What a great week of Alpine cooperation!
For the fourth consortium meeting of the LiveAlpsNature project (Interreg Alpine Space), partners gathered from 26 to 28 May 2026 at Fort Bard, just near the Parco Naturale Mont Avic, one of the project’s pilot zones.
Almost two years into the project, partners were able to present and discuss a range of tangible results achieved so far. The first project activities have now been completed, producing comprehensive reports on current trends of nature-based activities and their impacts on biodiversity, with case studies from the pilot areas. The digitization component has also been kicked off and resulted in a harmonized data standard for Protected Areas information, aimed at facilitating the integration of verified information and rules into digital platforms such as Outdooractive. The BREATHE Index, an evaluation tool to assess the potential of natural areas to promote human health, has been enriched with a training kit for developing health hikes based on the One-Health Approach, while a database of visitor management measures to reduce impacts on biodiversity will soon be made publicly available.
The consortium meeting then allowed partners to prepare for critical upcoming steps. Most pilot areas have identified the offers and management measures they will implement during summer 2026, and participants were able to exchange past experiences, feedback, common issues and possible solutions with one another. They also worked together on defining the indicators that will be used to evaluate these pilot actions, as well as on the Guidelines for the analysis of outdoor activity impacts and the identification of the most urgent fields, expected to be delivered next autumn and addressed to Alpine protected area and tourism destination managers.
As for previous meetings, the field visit represented a core moment. This time, it took place in the Champdepraz Valley of Parco Naturale Mont Avic, where participants discussed current challenges faced by the park regarding visitor impacts on biodiversity, management rules and solutions already implemented along the trails. The excursion also included content related to the One-Health Approach, further linking theory with on-the-ground practices.
Another key element of the programme was the LiveAlpsNature mid-term review, which provided an opportunity to assess progress, identify problems and refine priorities through an open and highly constructive discussion between the whole partnership and the project officer from Interreg Alpine Space.
After the meeting, representatives of LiveAlpsNature joined the Forum Alpinum 2026 in Aosta to showcase the project with many researchers and stakeholders engaged in the protection of the Alps, creating and reinforcing connections for future cooperation across the region.
The next stop of the LiveAlpsNature journey will be the Swiss National Park, where the project mid-term conference will take place!