Project data
- Started: 1, Jan 1999
- Planned end date: 31, Dec 2010
- Executant: Sergio Savoia
- Managing Office: WWF Switzerland
- Address:
WWF Switzerland
/ Hohlstrasse 110
8010 Zuerich /
Switzerland /
+41 44 297 21 21 - Status: active
- Modified: 29, Feb 2008
- Published: 29, Feb 2008
Sustainable agriculture in the Alps. Switzerland.
© WWF Switzerland
Geographical location:
Europe/Middle-East > -Regions- > Alps
Europe/Middle-East > Europe General
Europe/Middle-East > Southern Europe > Italy
Europe/Middle-East > West Central Europe > Austria
Europe/Middle-East > West Central Europe > Germany
Europe/Middle-East > West Central Europe > Switzerland
Summary
At the end of 1999 an Alpine Programme was initiated by WWF Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland to explore the feasibility of adopting the ecoregional conservation (ERC) approach in the Alps. ERC is a philosophy and methology of intervention recommended for ecoregions identified through the Global 200 Ecoregions of WWF. The Alps are amongst the 12 priority ecoregions of Europe and Middle East as they represent a fine example of a particular habitat type, namely the European-Mediterranean Montane Mixed Forests. Furthermore, they were identified as a world hotspot for plant diversity, and their conservation status based on the direct impact of human activities is considered critical or endangered. By adopting ERC for the Alps, the WWF offices join several other ERC initiatives on the planet and shift towards integrated, large-scale and long-term conservation.
Background
During the "International Year of Mountains 2002" all WWF national organizations of the alpine region have worked on their common ERC process and defined priority themes. A first group of stakeholders have worked with WWF to conserve the biodiversity of the Alps ecoregion. WWF is increasingly seen as the NGO most commited to the safeguard of the whole alpine region.