Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine Space

Date of latest update: 2024-10-29

Description

Description (EN):

The Alps are a global biodiversity hotspot threatened by climate and land-use changes. However, a lack of pan-Alpine policy coordination reduces the effectiveness of current and future conservation efforts. The main challenge arises from the diverse biodiversity monitoring schemes implemented by Alpine authorities at different levels, which make it difficult to obtain a comprehensive overview of the pan-Alpine situation. A general overview is essential for establishing common conservation priorities or policies and measures. Ecological indicators are key tools for identifying priority areas for restoration or conservation efforts and guiding policymakers in decision-making processes. In the Trans-Alpine context, where synergies and cooperation are crucial, the lack of available Alps-wide indicators increases the risk of ineffective biodiversity conservation strategies. AlpsLife addresses these challenges by 1) providing specific areas that need attention for conservation or ecological restoration policies; 2) selecting EU indicators to be downscaled at the Alpine level, developing interoperability strategies to compare fragmented datasets and establish a common understanding of the conservation status of the Alpine biodiversity; 3) Implementing the selected indicators on the ground by capitalizing on the existing data and filling the gaps of knowledge; 4) Ensuring consistency with the policy needs of the Alpine countries to better implement and use AlpsLife results in the long-term. The outputs are co-developed and disseminated by EUSALP AG6, AG7, and ABB of the Alpine Convention (AlpConv). The partnership includes protected areas managers, national authorities, members of EUSALP and Alpine Biodiversity Board of AlpConv, and scientists. AlpsLife explicitly responds to the need for a common knowledge on the status of Alpine biodiversity and its results contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Biodiversity Action Plan set by the ABB (17th CoP).

Expected Achievements (EN):

To collect and to refine high-resolution land-use/land-cover (LULC) maps for the Alps and to calculate and map biodiversity relevant indicators for the Alps, APAs, PMAs and TPMAs. Finally, “urgent-need-to-act” areas (UTAAs) are identified and mapped. Develop a methodology to compare fragmented taxon-based data, releasing maps of established and endorsed European-wide biodiversity indices and indicators at the Alpine scale that are not yet available. Reality check of monitoring schemes on the ground: application of identified indicators (A2.1) within existing MSs and resulting biodiversity management measures as a contribution to a coherent overarching MSs and early warning system for the Alps. Enable regional/national stakeholders responsible for biodiversity monitoring to aggregate biodiversity indicators researched by AlpsLife, after testing them for technical and political implementability by the (to be established) AlpsLife Core Group.

Project outputs: Comprehensive Alpine Biodiversity Data Hub and indicators(EN)
Maps of data gaps in monitoring schemes and ecological indicators for key taxa in the Alps(EN)
Guidelines for creating interoperable and comparable ecological data for EUSALP Project Partners and Observers(EN)
Network of Pilot monitoring areas for an early warning system of Alpine biodiversity evolution based on standardised protocol and agreed species indicators(EN)
Tested governance framework for collaborative alpine biodiversity monitoring and indicator streamlining(EN)
Website: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/alpslife/

Thematic information

Governance, partnership Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_AS_1) Climate resilient and green Alpine region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: Eurac research

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT01659400210

Department: Institute for the Alpine Environment

Address: viale Druso, 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Department address: viale Druso, 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.eurac.edu

Total budget: EUR 453 775.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 340 331.25

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 113 443.75

ERSAF – Direzione Parco Stelvio

Name: ERSAF – Direzione Parco Stelvio

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT03609320969

Address: Via De Simoni, 23032 Bormio (SO), Italy

Department address: Via De Simoni, 23032 Bormio, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.stelviopark.it

Total budget: EUR 151 925.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 113 943.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 981.25

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

Name: Parc Naziunal Svizzer

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CHE-103.223.672

Address: Runatsch, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland

Department address: Runatsch, 7530 Zernez, Switzerland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.nationalpark.ch

Total budget: EUR 140 000.00

Partner contribution: EUR 140 000.00

Ente Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso

Name: Ente Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT0363870017

Address: Via Pio VII, 10135 Torino, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.pngp.it

Total budget: EUR 194 280.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 145 710.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 570.00

Asters, Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Haute-Savoie

Name: Asters, Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Haute-Savoie

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SIRET 32635617700179

Address: Avenue de Novel, 74000 Annecy, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.cen-haute-savoie.org/

Total budget: EUR 197 650.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 148 237.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 412.50

Nationalpark Gesäuse GmbH

Name: Nationalpark Gesäuse GmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU 55 76 98 04

