The final seminar of Aclimo: a report

The 16th and 17th of September marked the closing seminar of the Interreg Alcotra Aclimo project, in which the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps are partners. Following the kick-off seminar of the initiative held in Turin on February 21, 2024, the recent meeting organized by the Parc National du Mercantour in Valberg, France, officially concludes and serves as a moment of discussion on the work plan developed by the various entities. It should be noted that the Aclimo program was designed by a coordination of parks and protected areas in the Western Alps to address the changes in water availability caused by the climate crisis and to provide local stakeholders with support in facing the challenging transition ahead, particularly for traditional mountain activities. The Parc National du Mercantour served as the lead partner, while the Gran Paradiso National Park, Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps and Maritime Alps, Gesso Stura River Park, and the Regional Natural Park of the Ligurian Alps were the beneficiaries along with the Parc National des Ecrins and Vanoise.

The first day

Returning to the closing seminar, it was an opportunity to share the projects carried out by each entity thanks to the contributions provided under Interreg Alcotra. On the morning of September 16, participants took an excursion to closely observe the restoration of a wetland carried out by the Parc National du Mercantour near the Col de la Cayolle, where a drainage channel was created for the establishment of a forest nursery. By placing small barriers made of earth, wood, and stone, the objective is to prevent the drought of the peat bog and the consequent loss of biodiversity.

In the afternoon, the sessions moved to a classroom in Valberg, at the Dome (Departmental House of Environment and Observation) where Cesbio (Center for Spatial Studies and the Biosphere – National Center for Scientific Research) presented a complex study on snow and glacier modeling, specifically regarding snow water equivalent, which is the amount of water contributed to the watersheds by winter snowfalls. This research was commissioned by the Aclimo project to provide reliable estimates of the amount of water available during the summer season in mountain territories. After the presentation, there was a technical exchange on the posters created by the various partners and displayed in the conference room.
At the end of the day, participants watched the screening of the documentary film There Will Still Be Water, produced and directed on behalf of Aclimo by filmmaker and documentarian Elena Valsania.

The second day

The morning of September 17 opened with a session dedicated to the presentation of the projects and the concrete actions undertaken by the partners in their respective territories. For the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps, Elena Regazzoni and Bruno Aimone from the Biodiversity Area discussed the work done on wetlands and alpine pastures. In particular, the activities of the Cozie Alps Parks focus on the conservation of peat bogs in areas affected by summer grazing, providing support to livestock farmers to solve water availability issues for livestock. Steps have been taken – and will be furthered – to fence off the biodiversity-rich wetlands to prevent access by flocks and herds, while simultaneously installing alternative watering points to not compromise the work of shepherds.

Finally, the afternoon of the 17th was dedicated to the scientific dimension of the Aclimo project with the presentation of the studies and research each entity has dedicated to the specificities of its territories. As unique high-altitude environments characteristic of the Alps and more sensitive to changes induced by the climate crisis, alpine pastures were one of the aspects focused on throughout the 2024-2026 triennium. For the Cozie Alps Parks, Elena Regazzoni, Bruno Aimone, and Fabio Galliano presented the work of census and study of the alpine pastures within the area managed by the Park Authority, identifying the grazing areas most susceptible to the consequences of climate change on which to concentrate mitigation actions.

Conclusions

After frequent working meetings, conducted both during the preparatory phase of the Aclimo project and in the years from the end of 2023 to the present, and following the on-site meetings held in July 2024 in the Valle dell’Orco by the Gran Paradiso National Park and in October 2025 in the upper Susa Valley by the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps, the closing seminar provided an opportunity to discuss not only the status of program progress, but the results achieved.