Parc Ela (CH)

Parc Ela is Switzerland’s largest natural park, boasting stunning alpine landscapes, diverse flora, and fauna. It offers a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and pristine lakes, combined with cultural heritage sites and traditional mountain villages.

Focus area and Challenges

Parc Ela, a regional nature park, faces a variety of challenges, particularly in the agricultural sector, due to the effects of climate change. One of the significant challenges involves addressing the impact of changing rainfall patterns, which are characterized by intense storms and prolonged droughts. These weather fluctuations pose threats to the grasslands and may even lead to landslides. The park must also effectively manage new pest species that emerge due to the changing climate, and match livestock density with the local biological capacity, to ensure overall health of the ecosystem. Furthermore, the region faces socio-economic challenges, contending with high housing prices and limited options for locals.  

Objectives

The Parc Ela region has set forth several objectives aimed at addressing the challenges posed by climate change and promoting sustainable land use practices. Through PLUS Change, the region aims to reinforce collaboration with the project “Climate Neutral Agriculture Grisons,” supporting experimentation with farming methods that both mitigate and adapt to climate change. Another vital aspect is gaining access to scenarios that project the framework conditions in mountain areas. These scenarios serve as valuable guidance for the region’s land use responses to climate change, enabling informed decision-making and planning. Parc Ela hopes to support local farmers and foresters in the experimentation of new forms of land use and use the project to promote meaningful discussions among different stakeholders.

Photo Credit

166889_1500 Grazing cattle on the Via Sett longdistance hiking trail 

304541_1500 Grainfield in Parc Ela

© lorenzfischer.photo