Address: Weng, 8913 Admont, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.nationalpark-gesaeuse.at

Total budget: EUR 202 396.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 797.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 50 599.00

Javni zavod Triglavski narodni park

Name: Javni zavod Triglavski narodni park

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI79422837

Address: Ljubljanska cesta, 4260 Bled, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.tnp.si

Total budget: EUR 130 860.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 98 145.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 715.00

Nationalparkverwaltung Berchtesgaden

Name: Nationalparkverwaltung Berchtesgaden

Department: Research and Monitoring

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE811 33 55 17

Address: Doktorberg, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

Department address: Doktorberg, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://www.nationalpark-berchtesgaden.bayern.de/

Total budget: EUR 271 582.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 203 686.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 67 895.60

Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale

Name: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT10125211002

Address: Via Vitaliano Brancati , 00144 Roma, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en?set_language=en

Total budget: EUR 255 858.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 191 893.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 63 964.50

CIPRA International Lab GmbH

Name: CIPRA International Lab GmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU71118907

Address: Hirschgraben , 6800 Feldkirch, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website (not verified): https://www.cipra.org/de/cipra/international/cipra-international-lab

Total budget: EUR 298 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 223 950.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 74 650.00

ALPARC – le Réseau Alpin des Espaces Protégés

Name: ALPARC – le Réseau Alpin des Espaces Protégés

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SIRET 791 785 371 00018

Address: Rue de la République , 73000 Chambéry, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: International organisation, EEIG

Website: http://www.alparc.org

Total budget: EUR 301 050.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 225 787.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 262.50

Universität Innsbruck

Name: Universität Innsbruck

Department: Department of Ecology

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU57495437

Address: Sternwartestrasse, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Department address: Sternwartestrasse, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website (not verified): https://www.uibk.ac.at/ecology/forschung/ecosystem_research.html.en

Total budget: EUR 318 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 238 650.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 75.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 79 550.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

ERSAF – Stelvio National Park

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Parc Naziunal Svizzer

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Gran Paradiso National Park

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Asters, organisation for the conservation of natural areas in Upper Savoy

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Gesäuse National Park

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Triglav national park

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Berchtesgaden National Park Administration

