About the Platform "Ecological Network"

The Alpine Convention




The Alpine Convention is a framework agreement for the protection and sustainable development of the Alpine region. It was signed by Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Monaco and the EU and entered into force in March 1995.

For the Alpine Ecological Network, especially one protocol of the convention is important, the “Nature conservation and landscape planning” protocol. It requires the establishment of an ecological network in the Alps.  


Article 12 – Protocol “Nature conservation and landscape planning” of the Alpine Convention
Ecological network
"The contracting parties take adequate measures to establish a network of existing national and transboundary protected areas, of biotopes and other protected elements or those to be protected. They commit themselves to harmonize the objectives and applicable measures in transboundary protected areas.".

Platform Ecological Network


The Alpine Convention works towards an integrated, sustainable development of the alpine region, a concept that runs through the framework convention and all protocols. Establishing an ecological network in the Alps is one of the key goals of the protocol “Conservation of Nature and the Countryside” under the Alpine Convention.

At the IXth Alpine Conference in Alpbach (Austria) in November 2006, it was decided to establish a Platform “Ecological Network” to initiate concrete steps towards establishing an alpine-wide ecological network and by this supporting the implementation of the protocol on “Conservation of Nature and the Countryside” throughout the Alps. The national administrative and scientific bodies in the field of nature conservation and also international organisations were invited to take part in the platform.
After 2 years of German presidency of the Platform “Ecological Network” under the Alpine Convention the precidency for the second period until 2011 has now been taken over by France.