Sustainable Summits ConferenceGolden, CO July 2014

Willkommen!Bienvenue!Welcome!Bienvenido!

02/05/2023 IFMGA HD

Different approaches to sustainability in the education and daily work of mountain guides

Willkommen!Bienvenue!Welcome!Bienvenido!

02/05/2023 IFMGA HD

IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBV

02/05/2023 IFMGA HD

IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBV

02/05/2023 IFMGA HD

IFMGA International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations

IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBV

A short explanation of our organisation• Founded 1965 in Switzerland by CH, F, I and A guides• Common platform for the guides education• Common platform of skills for certified guides• Common Code of Professional Conduct• Providing access to mountain areas and reciprocity

rights for working in all member countries

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVOur “working place” – the mountains

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVRockclimbing

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVIceclimbing

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVHigh alpine climbing

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVFreeriding and skitouring

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVTrekking and expeditions

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBV2014

23 full members worldwide + 5 aspirants countries

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IFMGA – who we are

IFMGA – UIAGM – IVBVour aims for the next years

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• Guarantee highest quality level in education and certification of new guides

• Force current professional development programs for certified guides

• Help interested countries to develope their autonomous programs in training and certifying guides and joining then the IFMGA

• Assist national guides associations in legal standing in their countries, regarding recognition of their certifications, acces to work in the mountains (eg national parks…) and giving reciprocal rights to other IFMGA guides

• Assist all associations in developing sustainable practises in guides education and everyday working

Sustainability

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In his everyday work the mountain guide will always be in a tension field between sustainable practise and economic needs

So the goal will be, to find a compromise to preserve the mountains also as a working field for future generations

Sustainability

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Different approaches to sustainability

Social aspects

Daily guides work

Environmental aspects

Education of guides

Sustainability. Current projects

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Social aspects: training aid in

developing countries

example: Nepal

Train the local guides on the highest level

Autonomy in training and administration

Chance of a better income, insurance, selfconfidence…

example:Eastern Europe

Trying to get them together in one trainingsystem

example: South America

Train the trainers improving quality of

existing systems

Sustainability. Current projects

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Environment:Part of our ethic

code for professional

guiding

The Alps

Regulations in National and Regional laws, Political influence

Curricula in the different national training systems

Part of the current professional development programs

North America

Highly regulated systems in National Parks

Cooperation with AMGA and ACMG, contacts to National Park

Services in USA + CAN

remote mountain aereas

South America, Asia..

Guides education and developing common rules for guides work

Cooperation with guides Association and governments,

National Parks..

IFMGA Code of Professional Conduct

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• Article 4. Environment. A Guide encourages respect for the environment through advice and personal example.

• Article 6. Field of Competence. • A Guide’s Field of Competence includes the core skills of all mountain

disciplines in all seasons, in all environments, worldwide; on foot, ski or snowboard; the climbing of rock, snow and ice indoors and out; and related activities carried out in other industries associated with and appropriate to a Guide’s skills and training

• A Guide advises, coaches, instructs and leads clients• Article 7. General Obligations. A Guide upholds the status of the

profession and is mindful of the consequent obligations and issues of professional integrity at all times.

• Article 10. Ratios. When working with clients, a Guide decides the appropriate number of participants taking into account safety, the terms of the engagement, any customs as to ratios, and any regulation or legislation observed by local guides. Where it exists, the established practice of local IFMGA Guides is followed.

This Code of Professional Conduct outlines the roles and obligations of a Mountain Guide in the execution of his/her profession. Our ethic rules for guiding

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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Problems of to much touristic development – industry of mass tourismGuiding is just a very small part – lack of political influence

Startingpoint for sustainable guiding in the alps

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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Guiding is regulated by law in most alpine Countries

Only certified guides are allowed to guideeducation and certification is ruled by governmentson the base of the common platform of the IFMGA

Sustainable practice in guiding is forced and controlled by law and is part of curricula and CPD. High standard is granted by

the competent authorities and the guides associations.

Guides have to obey the rules and are accepted therefore in all different countries for their professional work and their care for

security of the clients and for the environment

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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•Gesetz über das Bergführerwesen (Bergführergesetz)LGBl.Nr. 54/2002, 27/2005, 15/2006, 12/2010•1. Abschnitt Allgemeine Bestimmungen•§ 11) Geltungsbereich• (1) Dieses Gesetz regelt die Tätigkeit als Führer und Begleiter bei Bergtouren und Canyoning-Touren (Schluchtentouren) sowie die Erteilung von Unterricht in den für Bergtouren und Canyoning-Touren erforderlichen Fertigkeiten und Kennt nissen.• (2) Dieses Gesetz gilt nicht für •a) das Führen, Begleiten und Unterrichten, wie es gelegentlich üblicherweise ohne jede Art von Entgelt im Familien- und Freundeskreis erfolgt,

•b) dienstliche Tätigkeiten im Bundesheer, bei Wachkörpern und anerkannten Ret tungsorganisationen,•c) das Führen, Begleiten und Unterrichten von Schulen durch fachlich befähigte Lehrkräfte und das Führen, Begleiten und Unterrichten im Rahmen der Fortbildung von Lehrern,

•d) die Tätigkeit von Schischulen, •….

