Restoring the web of life (ECONNECT)

Description:

The Alps are one of the best-known mountain ranges as well as being one of the richest in biodiversity, it is, however, also one of the most densely populated. The traditional tool used to conserve biodiversity and the natural environment has always been the creation of protected areas, however it has become increasingly obvious that a majorly important aspect in the conservation process is to connect protected areas to one another to allow the migration of species across the entire alpine range. Genetic flow across the whole alpine range is important particularly to help species to adapt to the environmental transformations brought about by Climate Change. To successfully protect biodiversity across the whole alpine range a coordinated and transnational approach is needed in accordance with the legal framework provided by the Alpine Convention. 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 connectivi

Project information

Lead

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria

Partners

Austria: University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Research Insitute of Wildlife Ecology Hohe Tauern National Park Federal Environment Agency Gesäuse National Park University of Innsbruck (Institute for Ecology) Germany: Berchtesgaden National Park France: CEMAGREF Council of Department of Isère Task Force Protected Areas (Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention) Italy: Alpi Marittime Nature Park Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta European Academy of Bozen Ministry for the Environment WWF Italy Liechtenstein International Commission for the Protection of the Alps (CIPRA) Switzerland: Swiss National Park

Source of funding

EU / ETC Alpine Space Programme and co-funded by ERDF