News http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org daily 1 2010-09-09T19:38:07Z What counts for the diversity of Alpine species http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4799 An international team of researchers has decided on the 50 most important questions for the connecting of habitats in the Alpine regions. Research, support and projects should thus now all be singing in unison. What really counts for the Alpine space? The Alps are home to some 43,000 plant and animal species. For them to eat, rest and reproduce the animals have to be able to migrate. That is only possible if habitats are linked to one another. The Ecological Continuum Initiative, the Ecological Network platform and the project partners of Econnect are working towards this aim; they also initiated the drawing up of the 50 questions.
Source and further information: www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/infoservice, www.alpine-ecological-network.org/, www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10

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]]> No publisher zopemaster 2013-03-11T18:56:09Z CipraNews What municipalities can do for hermits and fire salamanders http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4785 The Alps possess an especially large and valuable diversity of plants and animals; this can only continue if habitats are preserved and remain connected to one another. Municipalities can contribute to this in many ways: CIPRA has produced a short film for municipal representatives showing how to make use of these opportunities. For example, if a municipality wishes to produce energy from biomass sources, the result might be the intensive farming of what were previously meadows. Deer now find little cover to cross such open fields safely. In this and in many other ways throughout the Alps, functioning connections between habitats are broken, often without thinking and usually permanently. The habitats for animals become patchy, species diversity is reduced and some species disappear altogether. "It is urgently necessary to think and act for Nature", says CIPRA project manager Aurelia Ullrich-Schneider.

People profit too
The film "For hermits and fire salamanders - How municipalities connect habitats in the Alps" gives examples of how municipalities can contribute to maintaining the natural diversity of the Alps. Representatives from the Isère département in France, the Engadin in Switzerland and South Tyrol explain how they all contribute to connecting habitats. Each emphasises that it is not just nature that profits, but also people. "I think the film is very relevant and clearly shows Alpine municipalities that taking account of landscapes and biodiversity improves their quality of life and sustainable development. The film successfully gets this core message across", states Antonio Chiadò, vice-chairman of the "Alliance in the Alps" network of municipalities.
The 15-minute film is available in English, French, German, Italian and Slovenian as a free DVD or internet download. CIPRA will also be showing the film over the coming months to its target audience of municipal representatives at various events, including at the locations where the film was made.

Useful accompanying material
The website www.alpine-ecological-network.org features, alongside the film, a two-minute trailer for municipalities and further aids for developing ecological networking, such as a catalogue of possible steps to take, an expert database and an interactive map showing the networking potential of a particular area.
The film campaign has been financed by the Valüna-Stiftung Vaduz / Liechtenstein and another charitable foundation from Liechtenstein. The film forms part of the Ecological Continuum Initiative under which CIPRA, together with ALPARC (Alpine Network of Protected Areas) and ISCAR (International Scientific Committee for Alpine Research), is supporting municipalities and other players in their efforts to improve ecological networks in the Alps.

This media release, print quality press images, the film and the trailer are available for download at: www.cipra.org/en/press/press-releases

Please address all queries to:
Aurelia Ullrich-Schneider, Project Manager, Biodiversity and Landscape, CIPRA International
+423 237 53 08, aurelia.ullrich@cipra.org

