Regional Mountain Conference

The European Alps host an exceptional diversity of species and habitats, at the same time, ecosystems are under growing pressure from human land use and the accelerating impacts of climate change. Although many initiatives have been launched to protect Alpine biodiversity, conservation actions remain uneven and poorly integrated across national borders. Multi-scale biodiversity monitoring (including field-based, remote-sensing, automated and molecular approaches), citizen science and research projects across the Alps have generated a large and growing volume of biodiversity data. These data are sometimes openly shared via platforms like GBIF for public provision and support applications such as ecological modeling. However, these data are scattered across different platforms and span different spatial and thematic scales, making it difficult and time-consuming to obtain a comprehensive and coherent picture of biodiversity across the Alps.

Within the Interreg Alpine Space project AlpsLife, we aim to compile spatial data from across the Alps to assess biodiversity status and identify areas requiring conservation action. To this end, we are integrating existing biodiversity data at both European and Alpine scales. Spatial analyses of these data will support the identification of biodiversity hotspots in need of protection, highlight potential ecological corridors suitable for a wide range of species, and identify areas with potential for ecological restoration. By combining evidence-based data with stakeholder knowledge and engagement, we aim to generate a robust and reliable assessment of biodiversity status in the Alps and to identify priority areas for action, particularly in transboundary regions, while ensuring that proposed conservation measures are both scientifically sound and practically feasible. Ultimately, the project seeks to translate research outcomes into long-term management strategies and strengthen international cooperation for the preservation of Alpine biodiversity.