Best Practices: UIAA's Guidelines for Sustainable Mountain Tourism

The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) promotes the growth and protection of mountaineering and climbing worldwide by 1) preserving their spirit and traditions; 2) advancing safe and ethical mountain practices; 3) promoting responsible access, culture and environmental protection; and 4) Supporting youth participation and the Olympic movement.

The Access and Conservation commission of the UIAA has developed a set of guidelines on mountain tourism called the Argeo’s charter.

Theses guidelines are built on the belief that tourism is vitally important to ensure sustainable economic and social development for people living in mountain regions, but at the same time it is important to prevent tourism from destroying the environment and local cultures.

These guidelines focus on understanding and protecting the environment, preserving the cultural identity of the local mountain people and ensuring that mountain tourism really help the economic development of mountain areas.

These guidelines are meant as advice for communities who want to develop sustainable mountain tourism and want to avoid repeating the mistakes of some tourist regions in Europe.

 

links:

* Kathmandu Declaration: http://is.gd/29mt5

* UIAA ARGEO's Charter on Sustainable Mountaineering: http://is.gd/29lNx

On Human Impacts on the Andean Cordilleras

Andean Cordilleras are unique mountain paradise, and some are some of the planet's natural treasures. Their beuaty, quiet, and pure landscapes, however, are under threat. Three issues will have major impacts on the future of these mountain range. The outcome of each has yet to be determined: through proactive action, trekkers and climbers can make a positive impact.

The amount of garbage abandoned on trails in the Cordilleras is an issue of concern. If the international trekking and climbing community are able to solve this problem internally, perhaps we can avoid a fate similar to that of Machu Picchu in Perù. There, the Perù National Institute of Natural Resources has taken a heavy-handed approach to the garbage issue by requiring visistors to hire a guide (> USD 60 a day), limiting group sizes, and charging a USD 50 entrance fee (per person) - all control by an international profit-making organisation. The guide requirement especially infringes upon the opportunity for 'freedom of the hills'. If garbage is still an isue if/when each Cordillera become parks, administrators may take a heavy-handed stance. However, if garbage is no longer an issue, perhaps they will spend more of their time on trail and toilet construction, signage, and lobbying against the encroaching mine rather than on policing trekkers and climbers.
Trekking groups are the dominant source of garbage on Andean trails. Although trekkers themselves are often concscientious of the issue, they fail to tke proactive arole that is necessary to ameliorate the problem. Arrieros (donkey drivrs) are often left to break camp and prepare the donkeys for the day's trekwhile trekkers scurry ahead. This offers the windowof opportunity for arrieros to dump garbge. Coming from a life of economic struggles, arrieros understandably focus on matters such as ffeding a family rather than on maintaining clean trails. Trekkers and climbers should make it clear to the arriero that he is being paid to bring all garbage along and not dump it.
Create incentive for good behavior. Use the arriero contracts that guarantees part of wage only when the arriero presents the garbage at the end of the trip, and offer economic reward for picking up garbage that was already there. The aim is for arrieros to learn that trekkers value pristine wilderness and recgnise their own incentive in maintaining it.

The second major issue harming the Andean are industrial activities, especially mining. In the Cordillera Huayhuash, Japonese-owned Mitsui Mining & Smelting operates above Pallca, just below the western flanks of Rondoy. The impact of this project on both the environment and local inhabitants of the area has been sharply criticized. In 1995-96, Mitsui negatiated with the locals into allowing mining 'exploration' to continue. That was likely the last chance to completely halt the project. Since then, environmental groups have tried to keep Mitsui's presence in check. In june 1999, an aquifer was accidentally perforated causing the heavy situation of the Llamac River above the villages of Pocpa and Llamac. In the resulting confrontation between villagers and police who were guarding the mine , three villager were wounded when the police opened fire on protestors. The Cordillera Huayhuash has since officilaly became a Reserved Zone, which explicitly recognises the rights and traditional land use by local communities of this region. That case of the Huyahuash is common across the Andean and, hopefully, they should a more sustainable approach to use of natural resources should be taken. Some of the most beuatiful part of the Andes such as the Huayhuash should even gain the higher designation of a "Protected Landscape".