CIPRA, a diverse and multifaceted organisation
CIPRA, the International Commission for the Protection of the Alps, is a non-governmental umbrella organisation with national representatives and one regional representative in the seven Alpine countries. It represents more than 100 associations and organisations. CIPRA works towards achieving sustainable development in the Alps; it also strives to preserve the natural and cultural heritage, maintain regional diversity, and bring about solutions to cross-border problems in the Alpine region.
www.cipra.org]]> No publisher zopemaster 2013-02-14T18:55:08Z CipraNews Connectivity video clip for mayors http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4689 Municipalities can collaborate in the improvement of ecological networks in many different ways. Therefore CIPRA wants to convince mayors for this topic with the help of a video clip. The movie will be shown at events from autumn 2012. It will also be available on the Internet. ALPARC is producing an accompanying brochure with further information on ecological connectivity for mayors. The movie-campaign is part of the Ecological Continuum Initiative in which CIPRA, the Alpine Network of Protected Areas, ALPARC, and the International Scientific Committee, ISCAR, work together for the connection of natural habitats.
Further information: aurelia.ullrich@cipra.org]]> No publisher zopemaster 2012-08-31T05:54:46Z CipraNews Initialising follow-up activities to the Econnect project http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4315 The Econnect project approaches its end in autumn 2011. To develop visions and projects beyond Econnect, the Continuum Initiative organised a think tank workshop last November in Bolzano/I. www.alpine-ecological-network.org/about-us)
More information on the think tank: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/about-us]]> No publisher zopemaster 2011-04-21T17:54:35Z CipraNews Use "The Wall" at your events to emphasize the importance of ecological connectivity http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4314 Are you organizing an event which aims at raising awareness on the problem of habitat fragmentation? Then borrow one of the six colourful installations the "Ecological Continuum Initiative" created for its action "The Wall". www.alpine-ecological-network.org/about-us (e, d, i, f). Contact: aurelia.ullrich@cipra.org]]> No publisher zopemaster 2011-04-21T17:54:33Z CipraNews New tool for custom-made connectivity solutions http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4313 Do you want to facilitate the migration of animals within and between their habitats? There are many different ways to do this. Whether you are a farmer, a mayor or leading a tourist company: the detailed search of the new online "measures catalogue" shows you possible activities to improve ecological connectivity that are adapted to your individual situation. www.alpine-ecological-network.org (e,d,f,i)]]> No publisher zopemaster 2011-04-21T17:54:31Z CipraNews Future of the Ecological Continuum Initiative http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4261 The Ecological Continuum Initiative will continue its activities also in 2011. No publisher zopemaster 2010-12-14T18:52:28Z CipraNews Renewed website Ecological Networks in the European Alps http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4252 The Ecological Continuum Initiative has launched its renewed webpage. Apart from the new appealing graphic design the website is also richer in information in German, French, Italian and Slovenian language such as publications, links, events and news. Therefore the website is more attractive for a wide public. www.alpine-ecological-network.org offers an explanation of the ecological connectivity topic, presents activities of the three main initiatives in the Alpine space, news from the connectivity scene and explains tools and methods for establishing an ecological network. The website also enables searching for experts and research projects. In the download centre you can find all documents and information material of the Continuum Initiative and the Platform Ecological Network. There are also new sections dedicated to funding and to the wall event, where you can find reports and pictures of the event, interviews with experts and good practice examples of ecological connectivity measures.]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-12-15T14:23:40Z CipraNews Initialising follow-up activities to the Econnect project http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4251 The Econnect project approaches its end in summer 2011. To develop visions and projects beyond Econnect, the Continuum Initiative organised a think tank workshop on 17 November in Bolzano/I. The objectives were to ensure that good Econnect activities will continue and to involve experts of the think tank in new projects. 20 experts contributed to a differentiated exchange of ideas and the development of projects. The Continuum Initiative had organised a first think tank workshop on stakeholder integration in April. o Define important local connectivity areas in the Alps based on Econnect results.
o Find technical strategies (as for example "data broker") to easily share spatial and species data in the Alpine region.
o Produce barrier/corridor maps on an Alps-wide and on a regional level.
o Produce education materials for different levels.
A detailed report on the workshop will be available on www.alpine-ecological-network.org in February 2011.]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-12-15T14:39:54Z CipraNews The Wall: Less barriers, more life! http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4250 Stop - no way through! On 20th of October 2010 a giant wall blocked the way of pedestrians in Zurich/CH, Vienna/A, Munich/D, Ljubljana/SI, Milan/I and Lyon/F. For animals, it's the same every day: streets and settlements increasingly fragment their migration routes. The action the Wall was a great success and has caused a broad echo in the media. The six structures (walls) are available for free further use by all interested actors (contact: aurelia.ullrich@cipra.org).
Photos of the event in all the six Alpine cities as well as interviews with experts, good practice examples from all countries and material for the media is available at: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/about-us]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-12-15T14:37:07Z CipraNews