Mountain Wilderness
In defence of mountains, the world over
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Presidency Team

MemberCountryPhoto
Jordi QUERA - PresidentCatalonia
Gotlind BLECHSCHMIDT - Vice PresidentGermany
Gabriella Suzanne VANZAN - Vice President Italy
Gilles PRIVAT - Vice President France
Karin LANKES - Secretary General Germany
Susanna GONELLA - Treasurer Italy

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.

Mountain Wilderness International

2 days ago

Mountain Wilderness International
Restoring mountain ecosystems, the theme of International Mountain Day 2023, was selected to fully include mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, co-led by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Environment Programme. The aim is to significantly scale-up restoration prevent further degradation of mountain ecosystems 🏔️#MountainsMatter #imd2023 #EcosystemRestoration ... See MoreSee Less

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Mountain Wilderness International

4 days ago

Mountain Wilderness International
A study by the University of Basel in Switzerland warns that resorts situated below 1,800-2,000m (5,900-6,600ft), will increasingly have to rely on artificial snow to keep just their higher ski slopes open for up to 100 consecutive days, while their lower slopes may not be possible to save. This would raise their water consumption by 79% by 2100. During an average winter towards the end of the century, a resort would consume about 540 million litres (119 million gallons) of water, compared to today's 300 million litres (66 million gallons). In the French Alps, water consumption could increase ninefold by 2100, according to the study.s ... See MoreSee Less

How climate change threatens to close ski resorts

www.bbc.com

From the Swiss Alps to the Rocky Mountains, ski resorts are grappling with the impacts of climate change. How are they adapting in a warming world?
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Mountain Wilderness International

1 week ago

Mountain Wilderness International
Vulnerable to both climate change and human intervention, mountain biodiversity is increasingly under threat ... See MoreSee Less

Mountain environments are key to biodiversity – but the threats to them are being ignored

theconversation.com

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Mountain Wilderness International

2 weeks ago

Mountain Wilderness International
Many methods have been attempted to prevent glacier melt, including insulating blankets. But most of the coverage of these campaigns focuses on strategies and creators not on actual result, i.e. whether or not they really work to reduce glacier ice loss.As ice continues to shrink and retreat worldwide, policymakers and journalists should question the underlying assumption that campaigns to save ice are inherently a good thing. Instead, they should evaluate whether the campaign addresses the root problem, who is leading it, and who benefits from it to identify schemes that act more as a temporary fix than a long-term solution.Columbia Climate School#glaciermelt #blankets #MountainsMatter ... See MoreSee Less

Covering Glaciers With Blankets to Hide the Ice — and the Real Problem

news.climate.columbia.edu

Glacier-saving campaigns are becoming more popular as ice across the globe disappears at an alarming pace. A new analysis examines the actors, motives, and implications of these campaigns in the fight...
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Mountain Wilderness International

3 weeks ago

Mountain Wilderness International
"Nearly half the world’s mountain glaciers are expected to disappear by the end of this century, even if the world meets its most ambitious climate goals.A new study found that 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming would wipe out around 104,000 glaciers and raise global sea levels by about 3.5 inches in the process.And that’s a best-case scenario."Scientific American ... See MoreSee Less

Half of All Mountain Glaciers Are Expected to Disappear by 2100

www.scientificamerican.com

Even if the world meets its most ambitious climate targets, about half of all mountain glaciers will melt away by the end of the century
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mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
28 Jan

Restoring mountain ecosystems, the theme of #IMD2023, was selected to fully include #mountains in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030, co-led by @FAO and @UNEP. The aim is to significantly scale-up restoration & prevent further degradation of mountain #ecosystems 🏔️

Mountain Partnership @UNmountains

Restoring mountain ecosystems is the theme of International Mountain Day 2023 on 11 December! 🏔️ #MountainsMatter #GenerationRestoration

➡️ https://www.fao.org/mountain-partnership/news/news-detail/en/c/1629228/

📸: ©Nima Farid Mojtahedi

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mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
26 Jan

Resorts situated below 1,800-2,000m will increasingly have to rely on #artificialsnow to keep higher ski slopes open for up to 100 consecutive days, while lower slopes may not be possible to save. This would raise their #waterconsumption by 79% by 2100 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230124-how-climate-change-threatens-to-close-ski-resorts

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mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
22 Jan

Vulnerable to both climate change and human intervention, #mountain biodiversity is increasingly under threat #climatecrisis #biodiversitycrisis
https://theconversation.com/mountain-environments-are-key-to-biodiversity-but-the-threats-to-them-are-being-ignored-196679

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mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
14 Jan

Many methods have been attempted to prevent #glacier melt, including insulating blankets. But most of the coverage of these campaigns focuses on strategies and creators not on actual result, i.e. whether or not they really work to reduce glacier ice loss https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/01/13/covering-glaciers-with-blankets-to-hide-the-ice-and-the-real-problem/#.Y8JrFG52UjI.twitter

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mwildernessint Mountain Wilderness International @mwildernessint ·
11 Jan

Nearly half the world’s #mountainglaciers are expected to disappear by the end of this century (...) 1.5°C of #globalwarming would wipe out around 104,000 glaciers and raise global sea levels by about 3.5 inches (...) And that’s a best-case scenario @sciam https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/half-of-all-mountain-glaciers-are-expected-to-disappear-by-2100/

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"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
From the Austrian Pitztal-Ötztal megaproject, “ From the Austrian Pitztal-Ötztal megaproject, “Europe’s largest contiguous glacier ski resort”, to the greenwashing-sounding “Connecting Nature, Sharing Beauty” project in Italy's Aosta Valley and the cancellation of all downhill races in Zermatt-Cervinia as “senseless event and against all environmental logic”. When "Nature must be respected and accepted". #Alps #mountainsmatter #sustainablemountaintourism #skiindustry #megaproject #skiresort #cableway #Pitztal #Ötztal #CimeBianche #mountainlovers #wildlife #greenwashing #climatechange #glaciers #donoharm #leavenotrace 📷 Mountain Wilderness Germany Link in bio
Twenty young women aged between 15 and 25 took par Twenty young women aged between 15 and 25 took part in the basic course in eco-friendly mountaineering "Girls in Action!" This is one of the many courses Mountain Wilderness has held over time to train locals as guides and give them a livelihood, while protecting the environment, preserving mountains and respecting local culture and traditions. To read more, follow link in bio Many thanks to our partners ISMEO (The International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies), CAAI (Italian Academic Alpine Club), to @scarpaspa for donating 30 pairs of boots as well as to @unmountainsmatter and @banca_sella for their financial support! #empowerment #GirlsInAction #Swat #Pakistan #ecofriendly #mountaineering #wildlife #mountainsmatter #climbing #HKH #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #donoharm #nationalpark #mountainlovers
Our teams of the Swat Project 2022 are in Swat, Pa Our teams of the Swat Project 2022 are in Swat, Pakistan, right now. Some are blocked in the mountains, due to heavy rainfall and flooding, but safe. The "Girls in Action" course for eco-friendly women trekking guides was completed despite the weather this week, although rain forced trainers to cancel yesterday's field trek. Diplomas will be handed out to the trainees who completed the course tomorrow. We express our deepest sympathy to the people affected by the flash flood emergency and mourn the many dead caused by heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan. #Pakistan #Swat #mountainsmatter #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #sustainability #livelihood #wildlife #cleanclimbing #donoharm #leavenotrace
In recent decades, via ferratas and equipped mount In recent decades, via ferratas and equipped mountain routes have conquered all the Alps, which count more than 1000 of them: ‘French-style’ ferratas are mainly built for recreational purposes, generously equipped with cables, foot and handholds etc. and, whenever possible, a suspension bridge for extreme fun. Very often, via ferratas lead to diffuse anthropisation impacts, and sometimes even dangerous overcrowding, in particularly vulnerable areas for both fauna and flora, without even measuring the environmental impact they can have before they are built. More on @mountain_wilderness_italia campaign on via ferratas in bio #viaferrata #trail #mountainwilderness #MountainsMatter #wildlife #overcrowding #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #donoharm
Safe trip and good work! 🙏💪🏔️⛰️🧗‍♀️ 🌲🌳 #swatproject22 #girlsinaction #trekking #mountaineering #Pakistan #HKH #nationalpark #cleanclimbing #leavenotrace #donoharm #mountainwilderness #wildlife #mountainsmatter #mountainlovers Reposted from @mountain_wilderness_catalunya Sortint de BCN cap a l’Hindu Kush pakistanès per participar del #swatproject22 de @mountain_wilderness_intl…
Italian Nature Film Festival #25GPFF calls for gov Italian Nature Film Festival #25GPFF calls for governments and citizens to sign environmental sustainability and nature conservation charter to commit to a more sustainable world and then organises helicopter 🚁 ride in nature reserve - where tourist flights are banned - to Gran Paradiso 🏔 summit for a distinguished roped party to fake ascent to advertise it. Now, was there any need to drop this roped party 🧗‍♂️ along with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco by helicopter on the shoulder of Gran Paradiso known as 'back of the donkey' just to take a few pics for the press 📷 and make headlines in the name of "sustainability"? Link in bio #granparadiso #gpff #granparadisofilmfestival #ValledAosta #Italy #Alps #granparadisonationalpark #sustainability #climatecrisis #glaciercrisis #whateverittakes #donoharm #cleanclimbing #helicopter #mountainsmatter #mountainwilderness #wildlife #naturereserve #greenwashing
The tragedy that struck dozens of hikers and mount The tragedy that struck dozens of hikers and mountaineers has shaken us all deeply. We mourn the dead and express our sympathy to their families and the injured. It is, however, a tragedy that must make us reflect. The disaster struck one day after a record high temperature of 10 degrees Celsius was recorded at the glacier’s summit. Italy currently has about 920 glaciers, almost entirely in the Alps. In the last 20 years, the country has lost 25 percent of the water from those shrinking glaciers, and melting glaciers and permafrost weakens the mountains, causing glacier collapse, rockfalls, landslides, mudflows, debris and slushflows. Link in bio 📷 courtesy of CNSAS, Italian Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps #Marmolada #glacier #Dolomites #Alps #mountainsmatter #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers
📷 Girls in Action! First course for women trek 📷 Girls in Action! First course for women trekking guides in SWAT S ustainable W omen A dventure-Nature-Culture T raining How many years have passed since the day the young and brave Malala Yousafzai was shot by Islamic fundamentalists? Today, in that very same Swat valley, surrounded by the southernmost peaks of the Himalayan mountains, a small but significant revolutionary event is about to take place, involving twenty-four girls like Malala and – just like her – determined to shape their own destiny. To find out more click the link in bio #Swat #HKH #pakistan #mountainlovers #mountainsmatter #girlpower #mountaineering #hiking #trekking #nature #culture #wildlife #cleanclimbing #donoharm
Today is World Environment Day! 2022 is a histori Today is World Environment Day! 2022 is a historic milestone: it marks 50 years since the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, where the idea of World Environment Day was formalised, with the first one being celebrated in 1973. This year’s theme is #OnlyOneEarth. Did you know that we are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life? Ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. Our lifestyles are associated with two thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions. Studies show that sustainable lifestyles and behaviours could reduce our emissions by 40 to 70% by 2050. There are a lot of actions that we as individuals can put in place to make a difference. What are you doing to make this a better place? 📷 #WorldEnvironmentDay #WED2022 #OnlyOneEarth #mountainsmatter #mountainlovers #mountainwilderness #nature #wildlife #donoharm #leavenotrace #cleanclimbing
The General Assembly (GA) of Mountain Wilderness I The General Assembly (GA) of Mountain Wilderness International took place last weekend in Switzerland 🇨🇭 with participants from Catalonia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. It was the first GA in presence since 2019. The outgoing board was re-elected: Jordi Quera - President (Catalonia) Gabriella Suzanne Vanzan - Vice-President (Italy) Gotlind Blechschmidt - Vice-President (Germany) Karin Lankes - Secretary General (Germany) Susanna Gonella - Treasurer (Italy) were joined by Gilles Privat - Vice-President (France) Congrats to the team! 👏 📷 Marta Corrà 🔗 in bio #mountains #mountainsmatter #mountainwilderness #GA2022 #donoharm #leavenotrace #mountainlovers #wildlife #Alps #cleanclimbing
After 3 years we finally met in person! 👏 Our After 3 years we finally met in person! 👏 Our General Assembly 2022 took place last weekend at the hut Les Sommets 🇨🇭 in Canton Vaud's Jura 🏔️ with an amazing view on Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. More info this week! 🙏 @Satorizmagasinsbio 🇫🇷 for the generous food supplies! #mountainsmatter #mountainwilderness #GeneralAssembly2022 #Alps #leavenotrace #cleanclimbing #donoharm #wildlife 💚
We can't wait! After more than two years, we will We can't wait! After more than two years, we will finally meet in presence! Our annual meeting 2022 will take place in a fortnight' time in Switzerland, in the Canton of Vaud, near Lake Geneva 📷 View from Chalet #LesSommets #mountains #MountainsMatter #mountainwilderness #wildlife #wilderness #mountaineers #mountainlovers #mountaineers #cleanclimbing #outdoors #leavenotrace #donoharm #Alps #annualmeeting
As you all know, the UN General Assembly declared As you all know, the UN General Assembly declared 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, at the proposal of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. The year 2022 also marks the 20th anniversary from the first International Year ever devoted to mountains (International Year of Mountains 2002) as well as the 20th anniversary of the Mountain Partnership. The launching event “Mountains Matter: for people and the planet” took place yesterday Link in bio #mountainsmatter #IYM2022 #mountainwilderness #mountainlovers #wildlife #biodiversity #mountaineering #cleanclimbing #donoharm #leavenotrace #sustainabletourism
📌Registration to The Swat Project 2022 opens to 📌Registration to The Swat Project 2022 opens today! The Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness International, Mountain Wilderness Pakistan, CAAI and ISMEO invite members of national Chapters of Mountain Wilderness, members of Alpine Clubs, mountaineering schools as well as hikers, mountaineers and mountain lovers to take part in the exploration of hiking and mountaineering routes in the Swat region, Pakistan. The aim is to publish a guidebook on environmentally sustainable tourism and establish a National Park 💚 Link in bio #Swat #TheSwatProject #HKH #AsianDesk #nationalpark #mountainwilderness #mountainsmatter #mountainlovers #hiking #mountaineering #cleanclimbing #donoharm #leavenotrace #environmentallyfriendly #sustainability #wildlife
The Swat region is a fascinating mountain area of The Swat region is a fascinating mountain area of Pakistan, easily accessible from major cities on the plain and, for this reason, exposed to the risk of disorderly development and growing aggressive, disrespectful tourism. Mountain Wilderness believes that the only way to protect and preserve the integrity of these valleys of rare beauty is to set up a national park, which is the final aim of the Swat Project. The Asian Desk of Mountain Wilderness, together with CAAI - Academic Alpine Club of Italy, ISMEO - International Association of Mediterranean and Oriental Studies - and Mountain Wilderness Pakistan are planning an expedition in August/September this year. Registration information to take part in the project will be available soon also in English. Stay tuned! #Swat #Pakistan #TheSwatProject #HKH #mountainlovers #mountainwilderness #mountainsmatter #nationalpark #wildlife #cleanclimbing #donoharm #leavenotrace #natureprotection #environmentfriendly
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