A third major issue presently threatening the Andean mountains is solid human waste and toilet paper. Many groups feel that it is unrealistic that they carry a bucket through the circuit for this purpose. The result is that boulders surrounding camps become smelly, unasanitary places. The cleanliness of the drinking water is under threat. As short-term solution, bring a steel shovel and dig small pit toilets. The long-term solution is to build pit or composting toilets. Trekkers and climbers can contribute to this cause by donating or volunteering with the organisation. (see: Best Practices: How to Build a Pit Toilet)

On Sustainability of Peruvian Andinism

The Peruvian Cordilleras are being visited every year by more and more climbers and trekkers. The most popular climbs and treks around Huaraz, Cusco or Arequipa are at risks to show wear and tear. It is the responsibility of both local and visiting communities to protect and keep clean these amazing ecosystems and to sustainably develop tourism economies.
Structure of Peruvian Andinism:
The Mountain Institute (TMI) based in Huaraz brings a quarter century of scientific, field-based experience to address challenges and opportunity facing mountain cultures, communities and conservation. TMI coordinates integrated education, community development, and cultural and natural-heritage conservation programs in the Himalayas, Andes, and Appalachians - the world's highest, longest and oldest mountain ranges respectively. TMI's Andean Program aims to culture build the capacities of institutions, communities, and individuals to design, implement, and monitor community-based programs throughout the Andes.
The Asociación de Guías de Montaña del Peru (AGMP) has been working for more than 20 years with the UIAGM to raise the level of training and expertise of the Peruvian andinism. Above 100 certified-guides are available for hire, freelance, through the Casa de Guias, or through agencies. Guiding prices are around USD 80 per day, but varies depending peak grading. The Casa de Guias de Huaraz (AGMP-RA) gather 85 guides and is well suited to promote sustainable mountain activities in the Huaraz area. On top of providing mountain informations, it can mobilise a rescue using the PGMA network. The AGMP RC (Cusco) gathers 7 guides and the AGMP RAQ (Arequipa) gathers 8 guides.
National and local authorities are playing an active role in protecting the eco-systems but limited actions to sustainably develop touristic activies. The SENARP established in 1975 the Huascaran National Park with the purpose to protect and conserve flora, fauna, geologic features and archeological sites, as well as managing the use of the park by trekkers, climbers and sightseers. The first aspect is well full-filled as attest the designation by UNESCO of International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site as early as 1985. However, the development of touristic activities are controversial, as efforts from the Park administration to address problems caused by increased use of the more popular base camps are limited. Furthermore local communities are not benefiting from the touristic resources in there valley.
Sustainability of Peruvian Andinism:
* Promotion of Peruvian Andinism internationally is inexistant. Governemental and local authorities should coordinate this activities
* Problems caused by increased use of the more popular base camps, due to growing numbers of climbers especially in the Quebrada Santa Cruz to Llanganuco, is also a major concern. Although financing of improvement projects (eg. base camp toilets, ...) has started in 1997 with the set up of entry fees (NPS 65), initiatives remain sometime illogical - too bureaucratic.
* To improve sustainability of economic developments in Huaraz and the valleys, the administration of the Parque Nacional Huascaran should invovle local communities in environmental activies and touristic services. Individuals initiatives are usually slowed by bureaucratic measures. For example, a project for sustainable farming and tourisitic activities is being promoted by Christian Silva Lindo, a Huaraz aspirant-guide. "Pack Your Sense" includes productions of truits, woods and coca liquor by local communities, education programs of these local communities by certified-volonteers, and sustainable hostelling and touristic services to visiting communities. Located as the base of the Quebrada Ishinca, the administration of the Parque Nacional Huascaran should take measures to faciliate the implementation of such projects.

Resources:
* Alfredo Quintana Figueroa, MountClimb, Huaraz, 06.06.09
* Christian Silva Lindo, Aspirante Guia, www.breaking the iceperu.com, 06.06.09
* The Casa de Guias, Huaraz, +43 721811
* The Mountain Institute, Andean Regional Office, Huaraz - tmiperu@mail.cosapidata.com.pe

On the Rapid Retreat of Glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru

There is now ample evidence of a major retreat of most mountain glaciers during the last 100 years in response to widespread increases in temperature. In recent decades, the rate of glacial recession has increased tremendously.

