Spatial planning

Space is a limited resource needed for a variety of purposes. This applies especially to the Alps, where less than 20% of the surface is suitable for human settlement. The remainder of the land is too steep, too high or too remote. Coordinating these demands in a sustainable way is key and must be done across country borders and sectors. A strong, committed cross-sectoral approach is needed to tackle the growing number of cross-cutting issues in spatial development and to strengthen the sustainable development of the Alpine Space.

Thus, the Contracting Parties of the Alpine Convention have defined the common goal to “ensure the economical and rational use of land and the sound, harmonious development of the whole region. Particular emphasis must be placed on natural hazards, the avoidance of under- and overuse and the conservation or rehabilitation of natural habitats by means of a thorough clarification and evaluation of land use requirements, anticipatory integral planning and coordination of the measures taken” (Framework Convention Art. 2, 2b).

Protocols and Declarations

• Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development Protocol

Thematic Working Bodies

• Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development Working Group
• Ad hoc Working Group for the Preparation of the 9th Report on the State of the Alps (2021-2022)
• Ad hoc Expert Group on Spatial Planning (2016-2019)

Action Group 6 on the “Preservation and valorisation of natural resources, including water and cultural resources” of the EUSALP, which is led by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Province of Carinthia, deals with the topic of spatial planning in one of its subgroups.

Selected Documents and Publications

• Assessment study: Cross-border spatial development in the Alpine Convention area (2022); summary
• Land take in the Alpine region: the data perspective (2022); summary
• Collection of good practices for growth and shrinking strategies (2022); summary
• Land saving targets in Alpine countries and regions (2022); summary
• 9^th Report on the Start of the Alps: Alpine Towns (2022)
• Soil functions and spatial planning in the Alps - Workshop documentation​​​​​​​ (2022)
• Position paper Safeguarding open spaces in the Alpine region (2022)
• PLACE Report on Spatial Planning and Ecological Connectivity (2019)
• ESPON: Results of the Targeted Analysis “Alps2050 - Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision” and the Alps 2050 Atlas (2018)
• The Alps in 25 Maps (2018)
• Declaration on Sustainable Spatial Development in the Alps - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian
• Alpine Spatial Development. Documentation of the Stakeholder Conference (28-29 January 2016) - available in German, French, Italian, and Slovenian

Projects

• Webinar of the Alpine Climate Board: Thoughts on a Spatial Climate Plan for Alpine cities (November 2024)
• Peer learning Workshop “Climate action in Alpine towns - How to?” (June 2021)
• Webinar of the Alpine Climate Board: Implementation Pathways “Spatial Planning” (August 2021)
• OpenSpaceAlps (Alpine Space Programme) - Sustainable development of alpine open spaces by enhancing spatial planning governance (2019-2022)
• Climate Action in Alpine Towns – EU Territorial Agenda 2030 pilot action
• TrAILs (Alpine Space Programme) - Alpine Industrial Landscapes Transformation (2018-2021)
• ESPON analysis: Alps2050 – Common Spatial Perspectives for the Alpine Area. Towards a Common Vision (2017-2018)
• ASTUS (Alpine Space Programme) - Alpine Smart Transport and Urbanism Strategies (2016-2019)