Alta Badia - Italian Dolomites: Love For Nature
Alta Badia strongly believes in protecting the environment and does so by promoting ad hoc projects. Especially during this from Coronavirus characterized time it’s essential to act on a responsible way and to protect even more the nature that surrounds us, in order to guarantee to locals and visitors a clean and healthy environment.
This is why, in the summer of 2020, the WOWnature Alta Badia reforestation project of the areas affected by storm Vaia and the eco-sustainable excursions “Eco-Hiker Alta Badia” will be taking place.
Eco-sustainability and environmental protection are the innate values and a key objective of all the activities carried out by people living in Alta Badia in the heart of the Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site. The valley is located between the Fanes-Senes-Braies and Puez-Odle natural parks, which include extended areas of interest from both a cultural and landscape perspective. These parks are precious, because they contribute to keeping landscapes and surrounding nature in their original state, offering the chance to experience tourism in a natural way. The objective of the Ladins (the name of the local inhabitants) is to protect these mountains which famous architect Le Corbusier described as "the most beautiful architecture in the world". It is only by loving these mountains that we can show tourists visiting Alta Badia how to enjoy them in a conscious way.
With this in mind, several new projects aimed at protecting and safeguarding the environment will start in the summer of 2020.
WOWNATURE ALTA BADIA: GROW A TREE. A REFORESTATION PROJECT OF THE AREA AFFECTED BY STORM VAIA
In late October 2018, the forests of Alta Badia suffered significant damage due to storm Vaia which violently affected this area, opening a deep wound in the heart of these mountains and destroying secular woodland. Thanks to the WOWnature Alta Badia project, today we can fight against the climate crisis. The resort and the Maratona dles Dolomites - Enel cycling granfondo support the reforestation of one of the worst affected areas through this project created in collaboration with Etifor (a spin-off of Padua University and the creator of WOWnature). On the www.altabadia.org<http://www.altabadia.org> and www.maratona.it<http://www.maratona.it> websites, it will be possible for all those who wish to, to adopt and gift one of the 1,000 new trees at disposal, thus contributing to this important environmental project. This reforestation will cover 12 hectares of the Passo Campolongo area and the trees, which are either self-purchased or gifted, can be planted directly by the purchaser during the two days of reforestation scheduled in the Summer months 2020, accordingly to the Covid-19 rules. In order to do this, Etifor has enlisted South Tyrol based company WaldPlus, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); the Forest Management certification (FSC) ensures that forest management complies with rigorous environmental, social and financial standards. The Alta Badia WOWnature project aims to further promote the objectives of the land and make them tangible. www.altabadia.org/wownature<http://www.altabadia.org/wownature>
Some interesting facts: an European citizen produces on average 5,000 kg of CO2 a year. Throughout its life, a tree catches approximately 700 kg of CO2. To balance one's own CO2 emissions, a person should grow 7 trees per year.
ALTA BADIA ECO-HIKER: SUSTAINABLE EXCURSIONS, HELPING NATURE
The purpose of Alta Badia Eco-Hiker is to raise excursionists' awareness of environmental protection and the Dolomites as a very fragile eco-system. Waste and refuse are often left behind in nature. During the three Alta Badia Eco-Hiker meetings scheduled for summer 2020, excursionists can make a tangible impact on their surrounding environment. Participants will be accompanied by a local expert and will be provided with gloves, equipment, bio-bags and everything that is required to bring all the waste found along the way in the fields and forests back down to the valley. These events are scheduled at the moment for 13th and 27th July and for 24th August and will take place accordingly to the Coronavirus rules. Spots are limited. Booking is compulsory and can be completed at the tourist offices in Alta Badia.
NEW AT 2000M: MORE SKILIFT CONNECTIONS
When talking about saving the environment, it's paramount to think about reducing the emissions caused by vehicle traffic. To this end, in summer 2020 we are keeping even more ski-lifts open to allow people to move around on this means of transport, too. In Alta Badia, there are 18 ski-lifts open during the Summer. The opening period will be decided accordingly to the Covid-19 rules. This year, thanks to the opening of the La Fraina and Bamby chairlifts, the Movimënt Parks Piz Sorega and Piz La Villa will be connected by the lifts. Bikes and prams can be loaded on the chairlifts. These changes aim to promote sustainable mobility; by using these systems, people can move between the towns of La Villa and San Cassiano with ease and without using cars.
Alta Badia is passionate about introducing territorial development strategies which aim to limit the impact of tourism as much as possible. For example, waste recycling is a "must" that we expect of every guest staying in Alta Badia; and in its many restaurants, hotels and shelters, we opt for a type of cuisine that promotes the products of the land and aims at reducing all kinds of waste.
