ALPINE CONVENTION - Convenzione delle Alpi

44
Country Area in km 2 Percent of
Convention
Territory
Administrative units in the territory of the
Alpine Convention
nUTS 2
(regions,
Länder)
LAU 1
(provinces, cantons,
districts,
counties)
LAU 2
(municipalities)
Austria 54,759 28.7 8 29 1,147
France 40,801 21.4 2 9 1,749
Germany 11,160 5.8 2 13 285
Italy 51,995 27.2 7 24 1,756
Liechtenstein 160 0.1 1 1 11
Monaco 2 < 0.01 1 1 1
Slovenia 6,871 3.6 1 7 62
Switzerland 25,211 13.2 5 15 856
Alps total 190,959 100.0 27 99 5,867
Tab. 1: Shares of area and administrative units in the signatory states (as of 2008).
Map 3: Population distribution – Population density in the Alpine municipalities
In the municipalities of the Alpine Convention there
is an average of 147 inhabitants per km 2 . The figures
range from 0.1 inhabitants/km 2 in the smallest
municipality of Rochefourchat in the Rhône Alpes
region to 16,010 inhabitants/km 2 in the most
densely populated municipality of Monaco.
The Alpine population concentrates in the areas
with ample infrastructure provision, which are the
large inneralpine valleys (Aosta, Rhône, Etschtal/
Val d’Adige, the valley of the river Inn, the Rhine
Valley, the Valtelline) and basin areas (Klagenfurt
Basin) as well the margins of the Alps. In these
areas geomorphologic conditions allow for a larger
percentage of the land to be used for housing
and economic purposes. Moreover, higher population
densities are to be found in the tourist
centres.
Population density in the municipalities, however,
does not reflect the real conditions existent in the
Alpine signals 1
Alpine Arch. Due to the steepness and height of
the terrain only a small portion of the whole of the
Alps’ area is suitable for permanent settlement. In
a typical Alpine region such as South Tyrol only
as little as eight percent of the area can be populated
permanently. In Vorarlberg, Austria, the figure
reaches 24 percent. If one related the number
of inhabitants to the area that can be populated,
the result would be much higher density figures
for most of the municipalities.
It is on this permanent settlement area that use
claims concentrate, asserted by players from
housing development and economy through to
transport and tourism. Conflicts are the logical
consequence. It is exactly in these areas that they
emerge with high intensity, and require an especially
consequent and sustainable development
strategy.