http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org daily 1 2010-09-09T19:38:07Z 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4140 The Ecological Continuum Initiative organises a workshop to develop visions and to set the course for an assured continuation of projects beyond Econnect. The workshop will take place on November 17th 2010 in Bolzano/I. Apart from the think tank pool of experts, the collaborators from Econnect, especially collaborators and stakeholders from all pilot regions, and other running connectivity projects are kindly invited to participate.
The first workshop in the frame of the think tank was about stakeholder integration and was carried out on April 23th 2010 in Toblach (I).
More information on the think thank and the workshops:
www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-11-25T22:04:35Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4141 A joint research project of Econnect, the Platform Ecological Network under the Alpine Convention and the Ecological Continuum Initiative aims to identify "The 55 most urgent questions concerning ecological networks in the Alps" by bringing together all "alpine actors" such as national administrations, protected areas, researchers, stakeholders and various NGOs. The study employs a methodology which has been successfully applied in this context in other regions. To date, the 22 participating institutions have submitted some 450 questions. These questions will undergo a second round of review and consolidation before a final prioritization and selection process is carried out at a workshop beginning of December in Switzerland. The output of the process will be a list of 55 questions which reveal the lack of robust scientific evidence or novel approaches with regard to ecological connectivity in the Alpine region. Subsequently the list of questions will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated to a wider public within the Alpine region and beyond, in order to help researchers and donors focus on urgent projects.

]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-11-25T22:04:36Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4143 During the last few years various documents, publications and reports which reflect approaches, tools and activities that support the implementation of an ecological network across the Alps have been published. Some of this information had not been made available for a wide public until now. www.alpine-ecological-network.org]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-19T08:30:24Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4072 A great deal has been done and achieved in recent years to set up a pan-alpine ecological network. As part of its script series the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) has just published a report in English entitled Implementing a Pan-Alpine Ecological Network - A Compilation of Major Approaches, Tools and Activities. It comprises for the first time various documents, publications and reports supporting the implementation of an ecological network across the alpine arc. One chapter focuses on activities in the Carpathians. The publication can provide useful information to regions beyond the Alps, too. For more information: BfN script: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/images, Info sheets: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php (de/fr/it)]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-14T09:45:32Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4010 Every day we build new obstacles on the migrating routes for animals and we prevent plants to spread freely. In most of the cases we are not even aware of this problem. How would it feel and look like, if our living spaces would suddenly get fragmented by obstacles we cannot easily overcome? fabio-guarneri@bluewin.ch]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-11T09:30:56Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/4009 Local connectivity projects can only be implemented if stakeholders are integrated into these activities. Potential difficulties and supportive tools were in the centre of an exchange of experiences between representatives of the ECONNECT pilot areas and other stakeholders carrying out connectivity activities. The discussions were facilitated by the Ecological Continuum Initiative in the frame of a workshop. As a result of the workshop, a comparative overview about the tools used for stakeholder integration in the seven ECONNECT pilot areas has been made. Since most of the activities in the ECONNECT pilot regions are yet in an early phase, the actions focus mainly on tools relevant for this state, e.g. on preparation and communication. Furthermore, the workshop participants concluded some recommendations for stakeholder integration in connectivity projects. The conclusions are divided in three major topics: cooperation with stakeholder groups, communication and initiation of projects. Further information and the report on the workshop are available at: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php
The next think tank workshop will take place on 17 November in Bolzano/I with the aim of discussing follow-up activities to the ECONNECT project.]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-11T09:30:56Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/3846 What significance do water management, tourism and agriculture have for ecological networks? Can measures in the transport sector have a positive effect for ecological corridors? How shall I design my garden to be a habitat for domestic plants and animals? These questions are answered by a series of eleven fact sheets provided by the Ecological Continuum Initiative. www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php. Printed versions will be made available to the ECONNECT pilot regions in July.
The fact sheets do not only inform. Their main objective is to move to action. They target stakeholders from the most important fields of work who are implementing ecological networks. Each fact sheet explains the importance of its respective sector for ecological connectivity and lists concrete connectivity measures that stakeholders are encouraged to implement. Furthermore, each fact sheet presents a good-practice example from the Alps showing that connectivity measures really work. These successful examples should encourage stakeholders to imitate them.]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-14T09:45:30Z CipraNews http://www.alpine-ecological-network.org/news/3845 Just in time for the International Year of Biodiversity, the Ecological Continuum Initiative has printed an updated version of the brochure on Ecological Networks in the Alps. With a new design, the brochure "Restoring the web of life - Ecological networks for more biodiversity in the Alps" illustrates the ecological connectivity topic and makes it understandable to a wide public. The brochure is accompanied by an eye-catcher poster in the same design, which should, especially at the events in the International Year of Biodiversity, draw attention to the three Alps wide connectivity initiatives. The poster is also available in a rollup format (2.10x0.79 m).
The brochure and the posters have been financially supported by the German Environment Ministry, the French Ministry of Ecology and the Swiss MAVA Foundation for Nature.
You can download the brochure and the eye-catcher poster in English, German, Italian, French and Slovenian at: www.alpine-ecological-network.org/index.php. For printed versions please contact: info@alparc.org]]> No publisher zopemaster 2010-10-11T09:30:34Z CipraNews