Author: Isabella Maglietti Smith (ORIGIN)
From April 29th to May 3rd, 2024, the picturesque Valposchiavo in Switzerland hosted the MOVING Spring School 2024, an event dedicated to exploring “Policies and Strategic Options for Mountains.” This transformative event, part of the Horizon 2020 MOVING project, brought together a diverse group of participants to collaboratively enhance the resilience and sustainability of European mountain regions. The highlights of the event are summarised in a video that you can watch here.
Session Highlights
Emilia Schmitt kicked off the Spring School with an in-depth exploration of the Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) framework, a tool essential for understanding the intricate relationships between social and ecological factors in mountain regions. Originally developed by Elinor Ostrom, the SES framework offers a comprehensive approach to analysing how value chains—from production to consumption—are influenced by a complex interplay of forces. Schmitt’s presentation emphasised the framework’s adaptability in addressing sustainability challenges, setting the stage for further discussions on enhancing resilience in mountain areas.
Carmen Forrer presented an insightful case study on the Gran Alpin value chain, which exemplifies the revival of mountain grain cultivation in Switzerland. Despite initial challenges like declining prices and logistical issues, the cooperative has thrived due to strong local partnerships, organic certification, and support from major retailers. Forrer’s session illustrated the importance of collaborative networks and supportive policy frameworks in fostering sustainable agriculture in mountain regions. The Gran Alpin case study served as a powerful example of how mountain agriculture can enhance both economic resilience and cultural preservation.
Dominique Barjolle led a session on the use of foresight exercises in mountain development, demonstrating how these participatory methods help stakeholders anticipate and plan for future scenarios. By engaging local communities and external experts, these exercises create strategic roadmaps that enhance resilience against challenges like climate change and market volatility. Barjolle underscored the importance of adaptive, strategic decision-making in ensuring sustainable development, highlighting the value of these exercises in preparing for an uncertain future.
Continuing from her previous session, Dominique Barjolle discussed the integration of strategic options into regional planning for mountain areas. She outlined how identifying key variables and long-term forces can shape different future scenarios. Barjolle emphasised that mountain communities require tailored policy frameworks rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Her session stressed the importance of empowering local communities through adaptive strategies that address their unique challenges and enhance their resilience against environmental and economic shifts.
Cassiano Luminati introduced the Vision Valposchiavo 2040 initiative, a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development in the Valposchiavo region. This initiative integrates traditional Alpine values with modern sustainability principles, focusing on climate resilience, natural resource management, cultural heritage preservation, and technological innovation. Luminati highlighted the importance of local engagement and effective governance in achieving long-term sustainability. The session underscored how Vision Valposchiavo 2040 aims to position the region as a model for sustainable development in Alpine areas, with ambitious targets like attaining GIAHS certification by 2030.
Mark Redman concluded the sessions with a discussion on the critical role of policy in guiding sustainable development in mountain regions. He emphasised the importance of roadmaps as strategic tools that align stakeholders around a common vision and translate ideas into actionable steps. Redman highlighted the need for strong local governance to address the specific needs of mountain communities, supported by coherent regional and national policies. His session underscored the importance of building local capacity and empowering communities to actively shape their future.
Collaborative Group Work
The Spring School fostered a dynamic learning environment through interactive group sessions. Participants were divided into teams to develop strategic options for mountain regions, focusing on three key areas:
1. Diversification & Knowledge Driven approaches
2. Economic Driven strategies
3. Nature Driven solutions
These group activities encouraged collaboration and the exchange of ideas, resulting in innovative proposals for sustainable mountain development.
Impact and Outcomes
The MOVING Spring School 2024 successfully brought together students, academics, consultants, and industry experts from diverse backgrounds and countries. This interdisciplinary environment facilitated vibrant discussions and knowledge sharing, empowering participants to become catalysts for positive change in European mountain regions.
By combining theoretical knowledge with practical insights from field visits and interactive sessions, the Spring School equipped attendees with the skills to develop effective policies and strategies for mountain sustainability. As we face the challenges of climate change and rural development, initiatives like the MOVING Spring School play a crucial role in shaping the future of Europe’s mountain regions.
The success of this event underscores the importance of collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches in addressing the complex issues facing mountain communities. As the MOVING project continues its work, we look forward to seeing the long-term impact of these efforts on the resilience and sustainability of Europe’s mountain landscapes.
Conclusion
The MOVING Spring School 2024 was a resounding success, offering participants a comprehensive education on sustainable mountain development. The combination of expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and impactful field visits provided a well-rounded learning experience that deepened participants’ understanding of the complex issues facing mountain regions.
Participants provided positive feedback, particularly appreciating the quality of content, the organisation of field visits, and the collaborative nature of the group sessions. Suggestions for future improvements included expanding hands-on activities during field visits and increasing interactivity in group sessions.
The Spring School’s success underscores the importance of continuous learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a shared commitment to sustainable practices. By building on these achievements and incorporating participant feedback, future iterations of the Spring School are poised to further advance sustainable mountain development and contribute to global efforts toward a more resilient and equitable future.
Watch the summary video of all sessions
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