Sustainable land use in the Alpine region: optimising soil protection, land management and spatial planning
EUSALP workshop on land consumption, net zero land consumption, the construction industry and de-sealing projects
Workshop #4: Brokering Spaces – Optimising local land use in the Alps
Workshop #4 at the EUSALP Annual Forum 2025 focused on the key challenges of sustainable land use and spatial planning in the Alpine region. Presented by Alenka Smerkolj (Alpine Convention), Robert Ortner (Province of Tyrol), Manuela Brückner (SIR), Luca Daprà (BASIS Vinschgau Venosta), Marion Ebster-Kreuzer (CIPRA International) and Elfi Hasler (European Land Soil Alliance), the event highlighted the political, ecological and social dimensions of land consumption in the Alps.
Strategies for reducing land consumption and zero net land take by 2050
The focus was on European and regional strategies for reducing land consumption, in particular the goal of reducing net land consumption to net zero (Zero Net Land Take) by 2050. The BrokeringSpaces and ground:breaking projects showed how key players in the Alpine region are developing concrete measures to achieve this goal.
Examples from Tyrol, South Tyrol and the entire Alpine arc illustrated how the circular economy, innovative unsealing projects and negotiation-based planning approaches are opening up new avenues for resource-efficient and future-oriented spatial development.
Role of the construction industry and local implementation in the Alpine region
Another focus was on the construction industry, which contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions, waste generation and land consumption. The workshop showed how local actors can effectively contribute to soil conservation and sustainable spatial planning through transformation projects and intelligent land use policies.
Around 25 participants from across the Alpine region discussed concrete solutions and best practices for responsible Alpine land use.
Presentations
- Ebster-Kreuzer: GROUND:BREAKING – Desealing for the Improvement of Soil, Climate and Biodiversity
- Elfi Hasler – IEuropean Land and Soil Alliance ELSA
- Luca Dapra – Brokering Spaces: optimising local Alpine Land use
- Manuela Brueckler – BrokeringSpaces – Challenges and possible pathways for solutions in regard to the EUSALP strategy and the political declaration on “sustainable land use and soil protection”
- Robert Ortner – Land use – Built-up area is increasing significantly faster than the population
