FS 3.123: Challenges and Solutions in Alpine Protected Areas

Alpine protected areas face unique environmental pressures, including the impacts of climate change, land use pressure, increasing human activities, which collectively threaten biodiversity, ecosystems and conservation objectives. Renewable energy development adds to these pressures. This session will explore innovative research, adaptive management strategies, and collaborative approaches to enhance the resilience and long-term sustainability of vital mountain ecosystems. Bringing together researchers and conservation practitioners, the session will address pressing issues like climate-driven species range shifts, habitat fragmentation, renewable energy infrastructure, or pollution impacts. Case studies from the Alps and other mountain regions will illustrate adaptive management, restoration projects, and monitoring practices used to assess ecosystem health. Collaboration and stakeholder engagement will be highlighted as critical to effective alpine conservation, involving partnerships with local communities, stakeholders, and policymakers, and using tools such as remote sensing and data-driven decision-making. Through real-life examples and discussing common challenges, this session aims to foster dialogue on practical solutions that balance ecological conservation with sustainable use, ensuring that Alpine protected areas continue to thrive in the face of ongoing environmental pressures. Furthermore, the session will address the needs and way forward for future research in protected areas, identifying critical knowledge gaps, emerging methodologies, and interdisciplinary approaches that inform more effective conservation policies and practices. Foto: SNP, Hans Lozza