Mountain glaciers supply moisture to mountain forests during thedry and warm seasons. With retreating mountain glaciers, the risk of forest fires increases, with a subsequent reduction of forested areas. Smaller glaciers and diminishing forests lead to the drying up of rivers downstream during the dry seasons. Precipitation will more often come as rain during the winterand wash away at once instead of being stored as snow and then melt in the dry summer season.

Ice Under Fire: Mountain Glaciers

Photographer Gary Braasch holding a 1932 photo of Broggi glacier near Huascaran in the Peruvian Andes, while rephotographing this receding glacier in 1999. Glaciers everywhere in the world (with a very few exceptions) have been shrinking throughout the 20th Century, a prime signal of rapid global warming. Loss of tropical glaciers is particularly rapid. This glacier, previously photographed by the Austrian Hans Kinzl, receded about one kilometer in 67 years.

Here is a series of other receding glaciers in "then and now" views
Glacier Ururashraju, at about 15,000 feet in Cordillera Blanca of Peru. Photographed in 1986 by Peruvian glaciologist Alcides Ames, whose studies and direction allowed Gary Braasch to rephotograph it in 1999.

Retreat of about 500 M. Ames studies confirms the very rapid deglaciation of the Cordillera Blanca, which is the most ice-covered mountain range in the tropics.

References:

www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/references.html

Best Practices: Former au français les équipes locales

Pour favoriser des échanges plus conviviaux avec les trekkeurs et élargir les débouchés professionnels des équipes locales, des agences internationales les incitent à se former au français. Depuis longtemps, Allibert participe au financement de ces formations dispensées par les alliances françaises, notamment à La Paz, Cusco. Ces formations concernent plus particulièrement les équipes bolivienne, péruvienne. En parallèle, en 2005, des livres en français collectés lors des opérations de dons organisées en France vers ces pays.

Case Study:
C’est parti depuis le 17 janvier 2005 pour l’équipe bolivienne, avec une première session de 78 heures de cours de français pour Antonio Sainz Lema, chauffeur et guide, Roberto Gomez, chauffeur et guide de montagne, niveau débutant, Edwin Vargas, porteur, et Eduardo Sainz Luna, guide, niveau avancé. L’équipe péruvienne avait commencé à suivre les cours depuis mars 2005, et ce pour trois mois. Après une interruption pendant la saison touristique, les cinq guides, Edy Mercado, Pilar Paucarmayta, Nancy Vilca, Nery Paucarmayta et Ines Serrano, avaient repris les cours en octobre pour à nouveau trois mois de perfectionnement. La semaine passée ensemble à échanger sur le métier de guide a permis de revoir certains aspects techniques comme l’utilisation du caisson hyperbare, mais aussi de parler français et d’aborder un vocabulaire spécifique à la montagne, qui faisait suite à la première session de printemps pendant laquelle les guides avaient appris les bases. Puisque l’on n’apprend pas une langue étrangère en quelques mois mais dans la durée, L alliance Franciaise a renouvele en 2006 ces cours de français délivrés aux équipes bolivienne et péruvienne. Les formations se poursuivent dans ces pays, les élèves les plus assidus continuent, d’autres, nouveaux, débutent.

Best Practices: Collecte de Livres en Français

Les alliances françaises de Cusco (Pérou) et La Paz (Bolivie) dispensent des cours de français, notamment aux équipes locales (guides, cuisiniers, muletiers, porteurs et chauffeurs) sontenues par des agences internationales. Afin d’appuyer cette enseignement, des collectes de livres en français ont ete organises et les livres ont ete acheminés sur place via des groupes de trekkeurs en partance pour ces destinations. Ces livres, dont les thèmes avaient été choisis par les alliances françaises en fonction de leurs besoins (au Pérou : des ouvrages sur la France, en Bolivie : des guides sur le pays et les Andes), avaient contribué à enrichir la formation de nos équipes locales et complété les bibliothèques, pour le plus grand bonheur des habitants de ces régions.

