PlanToConnect - Final project events in Bolzano

The results of the regional ecological network model for red deer species in South Tyrol, with the published dataset and technical proposals for implementation measures in 26 selected areas in the valley bottoms were presented on 10.09.2025. Approximately 30 interested participants attended the event in presence and online, including planning practitioners, technicians from municipalities and provincial offices, as well as interest groups. The technical report can be downloaded from the Eurac project website.

The final project event took place from 06.10.2025 to 08.10.2025, together with a meeting of the network of Alpine special planners (ARL- AlpPlan) and a workshop of the Alpine Convention. One of the highlights was the input presentation from Dr. Annika Keely, expert for ecological connectivity from the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, California, United States, on the IUCN guidelines for ecological connectivity. Results from the PlanToConnect project were presented and discussed in an interactive way with three stations of planning tools produced, a poster session on the pilot sites, and an interactive round table using the fishbowl-format. For the planning tools, please

During the study visit to the “Castelfeder” biotope with a view on a potential ecological corridor in the Lower Adige Valley, aspects of the intensively used valley bottoms in the Alps and land use conflicts with ecological areas were explained and discussed. A site visit to an agrivoltaics testing station showed the ambivalence between additional intensification of land uses and innovative way to produce renewable energy.

To consult an overview of the planning tools produced by the PlanToConnect project:

1. Alpine planning strategy for ecological connectivity
2. Guidelines for designing ecological networks and integrating them into planning procedures
3. Catalogues of mitigation measures regarding most important threats and anthropogenic pressures