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

CIPRA International Lab GmbH

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

ALPARC – the Network of Alpine Protected Areas

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

UNIVERSITÄT INNSBRUCK

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Partners and Projects info

Eurac research

Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Project acronym: AlpsLife

Project ID: ASP0500335

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2027-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Biodiversa+ (EN) | AlpsLife refers to the results and guidelines produced within Biodiversa+ (Work Package 2) which aims to support interoperability and harmonization of biodiversity monitoring databases at the European level. AlpsLife develops a framework to compare and harmonize data at the pan-Alpine level in WP2 by referring to the guidelines and results of the Biodiversa+. Due to the involvement of Biodiversa+ as observer, immediate and direct communications with the operational team can be guaranteed. (EN), TRANSNATURE (EN) | TRANSNATURE is financed by the 2022 grant of Biodiversa+ on nature conservation. By focusing on three case study regions in Europe, it aims at better understanding transboundary governance models for nature protection and elaborate policy recommendations to improve their effectiveness. AlpsLife seeks to incorporate the experiences from TRANSNATURE to facilitate the results implementation in different legal frameworks (WP4). The project is led by the Institute of Federalism of Eurac Research. (EN), ALPINE CONVENTION ATLAS (EN) | The Atlas facilitates Alpine-level data organization and sharing, focusing on geospatial data, including maps and layers in alignment with the Alpine Convention’s initiatives. All the maps within the Alpine Convention’s Atlas are leveraged for conducting assessments of biodiversity status and trends. AlpsLife implement Land Use Land Cover maps and other geodata (O1.1), making them accessible and downloadable to the public through this platform (https://www.atlas.alpconv.org/). (EN), OpenSpaceAlps (EN) | The results of OpenSpaceAlps allow to identify areas beyond protected areas providing a high potential for future biodiversity conservation measures contributing to the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and further national strategies on biodiversity and protected areas. The central tool is the JECAMI (www.Jecami.eu) for a visualization of those areas which is considered for monitoring activities to complete the picture of the Alpine biodiversity state-of-the-art (WP1, A1.1). (EN), ALPBIONET2030 (EN) | The Atlas (https://alparc.org/alpine-resources/atlas-alpbionet2030) a result of ALPBIONET2030 provides basic data for AlpsLife such as the definition of SACA’s (Ecological Conservation Areas, Ecological Intervention Areas and Ecological Restoration Areas), Alpine wildlife management systems, distribution of species or the main ecological corridors and barriers to connectivity. Data helps to identify gaps of current biodiversity monitoring systems (A2.2) and elaborate policy guidelines (WP4). (EN), PlanToConnect (EN) | The results of PlanToConnect are exploited as good-practice examples to improve the knowledge to identify areas with urgent need to restore and sustain ecological connectivity between protected areas and to arrest and reverse ecosystem fragmentation. AlpsLife is complementary to this approach and incorporate the data produced by PlanToConnect in the process of UTAAs identification (D1.3.2). (EN), NatConnect 2030 - Natural connections for Natura2000 in Northern Italy to 2030 (EN) | NatConnect 2030 strengthens the integrated system of the Natura 2000 Network, dedicated to the conservation of habitats and species protected by the Habitat and Birds Directives, within the Po River basin. AlpsLife capitalizes on the project’s processes by considering the conservation actions that is carried out in the southern part of the Alpine arc. AlpsLife benefits from the cross-sectoral decision-making processes addressed at the macro-regional level by the project. (EN), EU Pollinators Initiative and “A new deal for pollinators” (EN) | EU pollinators initiative (adopted in 2018) was the first EU framework to tackle the decline of wild pollinators. ISPRA and experts of Turin University (UniTO) have adapted and proposed a scheme of specific actions to be implemented in natural parks. The scheme includes measures for pollinator conservation and for protection of the benefits they provide to the ecosystem. AlpsLife builds on methodologies and solutions pioneered in this initiative. (EN), SPRING project (EN) | The SPRING project aims at establishing scientifically robust and sustainable EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme that provide a series of indicators, capable of detecting any significant changes in the abundance of pollinators across the whole of the EU. The experiences gained in this context is capitalised within AlpsLife (WP2, A3.4), which considers existing monitoring schemes for lepidoptera and aims to recalibrate them at the Alpine scale. (EN), ECOPOTENTIAL: Improving future ecosystem benefits through Earth Observations (EN) | ECOPOTENTIAL is an H2020 project dedicated to the study and monitoring of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The project aims to identify future European protected areas using data from satellites and remote sensors. AlpsLife build on the maps and data results from ECOPOTENTIAL to integrate and improve informative spatial data (WP1, A1.1). Thanks to the involvement of ISPRA and experts from PNGP, direct communication with ECOPOTENTIAL outputs and knowledge can be guaranteed. (EN), DINALPCONNECT: Transboundary ecological connectivity of Alps and Dinaric Mountains (EN) | DINALPCONNECT was aimed to strengthen transnational cooperation to improve ecological connectivity throughout Dinaric Mountains connecting them with the Alps by examining EU and national policies and analyzing current ecological network and barriers. Strategy and action plans in pilot areas were developed as a result of combining analytical results with expert knowledge. DINALPCONNECT outputs provide relevant and coherent knowledge on key biodiversity elements crucial for AlpsLife objectives. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 916 176.40

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 082 132.30

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 71.40%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 082 132.30. Co-financing rate, 71.40%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Dataset of biodiversity relevant geographical indicators at Alpine level
Preliminary map of UTAAs
Report and maps of potential UTAAs
Dataset of AlpsLife taxa- based indicators and aggregated indices
Manual for interoperability of selected taxon-based data from different monitoring schemes
Alpine biodiversity early warning system roadmap
Stakeholder Analysis and Governance-Analysis Report on biodiversity monitoring
Tool Kit