Case study, Allibert 06/04/2005
Après trois semaines de collecte à la librairie Gaia-Store de Grenoble, Allibert avez donné rendez-vous un week-end au Salon des randonnées nature aventure à Paris et, pendant 15 jours encore, à l’agence parisienne, pour laisser le temps à toutes les bonnes volontés de venir déposer des livres. Une fois les journées de collecte finies, les opérations se sont enchaînées rapidement. En plus de la generosite du publique, des editeurs comme Arthaud, Lonely Planet et Prima ont fait don d’une cinquantaine de livres chacun. Il a fallu plus de deux jours pour trier et emballer les quelque 80 kilos de livres récoltés ! Ensuite des trekkeurs se sont portés volontaires pour enregistrer ces cartons avec leurs bagages lors de leur départ pour la Bolivie ou le Pérou. Les cartons qui attendaient sagement leur départ pour les alliances françaises sont tous arrivés à bon port en octobre 2005. Les alliances françaises de Cusco et de La Paz ont été ravies par ces ouvrages, d’autant plus que les livres reçus en plusieurs exemplaires permettront d’étoffer les bibliothèques des alliances françaises de province.

Best Practices: Organiser des Dons de Matériel

Equiper les équipes locales qui accompagnent les clients a commencé dans les années 80. Des collectes plus formelles s'organisent a l'initiatives d'Agences de trekking avant d’envoyer ces équipements aux équipes locales : l’ESF fournit chaque année les équipements techniques aux sherpas népalais ; Salomon fait profiter de ses chaussures “de test” haute montagne aux guides et porteurs kenyans. Cela ne va pas parfois sans quelques anecdotes croustillantes, comme en 2003, le fait de payer un très gros bakchich aux douaniers népalais pour débloquer les colis de collecte !
En 2005, en plus de l’apport de Petzl, qui avait doté de 200 lampes frontales les équipes sahariennes, a complete l'appel à générosité aupres de client d'Allibert. Aujourd’hui, Allibert poursuit ces opérations, même si le besoin en matériel change.

Case Study Allibert, 10/01/2007 :
L’avis de Jef Tripard, guide fondateur : “Quand nous partions en voyage de reconnaissance dans les années 80, nous emportions souvent dans nos bagages un sac de vêtements. Après une belle ascension, il était fréquent de laisser au porteur, au muletier ou au guide avec lequel on avait sympathisé notre paire de chaussures ou nos vêtements techniques. J’ai souhaité que cela continue à plus grande échelle.Aujourd’hui, nous n’avons plus besoin de recevoir du matériel, nous en avons suffisamment récolté lors de précédentes opérations.Par exemple, en 2005, nous avions eu un bilan très positif pour une opération de collecte qui nous avait permis de récolter plus de 400 kilos de matériels, et ce grâce à la générosité des randonneurs, de nos partenaires et de l’équipe Allibert.Les débuts très prometteurs obtenus à Toulouse lors de la soirée festive organisée pour le premier anniversaire de l’agence avaient été à la hauteur de nos espérances, puisque, après deux semaines de collecte, nous avions pu recueillir plus de 40 kilos de chaussures, sacs à dos, duvets, etc.Pour cette opération, Paris ne fut pas en reste ! Après trois jours seulement, 30 kilos de matériels s’étaient ajoutés à la récolte toulousaine.
L’opération s’était terminée en juin, en beauté : la collecte grenobloise avait atteint des sommets avec plus de 100 kilos de matériels collectés !” La proximité des montagnes et la période de collecte plus longue expliquent certainement ce succès.Votre générosité était au rendez-vous partout. Vous nous aviez rejoint jusqu’à Arrens, à l’occasion du festival Eldorando, pour remplir nos cartons de chaussures et sacs à dos.Une quarantaine de kilos de matériels étaient partis pour le Vietnam et le Kenya et, grâce au nombre important de dons, nous avions pu envoyer des polaires et carlines en Turquie et fournir l'équipe marocaine en lampes frontales, même si cela n’était pas prévu au départ ! Les cartons restants étaient partis vers le Pérou, la Bolivie et le Kenya. En 2006, nous avons continué à faire ces dons, et nous continuons à acheminer du matériel en 2007 grâce aux stocks que nous avons!