Thematic Working Bodies

• Alpine Biodiversity Board

• Large Carnivores, Wild Ungulates and Society Working Group (WISO)

• Natural Hazards Working Group (PLANALP)

• Ecological Network Platform (2006-2019)

Selected Documents and Publications

• Report of the survey of main policies and instruments for Alpine biodiversity (2020)

• Summary of the exchange on wild ungulate monitoring on the WISO meeting (2020)

• Prevention of damages caused by large carnivores in the Alps (2020)

• PLACE Report on Spatial Planning and Ecological Connectivity (2019)

• Recommendations for the implementation of Art. 11(1) of the Nature Conservation and landscape Protection Protocol (2017)

• Multi-Annual Work Programme of the Alpine Conference 2017-2022 (2017)

• Alpine Nature 2030: Creating [ecological] connectivity for generations to come (2016)

• The Important Role of Ecological Connectivity for Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts in the Alps (2016)

• Evaluation of the Pilot Regions for Ecological Connectivity of the Alpine Convention - regarding the first eight pilot regions established in 2011 (2016)

• Determination of the areas of particular importance for the Alpine ecological network - connectivity analysis (2012) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian

• The indicators for the ecological network: indicators for monitoring of durable development in the Alpine regions - a synthesis (2012)

• Synopsis of initial country reports on the status of ecological connectivity

• The Ecological Network in the Alps: Defining criteria and objectives for pilot regions (2009)

Projects

• Mountain Biodiversity Day (13 January 2021)

• ALPBIONET 2030 (Alpine Space Programme) – integrative Alpine wildlife and habitat management for the next generation (2016-2019)

• AlpES (Alpine Space Programme) – Alpine ecosystem service mapping, maintenance and management project (2015-2018)