The Conference followed on from a survey based on a questionnaire sent to 5,000 NGOs in 45 European countries (elaborated in 15 various languages). 100 delegates from 25 countries were invited on the Conference on basis of the questionnaire's answers from under 1,000 NGOs, that filled in the questionnaire and sent it back.

The conclusions of the Conference will be submitted to the second session of the European Inter-Governmental Consultation on Sustainable Mountain Development, to take place in Trento, Italy, in October 1996.

The Conference included plenary sessions and working groups. There were 4 working groups: I. NGOs as key participants in sustainable mountain development. Keywords: information, education, mobilisation, role of local populations, decision and action process, control instruments... II. Tourism and the conservation of the mountain heritage: conflicts or complementarities? Keywords: forms of tourism, stakeholders, employment, carrying capacities and environmental limits, cultural identity, attractions, impacts... III. Mountains for production or protection? The role of agriculture and forests. Keywords: over-exploitation, under-exploitation, employment, subsidies, impacts, landscape, natural resources, quality products, evaluation of mountain products... IV. Planning and infrastructure: necessity or threat for sustainable development in the mountains? Keywords: urbanisation, industry, employment, services, transport, impacts...

Conclusions of the Conference

WORKING GROUP I. Chairmen: Delfi ROCA, Association for the protection of the Environment, Andorra Alexander JURAS, The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Hungary

It has been prepared 28 recommendations to governments. Some most important conclusions: Governments should take into consideration the special problems of areas affected by war and should ansure peace in these regions Introduce financial incentives which support sustainable mountain development Launch a series of pilot projects to demonstrate succesful ways for implementing sustainable mountain development; ongoing successful projects should be taken into account To create and enforce legislation on the protection of mountain environment To give financial and other kind of support to promote the exchange of information between mountain NGOs To support initiatives to develop the capacity of NGOs and others to contribute to sustainable mountain development

WORKING GROUP II. Chairmen: Alan BLACKSHAW, Scottish Natural Heritage, United Kingdom Ivan VASHAKMADZE, Sustainable Tourism Center, Georgia

These recommendations belong to the most important elaborated in this group: The importance of social or informal tourism. In considering policies for mountain tourism, Governments should recognise the importance of informal tourism. Combined Government approach. Governments should recognise the needs of mountain tourism as a specific issue requiring action on several fronts in combination: 1. MINISTRY OF TOURISM. Work out specific mountain tourism laws and policies, taking account of environmental protection etc; 2. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Identification of areas where sustainable mountain tourism can be a first priority. 3. MINISTRY OF FINANCE. Consider favourable tax policies (e.g. tax- free zones) for small or local organizations in mountain tourism. Publicise scope for Government financial support to mountain tourism. A continuing ROLE FOR NGOs. NGOs may have specific expertise or experience as follows: 1. the mountain environment across many countries; 2. the practice of mountain recreation (e.g. walking, climbing, canyoning, canoeing) or other aspects of informal mountain tourism (e.g. bird-watching); 3. the protection or promotion of particular mountain areas which could be of direct value in establishing, and publicly promoting, policies likely to command the support of mountain users.

WORKING GROUP III. Chairmen: Charles GALVIN, Euromontana, Federation Francaise d'Economie Montagnarde (FFEM), France Liri DINGA, Independent Forum of Albanian Women, Albania

This section recommends to Governments and the European Union to following relevant conclusions: The specific nature of mountain areas be taken into consideration in all policy- making. The policy of support and of compensating for the handicaps of altitude and slope be sustained and enhanced, to promote small-scale and diversified agriculture. Such support may take the form of direct aid, reductions and exemptions for land and other taxes and reduced interest rates for loans. The support should include income support and also support for modernization or improvements to the living conditions of families, aid for integrating buildings into the landscape and renumeration for the maintenance functions and services rendered by agriculture. A network for the exchange of information and experience should be established between countries, between mountain massifs in these countries, and also between lowland and mountain areas. Twinning between Regions, for example between Eastern and Western Europe, should be envisaged. The education and training for the people of these regions should be enhanced, to enable them to take responsibility for the development of their regions.

WORKING GROUP IV. Chairmen: Jean-Jacques FIX, Association Europeenne des Elus de la Montagne Jeronimo BLASCO, Foundation Ecology and Development, Spain

Some important conclusions: Any mountain massif and any authority above commune level should have a master plan for regional development that attempts to promote respect for natural values and to establish guidelines for sustainable development and land use, with concern to respect the mountain region's architecture, restrict urban growth and center on existing villages. Public consultation on major projects should be designed to favor participation by local authorities, NGOs, local inhabitants and independent experts, and also include information and education on the environment. The ecological principles of restricting growth in the consumption of energy, products and raw materials, and promoting materials recycling, are to be encouraged. Infrastructure for transport and particularly for through traffic, should be designed to favour rail transport and piggyback routes, so as to reverse the present trend towards the predominance of road transport, the priority being for goods to go by rail. Protected areas should be used to test sustainable development projects and should be integrated with neighbouring areas, which should also include environmental principles in their planning and development schemes.

For additional information: Svetlana Tomanova, Greenway