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The UIAA and its Mountain Protection Label

Protection of the mountain environment is a central issue to the UIAA. Travel to mountain ecosystems is increasing at a rapid pace, as growing numbers of tourists are attracted to the clean air, unique landscapes and wildlife, scenic beauty, culture, history, and recreational opportunities that mountain destinations offer. Yet, while this growth provides important benefits to local communities and national economies, the very popularity of mountain areas also poses a potential threat to the health of their natural and cultural resources.
Mountains make up nearly a quarter of all land area on Earth and are home to at least 12 percent of the world’s human population. They contain a wide variety of habitats, many of which have extremely high levels of unique and rich biodiversity. Poorly planned and implemented tours and tourist activities can have a serious impact on these often fragile ecosystems, as well as on the communities that inhabit mountain regions.

The UIAA wants to make it easier for you to make the right choices when you are looking for someone to take you out in the mountains and to promote high standards of conduct and responsible access for climbing and mountain activities. We also want to help mountain-based tour operators and other mountain recreation professionals improve their environmental and social performance.

The UIAA is currently developing a new certification scheme which will be awarded to tour operators and mountain recreation organisations who have committed themselves to acting according to the standards of mountain protection set.

Please watch this page over the next few months for more information. If you are an interested tour operator, or a potential partner or sponsor of this project, please contact the UIAA office using the contact form, addressed to “environment”.





The UIAA Environmental objectives and guidelines