NATURAL RESOURCES
TAMING NATURE’S WEALTH Winter sports resorts have built their economic model on natural mountain resources. A fragile resource that must be both safeguarded and used virtuously. Texts: Cécile Ronjat - Illustrations: Anne Bosquet
SOBRIETY COMES FIRST One ski area was built on sobriety. Arêches-Beaufort was the first French resort to sign the national charter in favor of sustainable development in mountain resorts, in 2007. This Savoyard village resort has truly taken advantage of its environment to grow. Its geographical location, in the foothills of Mont Blanc, guarantees exceptional snowfall which, thanks to its north-facing slopes and high altitude, is easy to maintain. Indeed, snow guns only cover 15% of
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M O U N TA I N P L A N E T
2022
SAM INGLES
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n the mountains, climate change is not a concept. This is a reality that people in the mountains experience, feel, and see. They have a front row seat. The phenomenon is not perceived as tangible elsewhere than in the oceans, coasts, and mountains. “Like any other economic player, ski areas have a responsibility to limit their environmental and social impact and to preserve natural resources and biodiversity. They have an even more important role to play as they will be where people will come to learn in the future,” says Camille Rey-Gorrez, director of the Mountain Riders association, which created the Flocon Vert label. They also have a vested interest in looking after what is ultimately their work tool. Everyone needs to do their part by taking virtuous steps. Ski areas, and more broadly the communities around them, have been working for some time to reduce their carbon footprint, often through innovation. “Technologies have made it possible to optimize costs and save resources. There has been a very positive evolution, but we are not asking ourselves enough about how to reduce consumption, which requires a review of practices,” says Ms Rey-Gorrez. Like Ademe, Mountain Riders advocates energy sobriety before thinking about renewable energy production. The cleanest energy is the one we don’t use... For the energy that you still have to use, it is better to use 100% renewable energy, which is certainly more expensive. This is an initiative adopted by 48 French ski lift companies.
La forêt est un trésor, son bois une ressource locale.
the area, on the lower parts. This artificial snow is produced solely from the Roselend dam, the network being supplied by gravity pressure, which requires less energy. Sobriety also means making choices, such as closing the ski lifts in off-peak periods, and areas free from grooming. “These actions allow us to change the scale in terms of impact,” says Camille Rey-Gorez. For Laurent Reynaud, general delegate of Domaines skiables de France (DSF), “innovation is essential, as is behavior, both by professionals and our customers. Technology is not the sole answer in keeping our planet clean. Serre Chevalier has made extensive use of technology and is now embarking on another project based on a more rational operation. Clients also need to understand and embrace changes for them to be sustainable. The ski area has chosen to raise awareness and survey the public by launching a
