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Ski pistes, the industrial areas of mountain resorts
Is ecological management possible ? An ecologist gives his point of view.

Alain BEDECARRATS - Doctor in Ecology, CEMAGREF, St Martin d'Hères, France

 

The ski piste is an essential infrastructure for enhancing the economic value of ski areas in the winter. The line of the piste is reliant on the natural contour of the mountain which has had to be altered in some places to provide safe and comfortable skiing conditions.

Now these changes to the mountain are damaging to the environment: they destroy living communities and soils, they can result in erosion and, aesthetically they are one of the factors that spoil altitude landscapes.

For more than twenty years in France, ski resort managers have been trying to reconcile industrial mindset with the restoration of the environment. Thus ecological engineering techniques are today systematically used to prevent soil erosion and to plant herbaceous vegetation on bare sites.

However, such undertakings are not yet integrated into a structured and pertinent concept because the ecological objectives are not clear.

For the ecologist, ecosystems destroyed by digging into the mountain must be reconstituted as fully as possible, as long as this remains compatible with skiing (for example this does not mean encouraging the replanting of a forest ecosystem on a ski piste).

To do so, we must understand and manage spontaneous modifications which naturally effect ecosystems. Although knowledge required for ecological restoration is a matter for ecologists (requiring a certain level of technical competence), the approach is based on a general model which can be used by the non-specialist.

The general principles for ecologically restoring ski pistes. (see diagram)

Generally, restoring a disrupted ecosystem consists of re-establishing the biodiversity and functions which existed before the disruption.

In the case of ski pistes, the disruption (or degradation) due to digging is irreversible, in order words, the previous ecosystem cannot re-establish itself spontaneously.

Now, turfing or planting simple plant communities triggers the spontaneous process of restoration.

Plant and animal biocoenosis of the surrounding areas takes over the habitat once again and gradually relationships between organisms become more complex.

This general model has been tested in La Plagne as part of a research programme led by the ministry for the environment, known as "Recreating Nature". It has been estimated that with good soil and climate conditions (under 2300 m) about 30 years are needed before a good level of biodiversity is once more achieved. Work concerning the reconstitution of soil is currently in hand.

Therefore the return of green vegetation is the first stage in a long process to restore an autochthonous ecosystem. Techniques for appraisal and for managing these actions in co-operation with those people controlling these ski pistes need to be set up so that true restoration engineering results.

The ecological restoration of ski pistes

 

We have just seen regarding ski pistes that industrial mindset can be reconciled with ecological mindset. Enlarging this idea to the ski area gives rise to a more general reflection on the sustainable management of these areas. The methodological approach of sustainable management is complex in as far as the decision-maker (ski resort, commune) must take into account the numerous uses of the area (industrial, pastoral, tourist, etc.), the constraints (environmental, judicial, etc.) and knowledge of the habitats and their evolution so that choices compatible with a balanced development of the area can be made.

 

 

With this objective, the French part of the current European research programme CARTESIAN aims to build up a prototype management support system for the Arcs ski area. This system is based on a geographical information system. It's originality lies in its use of very high definition satellite and aerial imagery (IKONOS satellite) to carry out on-site surveys and environmental monitoring.

The outlook

The concept of sustainable development which appeared only recently, notably at the Rio summit in 1992, has brought about dramatic changes in attitude and resulted in the appearance of new behaviour patterns throughout society.

Because ski resorts have to deal with urbanisation and transport problems as well as those relating to the management of industrial infrastructures and natural habitats which have to a certain extent been adapted to meet human requirements are greatly confronted by this concept of sustainable development. Resort management is now beginning to investigate this concept. The presentation by Jean-Louis Tuaillon is representative of this attitude.

Although we have given thought to our subject studies (ecosystem dynamics and ecosystems in relation to sustainable development), much work needs to be done on acquiring knowledge and setting up methodologies before we will be able to fully meet the expectations of our partners.