Here you can find informations about the topic of alps

The Alpine Convention is a pioneer

In the 1990s, it was the world's first international agreement to consider a transnational mountain region in its entirety. The Convention signed by the eight Alpine countries Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Monaco as well as by the European Union. The Alpine Convention has been in force since 1995.

Common territory and common goals

The contracting parties share a common territory, face common challenges and have common goals: the protection and sustainable development of the Alps.
The Alps are a natural, cultural, living and economic space for more than 14 million inhabitants. Every year, many tourists spend their holidays in this mountainous area in the heart of Europe.

History of the Alpine Convention

The elaboration of an Alpine Convention already identified as one of the main objectives of the International Alpine Protection Commission CIPRA in 1952. At CIPRA's suggestion, a unanimous plenary resolution passed in the European Parliament on 17^th May 1988 to draw up a "Convention on the Protection of the Alpine Region". An 89-point resolution of the environment ministers at the first Alpine Conference in Berchtesgaden in 1989 led to the concrete commitment to formulate a treaty binding under international law between the eight Alpine states and the EEC.

The Alpine Convention signed in Salzburg on 7^th November 1991 by Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and the EEC. Slovenia signed the Convention in 1993 and Monaco became on the basis of a separate additional protocol a contracting party in 1994. The Convention entered into force in 1995. Further specific obligations laid down in eight thematic protocols.

The Alpine Convention is a unique, legally binding sustainability instrument that aims to preserve the sensitive alpine ecosystems together with regional cultural identities, heritage and traditions in the Alps for future generations. The Alpine Convention is also a political arena where the Contracting Parties, in cooperation with many observer organisations, have built up great expertise over many years.

Link Framework Convention

Download Framework Convention (German-pdf)

The protocols of the Alpine Convention contain specific measures to implement the principles laid down in the framework Convention.

The protocols regulate concrete steps for the protection and sustainable development of the Alps.

The existing Protocols cover many different issues:

• Spatial planning and sustainable development*
• Mountain farming*
• Nature protection and landscape conservation*
• Mountain forests*
• Tourism*
• Energy*
• Soil conservation*
• Transport*

Furthermore, two additional protocols have been adopted, respectively on Solution of litigations and on the Adherence of the Principality of Monaco to the Alpine Convention*.

In addition ot the protocols, the Alpine Conference has adopted the following Ministerial declarations on specific topics:

* un-official English translations provided by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention 

Link Protocols and Declarations

Healthy soils are key to mitigating and adapting to climate change, preserving biodiversity and ensuring food security.

However, we lose large amounts of healthy soils every day. This loss largely caused by human soil consumption. This is particularly critical in the Alps, where soil availability is severely limited.

The Contracting Parties to the Alpine Convention have therefore committed themselves to "reducing quantitative and qualitative soil degradation, in particular through the application of soil-conserving agricultural and forestry production methods, the economical use of land and soil, the control of erosion and the limitation of soil sealing" (Framework Convention, Article 2, paragraph 2d).

Link Soil Conservation Protocol

Currently, the XV Alpine Conference has welcomed the Declaration "Sustainable Land Use and Soil Protection - Joining Forces for Nature, People and the Economy", which was prepared by Action Group 6 of the EU Alpine Space Strategy EUSALP. This Action Group is led by the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the Province of Carinthia.

Link Deklaration en (pdf)
Link Deklaration de (pdf)

The XV Alpine Conference noted that an enhanced cooperation of the Parties in the field of soil protection is required due to the increased pressure on the use of soils in the Alpine region and the increased risk, e.g. by climate change. Thus, the Soil Protection Working Group was established in 2019. 

The Working Group contributes to the protection and improvement of the condition of Alpine soils, with special emphasis on climate protection and adaptation to climate change. In doing so, the Working Group is oriented towards site-appropriate and sustainable soil management, economical use of soil and avoidance of soil degradation or soil pollution.

Building on the results of the first work phase until the end of 2020, the long-term activities regarding harmonised databases and permanent monitoring areas are continued and specified, exchange with relevant networks and awareness raising on soil protection are intensified.

Furthermore, a long-term action plan for the implementation of provisions and declarations on soil protection in the specific context of the Alpine region will be developed.

Link Soil Protectin Working Group
Link Activity Report 2019/2020
Link Mandate Proposal 2021-2022 Soil Protection Working Group