Mountain Wilderness
In defence of mountains, the world over
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Bernard Marclay September 12, 2014 720 × 960 pixels
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Want to see mountain nature better protected? Join us!

“Mountain wilderness” refers to any pristine, untouched mountain environment, where anyone can experience vast open spaces, silence, solitude, nature. “The value of wilderness therefore lies above all in its potential to stimulate a creative relationship between civilised man and the natural environment. It is the degree of authenticity of this relationship that gives a non-ephemeral meaning to adventure.”

This definition dates back to 1987, when the Biella theses, our manifesto, were written. They marked the birth of Mountain Wilderness.

Mountain Wilderness International (MWI) is the umbrella organisation of the national chapters of Mountain Wilderness. It facilitates communication and exchange among national chapters, coordinates and organises international projects and actions and officially represents the organisation in its relations with governments, authorities, international institutions and non-governmental organisations.

If you share our ideas and you wish to help us, please join a national chapter. Mountain Wilderness has chapters in a dozen countries.

Events Calendar

Mountain Wilderness International

1 day ago

Mountain Wilderness International
There is growing concern in San Fabián, Ñuble Region, Chile. A real estate company is parcelling up the Andes Cordillera, fragmenting it into plots to sell them along with their beautiful native forests.#mountains #MountainsMatter #forests #chile ... See MoreSee Less

Protect the Andes Cordillera! - Mountain Wilderness

www.mountainwilderness.org

Picture from www.dosel.org There is growing concern in San Fabián, Ñuble Region, Chile. The real estate company Genau Green is parcelling up the cordillera, fragmenting an area of approximately 100 ...
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Mountain Wilderness International

3 days ago

Mountain Wilderness International
"Research suggests that cliffs hold at least 35% of native plant species, and provide refuge for a range of rock-dwelling animals. The physical act of climbing has been shown to affect animal and plant species, as has the use of chalk in the sport. Climbers use chalk to improve friction between their hands and the rock, but the magnesium content changes the pH of the surface, affecting the ability of plants to grow. In many areas, there is also little regulation of where climbing routes can be set." ... See MoreSee Less

Rock climbers like to connect with nature – but are they also destroying it?

www.theguardian.com

Outdoor climbing has boomed in popularity worldwide but some experts say the pursuit can push vulnerable cliff-dwelling species to the brink
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Mountain Wilderness International

1 week ago

Mountain Wilderness International
#Peru has lost 56% of its tropical #glaciers in the last six decades due to #climatechange, according to a new government inventory released last week. ... See MoreSee Less

Peru glaciers decimated by climate change - report

www.reuters.com

Peru has lost 56% of its tropical glaciers in the last six decades due to climate change, according to a new government inventory released on Wednesday.
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Mountain Wilderness International

2 weeks ago

Mountain Wilderness International
The Neretva, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a river which runs from the Dinaric Alps to the Adriatic Sea and ranks among the most biodiverse and intact rivers in Europe. More than 50 planned dams could permanently transform the ecosystem. #neretva #river #biodiversity #ecosystem #alps ... See MoreSee Less

It’s one of Europe’s last pristine rivers. Can scientists save it from 50 dams?

www.theguardian.com

The Neretva, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is one of the most biodiverse rivers on the continent – supporting bears, wolves, lynx and many rare species – but more than 50 planned dams could permanent...
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Mountain Wilderness International

2 weeks ago

Mountain Wilderness International
"Greenland’s mountain glaciers and floating ice shelves are melting faster than they were just a few decades ago"#mountains #glaciers #melting The New York Times ... See MoreSee Less

Two Studies on Greenland Reveal Ominous Signs for Sea Level Rise

www.nytimes.com

Some glaciers on the island are melting at double the rate of just a few decades ago.
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Retweet on Twitter Mountain Wilderness International Retweeted
icimod ICIMOD @icimod ·
2 Dec

UN Chief @antonioguterres: "The mountains are issuing a distress call. COP28 must respond with a rescue plan"

"It is deeply shocking to learn how fast the Himalayan glaciers are melting.

And deeply distressing to hear first-hand from local communities about the terrible…

Reply on Twitter 1730988799960768698 Retweet on Twitter 1730988799960768698 41 Like on Twitter 1730988799960768698 91 Twitter 1730988799960768698
mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
3 Dec

There is growing concern in San Fabián, Ñuble Region, #Chile. A real estate company is parcelling up the Andes Cordillera, fragmenting it into plots to sell them along with their beautiful native #forests.
#mountains #mountainsmatter

Reply on Twitter 1731231258506604853 Retweet on Twitter 1731231258506604853 1 Like on Twitter 1731231258506604853 3 Twitter 1731231258506604853
Retweet on Twitter Mountain Wilderness International Retweeted
icimod ICIMOD @icimod ·
2 Dec

At @COP28_UAE on 🗓️ 4 December at 🕒15:30(GMT+4) join ICIMOD and partners from multilateral banks, alliances for nature and sustainability, and adaptation experts, as they zero on the urgent investment needs of the #HinduKushHimalaya region.

Experts from the @ADB_HQ,…

Reply on Twitter 1730946121449800059 Retweet on Twitter 1730946121449800059 4 Like on Twitter 1730946121449800059 16 Twitter 1730946121449800059
mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
1 Dec

Cliffs hold 35% of native plant species & provide refuge for a range of rock-dwelling animals. The physical act of climbing has been shown to affect animal & plant species. In many areas there is also little regulation of where climbing routes can be set

Reply on Twitter 1730508976779878472 Retweet on Twitter 1730508976779878472 2 Like on Twitter 1730508976779878472 8 Twitter 1730508976779878472
mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
27 Nov

#Peru has lost 56% of its tropical #glaciers in the last six decades due to #climatechange, according to a new government inventory released last week.

Reply on Twitter 1729043405475656038 Retweet on Twitter 1729043405475656038 Like on Twitter 1729043405475656038 3 Twitter 1729043405475656038
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There is growing concern in San Fabián, Ñuble Re There is growing concern in San Fabián, Ñuble Region, Chile. A real estate company is parcelling up the Andes Cordillera, fragmenting it into plots to sell them along with their beautiful native forests. Link in bio #mountains #mountainsmatter #mountainlovers #cordillera #Andes #forests #wildlife #realestate #megaplots #megaloteos 📷 www.dosel.org
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FI The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) claims it “considers the protection and preservation of the environment of great importance”. Hard to believe after what happened... 📷 Sébastien Anex Link in bio #ski #FIS #worldcup #glaciers #climatecrisis #wilderness #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #leavenotrace #environment
The new government of Aragon aims to resume a cabl The new government of Aragon aims to resume a cable car project to link Formigal with Astún, that would cross Canal Roya, a beautiful valley of glacial origin. Mountain Wilderness España took part in the massive mobilisation and drew up a manifesto to protect the area and turn it into a nature park. Read article by MW España in bio #CanalRoya #Aragon #Spain #cablecar #AnayetPartacua #NaturePark #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #leavenotrace #nature
Expedition parties of the Swat Project have return Expedition parties of the Swat Project have returned to Europe from Pakistan. The project was initiated and led by Mountain Wilderness International with the aim of publishing a guidebook of the mountains and valleys of this fascinating area, which is part of the high mountain Hindu-Kush Himalayan region of Pakistan, with a view to establishing a vast protected mountain area. In a week’s time, the Catalan and Italian mountaineers who were planning to ascend the last virgin peak in that area will also return home. Link in bio #SwatProject #MountainsMatter #HKH #Pakistan #mountaineering #mountainlovers #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #ecotourism
Empowering women through mountaineering! Carlo A Empowering women through mountaineering! Carlo Alberto (Betto) Pinelli, our Honorary President, announced a new mountaineering course for women in Pakistan, as part of our Swat Project, in collaboration with SPS College, ISMEO, CAAI and Mountain Partnership. Here the link to the article: https://dawn.com/news/1775058 #empowerment #mountaineering #wilderness #mountainwilderness #SwatProject #Pakistan #mountainsmatter #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #ecotourism #respectnature
Mountains cover around 27 percent of the Earth's l Mountains cover around 27 percent of the Earth's land surface and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They are key to our lives and livelihoods. Yet mountains are suffering from the impacts of climate change and unsustainable development, escalating risks for people and the planet. Restoring mountain ecosystems is this year's International Mountain Day theme, on December 11. This theme was selected to include mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in order to draw together political support, scientific research and financial resources to scale-up restoration and prevent further degradation of mountains. #internationalmountainday #imd2023 #mountainsmatter #ecosystemrestoration #ecosystems #biodiversity #climatechange #leavenotrace #cleanclimbing #mountainlovers
A Mountain Liaison Officer is an officer seconded A Mountain Liaison Officer is an officer seconded to a foreign mountaineering expedition visiting the Greater Himalayas for climbing or trekking at high altitude. It was very common in ancient times, even during the British Raj, for every mountaineering or scientific expedition to have a liaison officer. Read @afzelscherazi's article on mountain liaison officers. Link in bio #mountainsmatter #liaisonofficer #Pakistan #HKH #glaciers #mountains #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace
You may either love or hate these feats, but what You may either love or hate these feats, but what about the descent of Mont Blanc by helicopter? 🚁 This happened in the hottest week on record, with blazing temperatures around the globe, among growing concerns about the impacts of climate change and GHG emissions on the environment and human health... Link to press release in bio 📷 Mountain Wilderness France #MontBlanc #helicopter #GHGs #emissions #climatechange #hottestweekever #environment #leavenotrace #silence
Some smiling faces from our virtual GA 2023, that Some smiling faces from our virtual GA 2023, that just ended. Keep on doing the good work! See you next year, in person! 💪 🗻 #MountainWilderness #InDefenceOfMountains #TheWorldOver
Today is World Environment Day! 💚 This year's Today is World Environment Day! 💚 This year's theme is "Solutions to plastic pollution". Mountain areas are among the most affected by plastic waste, yet pollution of mountains rarely makes the headlines. Hard and soft plastics are the most widespread pollutants in mountain areas. Check what you can do 👉 bit.ly/3Ce6qE8 to #BeatPlasticPollution! 📷 #GridArendal 🙏 #WorldEnvironmentDay #WED #plasticpollution #MountainsMatter #wildlife #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace
Civil disobedience should always be a last resort. Civil disobedience should always be a last resort. But if even the UN Secretary General Guterres raises the issue saying "They need to be protected and we need them now more than ever”, because “at key moments, protesters have been instrumental in persuading governments and business leaders to do much more”, then the wave of criminalisation and delegitimisation of environmental defenders should really spark a Europe-wide, a worldwide public discussion. Link in bio #environment #defenders #climate #activists #NGOs #mountainsmatter #noplanetb
Explorations done so far within the framework of t Explorations done so far within the framework of the Swat Project are simply not enough. Volunteers are needed to carry out further exploration and mapping, as well as taking pictures of unexplored areas. In addition to hikers, parties of mountaineers are needed to identify access routes to the main peaks and to describe the ascent routes. We think that publishing a guidebook can be an important step in convincing Pakistani authorities of the importance of designating a national park. If you are a hiking and mountaineering enthusiast, you can join us in exploring Swat’s last, still partly unknown hiking and mountaineering routes. Some of the routes may require the crossing of glaciers and snow passes, implying the use of crampons, ice axe and rope. For more info, follow link in bio! #SwatProjec#SwatValley #Pakistan#MountainWilderness #wilderness #mountainsmatter #mountainlovers #mountaineering #hiking #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #guidebook #nationalpark #wildlife
Ever since the Olympics were awarded by the IOC to Ever since the Olympics were awarded by the IOC to Milan and Cortina, Mountain Wilderness has always maintained that all promises of sustainability would be betrayed, that the costs to the community would be far from those budgeted, that all procedures put in place to guarantee environmental protection (SEA) would be carefully circumvented. Article link in bio! 📷 #VytautasDranginis #Unsplash #milancortina2026 #olympics #olympics2026 #milanocortina2026 #olympicgames #sustainability #betrayal #environmentalprotection #natura2000 #alps #mountainlovers #mountainsmatter #leavenotrace #environment
We stand in solidarity with the victims of the dev We stand in solidarity with the victims of the devastating earthquake in South East Turkey and Northern Syria 📷 #NASA #TurkeySyriaEarthquake
The Swat Project comes to an end this year. The la The Swat Project comes to an end this year. The last expeditions will take place in August/September. We are once again inviting all hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts to participate in the exploration of hiking and mountaineering routes that will be included in our guidebook with a strong focus on environmental protection. 💚 This guidebook is meant to spur the Pakistani government to initiate the creation of a National Park. The project is being implemented in collaboration with ISMEO, International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, and CAAI, Italian Academic Alpine Club, under the aegis of @unmountainsmatter For more information, link in bio 🔗 #mountainsmatter #SwatProject #guidebook #nationalpark #Pakistan #cleanclimbing #ecotourism #donoharm #leavenotrace #mountainlovers
"Women move mountains” was the theme of this yea "Women move mountains” was the theme of this year’s International Mountain Day (IMD) on 11 December. “Women play a key role in environmental protection and social and economic development in mountain areas. They are often the primary managers of mountain resources, guardians of biodiversity, keepers of traditional knowledge, custodians of local culture and experts in traditional medicine” explains FAO. A perfect fit for our “Girls in Action!” course we held this year in Pakistani Swat, 10 years after the assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai. The course was part of The Swat Project, whose ultimate goal is to create a National Park in an area of great natural beauty, known as the ‘Switzerland of Pakistan’. There were several initiatives either organised or co-organised by MW at national and international level or in which national chapters participated. Link in bio #mountainsmatter #WomenMoveMountains #IMD2022 #InternationalMountainDay #TheSwatProject #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #donoharm
May the festive season bring us peace, love, healt May the festive season bring us peace, love, health, rest and the strength to continue fighting with renewed vigour for our beloved mountains in the New Year! ✨ #MerryChristmas #SeasonsGreetings #happyholidays #mountainwilderness #mountainsmatter #sustainability #donoharm #leavenotrace #mountainlovers #mountains #biodiversity #environment #climatecrisis
'Women play a key role in mountains' environmental 'Women play a key role in mountains' environmental protection and social and economic development' #UN We are so proud to have contributed by empowering a group of Pakistani women with our "Girls In Action!" course held this year in Swat, because #WomenMoveMountains! Happy International Mountain Day! #IMD2022 #MountainsMatter #empowerment #GirlsInAction #Swat #Pakistan #ecofriendly #mountaineering #wildlife #climbing #HKH #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #donoharm #nationalpark #mountainlovers
Grand Bornand, 930 m asl, will host the Biathlon W Grand Bornand, 930 m asl, will host the Biathlon World Cup from 15 to 18 December. There being no snow, which is quite normal at that elevation, piles of artificial snow were produced and preserved. But then the "white gold" had to be transported. A local resident said: "in a quarter of an hour, 17 truckloads of snow came up to the ski resort". That's 68 trucks per hour! In times of climate and energy crisis, just think of the consumption caused by an event like this, in terms of water and energy to make the snow, not to mention the carbon footprint of the trucks! Gold medal 🥇 for water and energy consumption to make the snow ❄️ as well as for the trucks' carbon footprint! 🚚🚚🚚 #snowfarming #climatecrisis #energycrisis #biathlon #MountainsMatter #Alps #leavenotrace #donoharm #carbonfootprint
📢 December 11 is International Mountain Day! 🗻 The year 2022 also marks the 20th anniversary from the first International Year ever devoted to mountains! Once again we have joined forces with @teatrodelburattomilano to organise a short story (in 🇮🇹) and photo contest within the framework of the Reading Mountains Festival on the themes "women move mountains", "sustainable mountain development" and "into the wild". Prizes will be awarded on #IMD2022 🔗 bit.ly/3fW51Ld (Italian only) #MountainsMatter #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #wilderness #sustainablemountaindevelopment #womenmovemountains #intothewild #cleanclimbing #donoharm #leavenotrace
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