recharge.green – BALANCING ALPINE ENERGY AND NATURE

What is it about?

The Alps have great potential for the use of renewable energy. This, however, means increasing pressure on nature. What could be the impact of such changes on the habitats of animals and plants and of ecosystem services? How do they affect land use and soil quality? The analysis and comparison of the costs and benefits of renewable energy production trade-offs is a key component in this project.

Capitalisation of results

  • recharge.green selected some ecosystem services which will be further considered in greenAlps.
  • Conflicts between renewable energy & ecosystem service have been figures out and can be seen  here.
  • recharge.green deals, amongst others, with the question “Can we meet the bioenergy target while preserving ecosystems services?” (see here) which is also an important topic for greenAlps.

 

ECONNECT – RESTORING THE WEB OF LIFE

What is it about?

The ECONNECT project aims at the enhancement of ecological connectivity across the Alpine range. The project involves International umbrella organisations linked to the Alpine Convention, scientific institutions and local implementation partners. All these entities have joined forces to demonstrate the need for connectivity across the Alps as well as exploring the best options for coordinated action and the development of innovative tools to promote ecological connectivity.

Capitalisation of results

  • Policy recommendations of the ECONNECT project (available in d, sl, fr, it, en) available here.
  • Implementation recommendation (available in d, sl, fr, it, en) here.
  • Within ECONNECT the internet-based GIS-analysis tool JECAMI (Joint ecological continuum analysis and mapping initiative) was developed . Results of activities of the greenAlps project will be integrated in the JECAMI tool to make a qualitative contribution to the tool. The JECAMI tool is available here.

SILMAS  –  SUSTAINABLE INSTRUMENTS FOR LAKES MANAGEMENT IN THE ALPINE SPACE

What is it about?

The purpose of this project is to facilitate dialogue between the different institutions involved in managing Alpine lakes. Over a three-year period, scientists, academics and technicians from the public authorities in charge of managing the lakes will pool their knowledge, with a particular focus on three main areas:

 1. The effects of climate change on the Alpine lakes.

2. Resolving conflicts between the different uses of the lakes.

3. Educating the public in sustainable development as it relates to the Alpine lakes.

Capitalisation of results

  • Report “Conservation of biodiversity in the alpine lakes” – Lake management tools on a regional and local scale (available here)
  • Report “Environmental balance sheet” – Specific approach to small lakes and surrounding territory (available here)
  • Further reports can be found here.

 

SHARESUSTAINABLE HYDROPOWER IN ALPINE RIVERS ECOSYSTEMS

What it is about?

SHARE works on balancing river ecosystems and hydropower requirements.

The issue of assessment of new micro hydropower installations in the Alps linked to adaptation to climate change and green growth won’t be sustainable if ecosystem services aren’t respected. Therefore the purpose of SHARE is to develop, test and promote a decision support system to merge, on an unprejudiced base, both river ecosystems and hydropower requirements. This approach was led using existing scientific tools, adjustable to transnational, national and local normative and carried on by permanent panel of administrators and stakeholders.

Capitalisation of results

  • Videos about the SHAREs problem and solution can be found here  and here.
  • The SHARE handbook “A problem solving approach for sustainable management of hydropower and river ecosystems in the Alps” can be found here here. 
  • The SHARE “Guidelines to integrate Multi Criteria Analysis procedures in normative and set of laws” can be found  here.

 

MANFRED– MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO ADAPT ALPINE SPACE FORESTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE RISK

What it is about?

The MANFRED project, aimed at defining management strategies to adapt Alpine Space forests to climate change risks. It has two main objectives:

  • Protection and sustainable long-term management of forest ecosystems,
  • Effective forest management by means of knowledge-based adaptive strategies.

The goals were addressed by collecting and sharing knowledge of climate change impacts on forest ecosystems, by identifying regional and local action requirements and through the development of adaptive strategies in cooperation with regional decision makers. The expected results should aid forest management decisions as local authorities and decision-makers, forest owners and practitioners.

Capitalisation of results

  • Two videos  are that describe the context of action, the scientific methodology and the key findings of the project with regard to the Alpine Space forests and the potential impacts that climate change may trigger on them and their ecosystems.
  • The MANFRED “22nd Century Potential of Alpine Forests” booklet is available here.
  • Main conference findings of the MANFRED project are available here.

 

ALPENCOM – ALP ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION

What it is about?
This project is an integrated approach for protected areaS managerS to ensure a regular exchange, training and common planning on environmental management and to strengthen the networking between public institutions responsible for management of natural resources and the awareness raising for environmental issues.

Capitalisation of results

One of the main Outputs of the project Alpencom is the Virtual Visit Tool (ViViTo), which has been  installed in the visitor centres of the protected areas partners of ALPENCOM; visit vivialp