Protecting species and ecosystems through dynamic and innovative transalpine ecological connectivities

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"This project is part of the plan BIODIVALP":The project BIODIV'CONNECT aims to create a cross-border strategy for ecological connectivity in the Western Alps. The project will provide an overview of the current knowledge of ecological continuity and how they are taken into account in public policies in the ALCOTRA territory, in order to clearly identify priorities on to intervene. The project will then develop exchanges between partners with the aim of sharing the methods of identifying continuity and the good practices associated with them, in order to share and improve the knowledge of these continuities. With these elements, the project will formulate a cross-border strategy in this area and carry out restoration and conservation activities of some existing connectivity in the ALCOTRA territory. The Western Alps Massif is the biogeographic and transboundary link of the ALCOTRA program. It rubs shoulders with both the summits and the Mediterranean basin forming a hotspot of biodiversity. Nevertheless, this exceptional natural heritage is vulnerable to the erosion of biodiversity and to global changes (fragmentation of environments, climate change, etc.). Based on this observation, a consultation process between the 5 Regions and the territorial actors has made it possible to draw up a framework ambition aimed at protecting and enhancing biodiversity and Alpine ecosystems through a partnership and a network of cross-border ecological connectivities. This ambition is articulated in two strategic objectives, contributing to the EUSALP strategy and the Alpine Convention, and aiming to (i) stem the erosion of ecosystems and protected species and (ii) enhance the attractiveness of the cross-border territory. The originality of the activities concerns the cross-border structuring of an integrated governance, the knowledge and the methodologies of management of biodiversity reservoirs, a public policy of ecological connectivities and a strategy of valorization of the biodiversity. In addition, the activities provide for the capitalization of various European projects (see point 5). The French and Italian partners of the plan include protected areas, communities, associations and chambers of commerce.

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