Mountain Wilderness
Mountain Wilderness [ ˈmaʊntɪn ˈwɪldənəs ] is an international nature conservation organization that sees its main task in the protection of the original spaces of the earth.
Mountain Wilderness was founded in Biella in 1987 by many well-known alpinists. In six theses they called for active protection of the mountain world. Mountain Wilderness is politically and financially independent and is financed by private donations.
structure
International coordinator: Jordi Quera, Catalonia
Representatives: Bernard Amy (F), Núria Balagué (CAT), Bernard Batschelet (CH), Patrick Berhault (F), Edwin Bernbaum (USA), Sir Chris Bonington (GB), Lionel Daudet (F), Fausto De Stefani (I. ), Kurt Diemberger (A), Maurizio Giordani (I), Richard Goedeke (D), Alessandro Gogna (I), Jean-Christophe Lafaille (F), Arish Kapadia (India), Nicole Niquille (CH), Fosco Maraini (I ), François Labande (F), Olivier Paulin (F), Mario Rigoni Stern (I), Carlo Alberto Pinelli (I), Jordi Quera (CAT), Ludovico Sella (I), Josep Sicart (CAT)
Honorary President was: Sir Edmund Hillary (1919–2008), New Zealand
Mountain Wilderness currently consists of nine regional groups in eight countries:
- MW Belgium
- MW Germany
- MW France
- MW Italy
- MW Catalonia
- MW Switzerland
- MW Spain
- MW Netherlands
- MW Austria
Actions
Mountain Wilderness International's main promotions include:
- 1988: Occupation of the cable car to the Vallée Blanche in the Montblanc massif . Demand for the dismantling of the unprofitable railway.
- 1990: Cleaning up at K2 For the first time in alpine history, expedition waste was removed from an 8000 meter.
- 1995: Manifesto for the protection of Olympus and against a Homero Disneyland. Prevention of a planned cable car.
- Sezi 1998: "Montblanc" campaign to create a protected area that really deserves its name.
- 2003: "Oxus - Mountains for Peace" campaign. International expedition and initiative to train local mountain guides in Afghanistan.
Mountain Wilderness Switzerland
Mountain Wilderness Switzerland was founded in 1994 and is committed to wilderness and environmentally friendly mountain sports. Future generations should also be able to experience an intact and wild mountain world.
Mountain Wilderness is active in the following areas, among others:
- Protection of the Alps: Actions against heliskiing , off-road driving and the mountains of rubbish as well as against the creeping disfigurement of the mountainous landscapes.
- Mountain sports: Development of rules of conduct and offers such as AlpenTaxi for trend athletes. For a nature-based mountain sport, Mountain Wilderness demands a mountain sport that uses and protects its actual capital - the unspoiled mountain landscape and the environment - moderately instead of destroying it.
- Wilderness: Promotion and conservation of large wilderness areas in Switzerland.
- Mediate between the various interests that come together in the mountain world for a sustainable development of the mountain regions.
Mountain Wilderness Switzerland is a private, non-profit association within the meaning of Article 60 ff. ZGB. A good half of the association's budget is financed by members and donations. In addition, through foundations and project income as well as a small contribution from the public sector. The association is a member of the Swiss Climate Alliance .
Mountain Wilderness Germany
Mountain Wilderness Germany e. V., the German branch of Mountain Wilderness, is a non-profit association based in Munich. The main focus of the regional association is a. Mountain tourism that is environmentally friendly and socially compatible (publications on the subject of mountain sports with public transport), glacier protection (here, above all, the commitment against new glacier developments in the Pitztal), as well as demonstrations and public relations work against new snow cannons and clearing for slopes in the German Alpine region.
Board of Directors (February 2007):
- Michael Pröttel (Chairman)
- Gotlind Blechschmidt (Treasurer)
- Karin Lankes (Secretary)
- Richard Goedeke (Guarantor of Mountain Wilderness International)
since November 2010:
- Michael Pröttel (Chairman)
- Gotlind Blechschmidt
- Karin Lankes