In a territory where there are numerous winter sports resorts of international renown, and in the face of the development of ski touring and snowshoeing, the Vanoise National Park is launching a campaign to raise awareness about the disturbance of wildlife in winter, in the wake of the Alpine initiative Be Part of the Mountain.
# LE PNV LAUNCHES ITS CAMPAIGN BE PART OF THE MOUNTAIN
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the activity of ski touring in the Alps and in the Vanoise region. But there has also been a rise in the popularity of snowshoeing and extreme sports such as free-riding. The international reputation of the ski resorts in the Vanoise region attracts a large number of visitors, especially at a time when wild animals are also trying to survive the winter.
Freedom and responsibility
What is a space of freedom for lovers of virgin snow and vast spaces is for wildlife a vital space. The disturbance caused by the passage of skiers or hikers leads to exhausting escape behaviors. These animals are already vulnerable during this season, whether it be the lynx, the chamois or the lagopus, among others. The disturbance of wildlife is very often the result of ignorance.
By informing and empowering winter sports enthusiasts, we can contribute to a better coexistence, an equilibrium between our activities and the wildlife in the Alps.
Thus, the Vanoise National Park has launched its «Be Part of the Mountain» campaign this winter. Recently, it has been spreading awareness messages and information about the needs of the wildlife. Tools and dedicated graphics have also been made available to the ambassadors. Ambassadors who have already responded to relay the campaign for wider dissemination across the territory.
The communication tools
- An A5-size, front-and-back flyer to raise awareness about the problem of wildlife disturbance in winter, with a series of simple tips to be implemented, whether in the mountains, near a forest edge, or in the forest itself, to limit its impact.
- A series of stickers with 4 different visuals to be pasted on your helmet, mask, computer, etc. Available for free streaming.
- Two models of organic cotton t-shirts featuring the visuals of the campaign are available for sale on the’e-shop and in the information points of the Park.
Let's share the mountain
Following the first edition at the ENSA in Chamonix last January, Daniel Rodrigues, ecologist, mountain guide, videographer, and photographer, will come to talk to us about winter, the winter that calls, with the desire to leave a trace in the powder… and this snowy mountain that is to be shared with a diverse wildlife, subject to the constraints of the season. Knowing these animals better is also learning to share the mountain in which we live. Daniel Rodrigues will also present some gestures and tips for preserving this environment.
# A campaign initiated by ALPARC on the Alpine Arc
Be Part of the Mountain is an international cooperation initiative that brings together protected areas, nature conservation associations, public authorities, Alpine clubs and ambassadors across the Alps.
Coordinated by ALPARC, Be Part of the Mountain aims to facilitate the exchange of good practices and to encourage the implementation of convergent communication actions to raise awareness among nature sports practitioners about the problem of wildlife disturbance in winter and to initiate a change in behavior. Be Part of the Mountain also contributes to the visibility of many existing initiatives.
www.bepartofthemountain.org
# Become ambassadors Be Part of the Mountain
The Vanoise National Park is calling on nature sports enthusiasts in winter to join the movement by becoming Be Part of the Mountain ambassadors. It is also encouraging them to spread the initiative on social media using the hashtag # #bepartofthemountain.
For mountain professionals who wish to support the initiative and raise awareness among holidaymakers, the Park is providing a free communication kit (flyers, stickers and demonstration t-shirts).
They are ambassadors and they tell us why:
Guillaume Collombet: 28 years old, Wildlife Photographer and Cinematographer.
«I choose to be an ambassador for Be Part of the Mountain car. I regularly come into contact with the wildlife that survives in the heart of the Alpine winter. I want to take the most ethical approach possible in my work, because no image justifies disturbing wildlife!»
« The development of winter tourism activities is taking up more and more space in the animal’s living environment. There is sometimes simply a lack of knowledge among practitioners to reconcile the enjoyment of winter sports with respect for the mountain. That is why the BPM movement interests me. For it is possible to marvel at a variable hare huddled in its den or a group of lagopedes watching over us on a ridge, while at the same time enjoying skiing by limiting our disturbance of them!»
«During my talks on wildlife photography or film screenings at ski resorts, I regularly have the opportunity to interact with the audience. Faced with poignant images of animals surviving in snowstorms, this exchange is made easier to raise awareness among holidaymakers or local mountain enthusiasts about this issue. Be Part of the Mountain offers a great opportunity to address these questions at every meeting.”.
Lauriane Miara: 28 years old, Illustrator and graphic designer
Having recently arrived in Haute Tarentaise, my work focuses on environmental protection. Trained in environmental sciences, I am fortunate to be able to combine two passions: drawing and natural spaces.»
«I am an ambassador for Be Part of the Mountain; the disturbance of the wild is a theme that touches me personally. Our mountain activities take up a lot of space, and I believe that a balance must be achieved between human activities and the wild. In the mountains, we are not alone.»
«As an illustrator, I try to highlight the beauty of natural environments. Since nature is inherently beautiful, my goal is to highlight its fragility through details and a sensitive approach. Through this, I hope to inspire a desire to protect the small and large wonders of nature.»
Mathieu Navillod – 27 years old, Ambassador of the ESI and Ski Instructor – Trainer in ski monitoring ( FFS )
«I am sensitive to the Be Part of the Mountain initiative. Because nature is the beauty of my practice. Nature and the wildlife it houses are an inseparable whole. I practice skiing and mountain climbing for the beauty of the landscape. Protecting it is therefore a priority.»
«Through a positive and explicit discourse, I would like to present the good behaviors to adopt in the spaces that house wildlife. For this, photography and video are effective means of communication. Touching the largest number of people by going beyond the «frame» of the Park: cafes, shelters, events, gatherings.»
« I grew up in Haute Tarentaise, in Tignes, in a family of enthusiasts who have always lived in great respect for nature. Hiking, skiing, observing the wildlife in the Parc… I was lucky from a very young age to be sensitized to the fragility and beauty of natural spaces, and it is therefore natural for me to share and support the right behavior to adopt.»
Everyone can become an ambassador
Everyone can become a Be Part of Mountain ambassador in their own way, by adopting good practices and joining the BPM community.
All useful links and contacts:
- Watch and relay The teaser of the initiative
- Join the community on social media with #bepartofthemountain
- Become an ambassador alongside the National Park by contacting the National Park by email accueil@vanoise-parcnational.fr
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