Towards Best Soil Management Practices in the Alps

Tourism

Sustainable Cross-Sectoral Soil Management:

IT case studies on joining mountain agriculture, tourism, water quality (will) focus on soil protection activities on mountain pastures/ski areas and assess soil properties, geomorphology and natural hazards. Soil data are interpreted and made applicable for improved management of dual mountain sites (e.g. ski slopes). Results are transferred into management plans and discussed with e.g. ski-area managers (observers).

Transferring Soil Case Study Results to Management Plans: Transnational Exchange on Best Practice Solutions

Guidelines for sustainable management practices on ski slopes are crucial, considering winter and summer tourism, which has strongly influenced and in some areas devalued the typical highland/mountainous landscape. Loss of vegetation cover, erosion and landslides are forms of ecological damage caused by winter and summer sports activities. Construction of new ski lifts, expanding ski areas and the side effects of snow grooming machines are just a few of the negative impacts that tamper with the ecology of wilderness areas in the long run.

These guidelines collect the current state of knowledge about the soil good management practices applied in ski areas. The aim is to provide a useful and practical tool that may allow sustainable soil management, favouring the mitigation of impacts caused by the construction and management of ski runs and related facilities.

 

Examples from our best practices, elaborated together with our stakeholders in order to raise awareness on challenges in the Alpine tourism sector: