The UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – is in the final stages of assessing and scoring the projects to have applied for this year’s Mountain Protection Award (MPA).
This year’s Award is particularly significant as it coincides with the United Nations designating 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. Throughout the year, governments, international organisations and stakeholders are invited to raise awareness of the importance of conservation and sustainable use of mountain ecosystems.
Almost twenty projects representing 16 countries on five continents are being assessed. This process, spearheaded by an assessment team of global mountain protection experts (counting environmental scientists, geologists, mountaineers, environmental planners and tourism specialists) involves a thorough analysis of all data and documentation supplied to ensure all guidelines are met.
The 2022 MPA showcase website page is now live with the first four approved projects available to view. All nominated projects will be added, and profiled across social media, throughout the next month. A definitive list of all approved projects will be published by the end of August.
The eight winning projects to date have come from eight different countries on four continents.
Submissions had to be endorsed by UIAA member associations worldwide. This ensures the project is approved at a local level but also, more significantly, that the UIAA and its member associations, can support the nominee throughout its lifecycle.
For 2022, the Mountain Protection Commission and Award Assessment Team have made a few adjustments to the prize money. This year the winning entry will receive 10,000 euros, the runner-up 4,000 euros and the best new initiative 1,000 euros. The Award winner will be announced at the UIAA General Assembly, scheduled to be held in Banff, Canada on 29 October. The runner-up and best new initiative will be announced in the lead up to the GA.
Past MPA winners
2013 – Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area, Ethiopia
2014 – Pamir Horse Adventure, Tajikistan
2015 – KTK-BELT Studio, Nepal
2016 – Mountain Wilderness, France
2017 – Mount Everest Biogas Project, United States
2018 – Community Action Nepal, United Kingdom
2019 – Alpine Leaning Project Weeks, Switzerland
2020-21 – Fondation Grand Paradis, Italy
Main Partner
2022 Theme
Main image: Stock Library
