The following update is courtesy of the UIAA Safety Commission. At the Daskaleio Climbing Crag near Athens, many bolts (10 mm AISI-304 expansion bolts) present severe signs of corrosion. During some stress tests a few bolts failed when loaded with body weight. Thus, climbing is not advised on this specific crag until the bolts are replaced. The Daskaleio crag is located very close to the sea....
Member federations are reminded that the 2016 UIAA General Assembly is now one month away. The 2016 UIAA General Assembly, held during 12-16 October, will be hosted by Alpenverein Südtirol in Brixen-Südtirol, Italy. The event will take place during the International Mountain Summit (IMS). The event programme can be found here. Registration details were provided by the UIAA Office in early July. Member federations who would still like to register are invited to contact office@theuiaa.org In the following video, produced by the IMS, UIAA President Frits...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="120" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".safety"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 0px 0px 10px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text] Climate Change [vc_separator type="transparent" position="left" color="" border_style="solid" width="" thickness="" up="20" down=""] During the 2015 UIAA General Assembly, the following declaration proposed by the Club Alpino Italiano and the Nepal Mountaineering Association was approved. The document expresses concern about the negative effects of climate change on all the resources of the earth in general and those of the mountain areas and their communities...
The UIAA Medical Commission’s article ‘Drug Use and Misuse in the Mountains: A UIAA MedCom Consensus Guide for Medical Professionals’ has been published by High Altitude Medicine & Biology. High Altitude Medicine & Biology is the first peer-reviewed journal focused exclusively on the latest advances in high altitude life sciences, and is the primary source of information for clinicians, physiologists, and researchers studying the effects of reduced atmospheric pressure and oxygen deprivation. The aim of the UIAA article...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="center" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="60479" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="60" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".large"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 15px 0px 15px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text]Tourists are increasingly interested in learning more about the different ecosystems, wildlife, cultures and communities that they encounter during the course of their trip. Visitor education and interpretation efforts can help communicate ideas and messages to travelers that increase their awareness, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="center" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="60473" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="60" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".large"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 15px 0px 15px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text]Concentrated visitor activity in mountain areas generates significant amounts of both solid waste and wastewater, which can pollute water and soil through improper storage and disposal. Solid waste can build up from food and beverage consumption and the disposal of used packaging, supplies and equipment. Projects that minimize trash...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="center" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="60246" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="60" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".large"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 15px 0px 15px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text]A scarcity of natural resources such as wood, food, water or energy in remote and high altitude areas means that a concentration of tourists can create competition between tourists and local communities for shared environmental resources, thus increasing potential points of conflict with local people. Similarly, pollution (air,...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="center" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="60246" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="60" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".large"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 15px 0px 15px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text]Tourists are increasingly interested in learning more about the different ecosystems, wildlife, cultures and communities that they encounter during the course of their trip. Visitor education and interpretation efforts can help communicate ideas and messages to travelers that increase their awareness, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural...
[vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="full_width" text_align="center" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no"][vc_column][vc_single_image image="60470" img_size="full" alignment="center" qode_hover_animation="" qode_css_animation=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type="row" use_row_as_full_screen_section="no" type="grid" text_align="left" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="60" css_animation="" box_shadow_on_row="no" el_class=".large"][vc_column][no_elements_holder number_of_columns="one_column"][no_elements_holder_item item_padding="0px 15px 0px 15px" aligment="left" advanced_animations="no"][vc_column_text]Mountain ecosystems include a wide range of small and unique habitats, with flora and fauna that may have very short growing and reproductive seasons, and may be particularly sensitive to disturbance by human activity. High visitor concentrations often result in the development and intense use of tracks, paths...
130 attendees took part in the Sustainable Summits Conference, organized by the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park from 7-11 August. Hugh Logan, former Director General of the New Zealand Department of Conservation, articulated the spirit of the conference in his Summing Up-What Can We Do? presentation."The conference is the third in a series where people passionate about sustainable management of mountain areas have gathered to discuss social, environmental and economic issues affecting...