Melinda Vartik and Sándor Köles represented our foundation on a three-day study trip to Feldkirch and the surrounding area. The event was organized by CIPRA International Lab for the Alps to Carpathians - Central Mountains project partnership. From September 16 to 18, representatives of the organizations and institutions participating in the project met to exchange experiences on cross-border and regional development issues. The program was opened by Kaspar Schuler, Executive Director of CIPRA International, who emphasized the importance of cooperation in Alpine cross-border governance processes and CIPRA's role in implementing the Alpine Convention. During the workshops, three governance solutions were presented and participants learned about good practices in the field of cross-border cooperation. Markus Böhm presented the International Lake Constance Tourism Ltd., a joint sustainable tourism development initiative of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Regional development expert Wolfgang Pfefferkorn presented the Rhine Valley Agglomeration Program, which brings together 23 Austrian and Swiss municipalities to jointly address transport and spatial planning challenges.
To conclude the program, participants visited the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Großes Walsertal," where they learned about a successful example of regional branding: "Walserstolz" cheese and other local products. The biosphere park demonstrated how the involvement of the local community strengthens identity, attachment and shared responsibility.
Key lessons from the study tour included the versatility of governance solutions, the value of cross-border tourism and transport cooperation, and the potential of participatory governance to increase the resilience of Alpine communities.
The Hungarian partner's participation in the project is financed by the Hungarian State.
- Log in to post comments