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

Other Alpine Convention – Cooperation, policy recommendations, and maps produced by AlpsLife contribute to the implementation of the Nature Protection Protocol and the Multi-Annual Work Programme 2023–2030 in Priority Area 1 “Conserving and valuing Alpine biodiversity and ecosystems”. Specifically, AlpsLife supports the achievement of the European and international targets for the protection, conservation, and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems by prioritizing restoration actions.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion AG7 as an official observer contributes to the technical discussions ensuring a relevant political implementation of the results. AG7 is interested in a synthesis on ecological indicators and monitoring gaps at the Alpine level that may reflect problems of transboundary ecological connectivity. AG6 as official observer is interested in the delineation of UTAAs (D1.3.2). That areas provide substantial ecosystem services and contribute to the conservation of the Alpine natural resources.
Other National Restoration Plans (F, IT, SI, AT, DE also applicable in national strategies of CH, MO, LI)–The future EU NRL oblige countries to elaborate national restoration plans. Transnational dimension is a key element for Alpine biodiversity which needs a macro-regional approach to be effective across borders. AlpsLife brings a solid transnational aspect to biodiversity monitoring by TPMA (A2.2, A3.2). O2.2 provides an opportunity to implement relevant restoration plans on a macro-regional scale.
Other National Biodiversity Strategies (NS)–As observers, all the Alpine countries showed a strong interest in AlpsLife. Monitoring is a central topic for each national authorities (NA) to reach biodiversity conservation goals. To ensure the political implementation, we have strongly involved all Alpine national authorities and relevant working groups responsible for monitoring, asking them to designate the best partner for AlpsLife. AlpsLife PPs liaise with NAs on their strategic interests and needs.
Other Habitats Directives – AlpsLife elaborates a common framework at pan-Alpine scale for monitoring habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, and pollinators (mainly butterflies) which contributes to evaluate conservation’s status in a coherent way between Alpine countries. The outputs maps (O1.1, O2.1) support evidence-based decision-making measures for the restoration and conservation of ecosystems, including wetlands and other natural habitats.
Other EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (EU-BDS 2030) – contains commitments and actions to be implemented by 2030 for which AlpsLife provides substantial contribution: i) Maps from D1.3.2: identification of “urgent-need-to-act” areas in the context of EU-wide network of protected areas (APAs) including those important for birds and pollinator (i.e. butterflies) species (Pillar 1); ii) O2.1: Establishing a methodology to compare and interpret biodiversity monitoring results outside and inside APAs.
Other The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – AlpsLife provides significant inputs helping the implementation of the targets in the Alps: with the “urgent-need-to-act” areas mapping (D1.3.2), it helps to facilitate biodiversity inclusive spatial planning “near-0 loss” (Target 1) and identify the areas to restore or conserve (Targets 2 and 3). This is a base to the ongoing work launched by the Slovenian presidency of the Alpine Convention to implement the GBF targets in the Alps.
Other The EU NRL contains commitments and actions to be implemented by all EU member states by 20530. AlpsLife helps to reach these goals by identifying priority areas for restoration (UTAAs, D1.3.2) but also by providing indicators and indices to evaluate the conservation status of some habitats and species on which all restoration’s objectives of the NRL are based. Besides that, AlpsLife increases the effectiveness of nature restoration measures through cross-border cooperation.
Other CAP and Rural Development – AlpsLife and CAP share some objectives as biodiversity and agriculture are closely linked and contribute to each other’s maintenance. Data that are aggregated at national level are disaggregated at Pilot Macro Area, such as Farmlands Bird Index and Grassland Butterfly Index. Maps and spatial data derived from O1.1 and O2.1 can be used to fill, initially in Alpine areas, the knowledge gaps preliminarily highlighted by that policy.
Other Sustainable Development Goals – AlpsLife outputs from WP1 (O1.1) and WP2 (O2.1) significantly contribute to reaching Goal 15 (Target 15.1) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development providing spatial data to calculate the indicators (i.e. 15.1.2; 15.3.1; 15.4.1).
Other Natura 2000 Network (Natura2000N) – AlpsLife assists interoperability among the existing data on species listed in the Habitats and Birds Directives (A3.1). AlpsLife provides science-based management guides for decision-makers (O3.2) at the core of the N2000 network. The project involves several Alpine Protected Areas, allowing for a trans-national consistency on conversation measures in N2000 network through the biogeographical region and the Alps.
TerritorialAgenda2030 With its science-oriented approach, AlpsLife supports the priority “Healthy environment” of the Territorial agenda. AlpsLife contributes by providing open geospatial data (O1.1; O2.2, D1.3.2 identification of “urgent-need-to-act” areas – UTAAs) and knowledge to identify areas that need ecological connectivity restoration inside and outside protected areas.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 121 - Area covered by protection measures against climate related natural disasters (other than floods and wildfire), Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 098 - SMEs staff completing training for skills for smart specialisation, for industrial transition and entrepreneurship (by type of skill: technical, management, entrepreneurship, green, other), Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

() Other: 0
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Alpine Space

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-10-29

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

40 / 40 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

415 / 415 (100%)

Notes on the data

The updated number of projects and partners was communicated by the programme on 2024-09-19.

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Protect Alpine Life by monitoring and managing Alpine biodiversity for the future. “Observing globally, acting locally” .

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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