What's happening in the Alpine Convention?

The Alpine Convention comes to life through its organisations and partners from all across the Alps. They are always organising projects that showcase how the Alpine region is a model for sustainable development. We want to share some of these great projects with you and encourage you to get involved!

This is the first edition of a regular update on upcoming and ongoing activities organised by the Alpine Convention Contracting Parties and Observers.

• Austria has the pleasure of supporting Zuugle, a platform that provides information on the accessibility of mountain tours in the Alpine region by train and bus. The platform currently has over 10.000 tours in the German-speaking Alpine territory and will soon have even more when it is extended to the whole Alpine area! More information
• The Swiss presidency of EUSALP invites you to the international conference on Water on 16 June in Scuol (CH). The Alpine region is particularly affected by climate change and thus also the Alpine water cycle. Based on scientific findings and project examples from the fields of water energy, biodiversity, and tourism, the conference will deal, among other things, with the political framework conditions for successful water management. More information
• On 5 June (World Environment Day), staff at the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion will have the opportunity to take part in a Climate Fresk, an interactive educational game on climate. Participants will also learn about the Alpine Convention and receive a copy of the Alpine Climate Board’s brochure on “Closing the gap on climate action”. More information

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• The Slovenian Presidency of the Alpine Convention will support the 17^th  International Wild Flower Festival in Bohinj (SI). The Festival is taking place from 19 May to 4 June. Numerous cultural events related to floral themes will also be organised during the festival. More information
• Euromontana has published the 2023 edition of its annual booklet of good practices. This publication showcases 11 inspiring initiatives from all over Europe (EU and non-EU) that drive change and sustainable transformation in mountain areas. More information
• River Pearl PLUS is a label that WWF recommends be used to protect the last remaining natural river stretches in the Alps. The label honours valuable streams and rivers and the commitment of the people behind them – for the benefit of people and nature. More information

• ALPARC, supported by Germany, is organising the 9^th edition of Youth at the Top on 13 July (and the night from 13 to 14 July). During the event, hundreds of young people will experience the mountains at the same time. Protected areas, organisations, youth associations, local professionals, and refuges from all over the Alps and the Carpathians are invited to register an event. More information
• ISCAR is organising a round table panel discussion at the Mountains and Plains Conference in Bern (CH) from 22 to 26 August. The theme of the discussion will be “Past, present and future of mountain research networks”. More information
• Young people who are passionate about sustainable and collaborative development of the Alpine space can apply for the Alpine Changemaker Basecamp, organised by CIPRA and its partners, until 15 May! During five days in July, they will develop project ideas with the support of mentors and like-minded people in the Venosta valley (IT). More information

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• The fifth edition of the Youth Alpine Interrail (YOALIN) began on 1 April, and applications are open until 26 May. YOALIN offers 150 Interrail passes to young people aged between 18 and 27 to travel through the Alps in a climate-friendly way. The participants are invited to a kick-off event in Slovenia, three hub events throughout the summer, and a final event in Switzerland. The project is supported by the Contracting Parties of the Alpine Convention Austria, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and Switzerland and organised by CIPRA and the CIPRA Youth Council. More information
• Alliance in the Alps is one of the partners in the Interreg Alpine Space project BeyondSnow. It aims at helping small and mid-sized winter destinations maintain and increase their attractiveness to residents and tourists in view of declining snow reliability due to climate change. More information
• The Youth Ambassadors Initiative allows representatives of the EUSALP Youth Council to be involved in the implementation of Interreg Alpine Space projects – contributing the views and positions of young people to discussions, and at the same time acting as multipliers, reporting on the projects on social media and at events.