The Alliance in the Alps is a network comprising almost 150 local authorities and covering the whole of the Alpine region, from France to Slovenia. The affiliated communities have joined the network with the aim of implementing the goals of the Alpine Convention for sustainable development in the Alpine region. For that purpose they work in close co-operation with the people in their communities to improve the ecological, social and economic situation there. They are also active in the mutual exchange of knowledge and experience within the network, organizing regular meetings, conferences and excursions.
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Background
Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, "sustainable development” has become a household term. The Alpine Convention represents the first attempt to create the preconditions for sustainable development and sustainable economy in the whole of the Alpine region.
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The Idea
CIPRA-lnternational (International Commission for the Protection of the Alps) in Schaan (FL) is committed to the implementation of the goals and provisions of the Alpine Convention. For this reason a project was launched in collaboration with the Alpine Research Institute (AFI) and a number of regional organizations to establish a network of local authorities in the countries of the Alps with the aim of implementing the Alpine Convention at the local level and encouraging a more effective flow of information between the affiliated communities.
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The Pilot Project
The pilot project involved a total of 27 local authorities from all the countries of the Alps:
Bad Reichenhall, Grossweil, Mittenwald, Oberammergau, Oberstaufen and
Schliersee in Germany.
Ste. Marie du Mont in France.
Budoia, Bobbio Pellice, Levico Terme, San Zeno di Montagna, Treviso Bresciano,
Eppan and Naturns in Italy.
Schaan in Liechtenstein.
Brandberg, Grossraming, Mäder and Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria.
Saas Fee, Salgesch, Silenen, St. Martin, Val Lumnezia and Zweisimrnen in
Switzerland.
Bovec and Kranjska Gora in Slovenia.
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Eco-Audits for local Authorities
A main goal of the pilot project was to develop an eco-audit for the individual communities on the basis of the EU model. In collaboration with all interested parties, the various local authorities formulated their environmental policies. The task included a definition of the communities' goals, of the direction they wished to move in, and also of what sustainability actually meant for them. This definition of environmental policy was followed by an eco-audit relating to two subjects of the Alpine Convention, which the local authorities were free to choose in the light of their specific situations and needs. Some opted for Mountain Agriculture and Tourism; others chose Transport and Energy, etc. The eco-audits were performed with the help of checklists drawn up in the course of the pilot project. The checklists were used to assess the situation relating to the chosen topics in the individual communities.
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The main subjects
In each community a local project leader was appointed and one or two related working groups established. Tourism and Transport were the main subjects dealt with in many of the communities.
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Learning from people you know
A key element of the project was to encourage communication and the exchange of information between the communities. For that purpose a number of international conferences were organized, and they proved very popular with the community representatives. The conferences included lectures and workshops. The discussions were particularly fruitful, generating numerous solutions to various problems. Open communication helps the communities save time and money and avoid frustration. They hear what has worked well for others, where the problems were and where special attention is required. This function of the community network, namely mutual consultation and the exchange of news and information, is just as important as the work done in the individual communities.
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The Association
In view of the positive character of the overall project experience, the communities decided at the end of the pilot phase to establish an association by the name of Alliance in the Alps (Gemeinde-Netzwerk Allianz in den Alpen, Réseau de communes Alliance dans les Alpes, Rete di comuni Alleanza nelle Alpi, Omrezje obcin Povezanost v Alpah). That is a clear expression of their desire to continue to work in close co-operation to promote the implementation of the Alpine Convention.
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