The Alpine Town of the Year award is given to towns which have made exceptional efforts for the realization of the
Alpine Convention
The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development. This Framework Convention inv ...
and for
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...
. The ''Alpine Towns of the Year'' are members of the international association of the same name.
The ''Alpine Town of the Year'' Award
The honorary title ''Alpine Town of the Year'' is awarded annually by the general meeting of the association's members at the recommendation of a jury. The jury examines the projects and proposals of the candidates on the basis of ecological, social and economic criteria. Every town in the area covered by the
Alpine Convention
The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development. This Framework Convention inv ...
can apply for the award.
The designated Alpine Town of the Year organizes a workshop during which its programme is presented at least six months before the actual Alpine Town Year. During the Alpine Town Year, there will be at least three international events, and two sustainable projects will be realized.
The award and the cooperation across linguistic and geographical borders put the participating towns into the limelight, give wide publicity to their efforts for
sustainable development
Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...
and strengthen the links among the participating towns. The Alpine Town Year can also stimulate the realization of projects: the Dobratsch Nature Park in
Villach
Villach (; sl, Beljak; it, Villaco; fur, Vilac) is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in the federal state of Carinthia. It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the po ...
(
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
), for example, is based on the Alpine Town concept.
Objectives
The Alpine Town of the Year Association has five objectives:
* Strengthening awareness of the Alps as a space where people and nature coexist.
* Involving the population in the programme and projects of the Alpine Town of the Year.
* Strengthening links within the region through cooperation with the hinterland.
* Creating a sustainable future by realizing the basic concept of the
Alpine Convention
The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development. This Framework Convention inv ...
through concrete projects.
* Increasing cooperation among the towns in the Alps.
The ''Alpine Town of the Year'' Association
The towns which have received the ''Alpine Town of the Year'' award cooperate in the association. The association has an office in
Bad Reichenhall, Germany.
The Jury
The jury examines the submissions and makes a recommendation on the next Alpine Town of the Year to the General Meeting. It provides the town with advice on substantive issues and receives the town's final report. The jury consists of three representatives of Alpine-wide organizations. They are elected every two years by the General Meeting. The present members are Norbert Weixlbaumer (
CIPRA International), Cristina Del Biaggio (University of Ginevra), Antonio Zambon (Community Network
Alliance in the Alps) and Gerhard Leeb (Pro Vita Alpina).
The General Assembly
The representatives of the Alpine Towns of the Year meet twice a year in a different town. The General Assembly elects the Alpine Town of the Year, the jury and the Board, and determines the overall orientation of the association's activities. The General Association also serves as a personal communication platform among the towns, overcoming linguistic barriers.
The Board
The Board has three to five members - burgomasters or their legitimate representatives. The Board is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the association. Its present members are Thierry Billet (president,
Annecy
Annecy ( , ; frp, Èneci or ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, south of Geneva, Switzerland. Nicknamed ...
), Bojan Sever (vice president,
Idrija), Ingrid Fischer (assessor,
Sonthofen
Sonthofen is the southernmost Town#Germany, town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Al ...
).
The Consultant
Every town designates a contact person or consultant who serves as the interface between the town, the other members and the association's office. The consultant is also responsible for the local realization of the association's objectives.
The Office
The office is responsible for the association's day-to-day activities; it has been run by
CIPRA International since 2003. CIPRA has been represented on the jury since 1997.
Projects
Every Alpine town implements at least two local projects reflecting the association's objectives in its Alpine Town Year. These are stored in an online data bank. In addition, any other projects are regularly presented in the association's newsletter, which appears in four languages.
The Alpine Town Association is a partner in the
Alpine Space Programme Alpstar. The project's objective is to make the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
a climate-neutral region. The project started in July 2011 and will end in March 2014.
Cooperation
The Alpine Convention
In 2008, the Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention and the association signed a Memorandum of Understanding
PDF Memorandum of Understanding
alpenstaedte.org for continuous cooperation. The association has been an official observer with the Alpine Convention since 2011. As such, the association takes part in the meetings of the Permanent Commission and in the biennial Alpine Conference. The association has no voting rights but can submit its proposals directly to the policy makers of the participating countries.
The Municipal Network ''Alliance in the Alps''
There is a regular exchange of information between the municipal network ''Alliance in the Alps'' and the association, for example during the joint meetings of the Boards. In addition, there are towns which are members of both networks, such as Sonthofen
Sonthofen is the southernmost Town#Germany, town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Al ...
and Annecy
Annecy ( , ; frp, Èneci or ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, south of Geneva, Switzerland. Nicknamed ...
.
The International Commission for the Protection of the Alps
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
(CIPRA) runs the association's office and is represented on the jury. The association and CIPRA, among other things, jointly organize events. An international meeting in Lecco (Italy), for example, is planned in 2013.
The Alpine Towns
References
External links
www.alpenstaedte.org
o
www.cittaalpina.org
Association Alpine Town of the Year – official website
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Community awards