Ecosystems and biodiversity are not limited by human administrative, regional or national borders. At the same time they provide valuable ecosystem services for human well-being and rely for their serviceability on a borderless and unfragmented connectivity.

This is also recognised in different documents which might serve as a reference for the rationale of cross-border connectivity and functionality of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Some examples

• Directive Territoriale d'Aménagement des Alpes du Nord: The maintain attractiveness of the alpine territory should be maintained by preserving its ecosystems and its biodiversity, as well as cultural heritage and agricultural areas. The DTA Nothern Alps translates the supranational objectives (e.g. of the Alpine Convention) and national objectives to territorial scale. link to the document
• Piano del governo del territorio. Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia: The strategy aims to redevelop the regional territory and the related natural processes. link to the document
• Strategie Nachhaltige Entwicklung 2012–2015: Natural resources such as biodiversity and forests provide benefits that are indispensable to economic and social development. Biological diversity is a core factor in human existence. link to the document