•§ 2 Begriffe• (1) Im Sinne dieses Gesetzes ist•a) Bergführer, wer berechtigt ist, sich als Führer oder Begleiter bei Bergtouren (einschließlich Schitouren) zu betätigen, •b) Canyoning-Führer, wer berechtigt ist, sich als Führer oder Begleiter bei Canyoning-Touren zu betätigen, • c) Wanderführer, wer berechtigt ist, sich als Führer oder Begleiter bei Bergtouren gemäß § 28 zu betätigen, •d) Bergsteigerschule eine Einrichtung für den Unterricht in den für Bergtouren und Canyoning-Touren erforderlichen Fertigkeiten und Kenntnissen einschließlich des Schibergsteigens

•….• .§ 502)•Strafen• (1) Eine Übertretung begeht, wer• sich als Führer oder Begleiter bei Bergtouren oder bei Canyoning-Touren betä tigt, ohne nach diesem Gesetz hiezu berechtigt zu sein,•einer Aufforderung nach § 1 Abs. 3 nicht nachkommt,• sich entgegen dem § 3 als Bergführer, entgegen dem § 21 als Canyoning-Führer oder entgegen dem § 29 als Wanderführer ausgibt,•als Bergführer einer Verpflichtung gemäß den §§ 9 Abs. 2, 10 Abs. 1 und 2, 12 Abs. 2 und 3, 13, 14 Abs. 1, 17 Abs. 4 oder 18 nicht entspricht,

•….

Examples for laws regulating guiding – Austria

Mountain guides law

Who is a Mountain guide?

Fines for illegal guidingFines for Mountain guidesnot obeying the law…

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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• he explores, respects and preserves the mountainous terrain and follows the administrative and legal restrictions which concern the area.

• he attends actions which support the mountaineering activities, especially concerning the use of the mountainous terrain. This happens in collaboration with the responsible offices, which are for example the public authorities, partner institutions and recognized associations with a public use.

• he conceives, manages, installs, assesses and plans the use of the areas for mountaineering and its related activities, especially of climbing areas. This happens in close collaboration with the public authorities, partner institutions and associations.

• he sensitizes the public concerning the respect towards the mountainous area.

• he promotes mountaineering and its related activities taking care of the respect towards the mountainous area.

• he consults different people concerning the specific equipment, be it personal or collective, permanently installed or mobile.

Examples for laws regulating sustainable guiding – FranceDuties of a guide

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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Examples for curricula in sustainable guiding – Switzerland: Part of the training program

Contents of the education in the subjects concerning Nature, Environment and sustainable Practise

Duration of this modules and Examination for obtaininmg the diploma

Sustainable guiding in the Alps

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Options for success in the future of our work as guides in the alps

Following the rules of guiding, especially in sensible regions like national parks and natural conservation areas. Using our educational

influence also with clients in regarding low ratios, avoiding unnecessary individual traffic, non entering restricted zones…

Forcing special modules in education and CPD of guides to raise awareness that we have to conserve the mountain areas for future

generations, bearing in mind that these regions are also the base for the furtherance professional guiding.

Cooperation with Alpine clubs and other NGOs to gain political influence in stopping further demolition of alpine nature with power

plants, ski stations, roads…

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Problem for guides: Almost all interesting areas for guiding in USA or Canada are in National Parks and very strict rules prevent the work of IFMGA guides there.

Startingpoint for sustainable guiding in Northamerica

Sustainable guiding in Northamerica

Sustainable guiding in Northamerica

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Different Situation for guiding in North America

No regulations about education and certification of guides by law. Very strict regulations about mountaneering in general and especially for

access to guiding in National Parks

A good base for conservation of sensible Nature throughout long experience of National Park services. Also a perfect base for

cooperation with national and international guides associations.

A chance also for guides, prooving that they are not typical commercial users of the nature but stand for for environmental stewardship and

wilderness ethics. Scott Massey will tell us more about the US guiding.

Sustainable guiding in Northamerica

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Options for success in the future of our work as guides in N-America

Cooperation with the national guides associations AMGA and ACMG to learn more about the regulations of gaining acces to work in these sensible regions. Perhaps coming also to reciprocity right in future.

Cooperation and Collaboration with US and Canadian National Park Services to achieve possibilities for international certified mountain guides to guide also in National parks (eg the IFMGA expedition

workshop on Denali 2013)

Issue of international guidelines for curricula in guides training and CPD about guiding in remote areas and parks following results of the Denali

expedition workshop 2013

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Problem: no reliable structures at all, no regulations, no consciousness about environmental and sustainable practises

Startingpoint for sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas

Sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas (S-America, Asia…)

Money rules…

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Different Situation for guiding in remote mountain areas

Consolidation of existing structures: Peru is improving the education standard with help from IFMGA, sustainable practise in training helped

to achieve access for all IFMGA guides to Huascaran National Park

Setup of new strucures: Nepal is an IFMGA member country since three years, that helps to achieve sutainability for Nepalese guides in

environmental practises and better social structures for the guides, not being so much dependent of commercial companies in future.

Setup of new structures: we are working together with some interested countries (Kyrgistan, Ecuador…) who want to reach the high level for

certifying guides in future. We have the responsibility to teach them the importance of sustainable structures.

Sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas (S-America, Asia…)

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Chances for future guiding in countries with no or low structures

Every IFMGA guide working at trekkings and expeditions in these countries has the high responsibility to show the difference between the

professional work of certified guides and others and should have the consciousness of being an example for all other mountaineers.

All national guides associations have to use the manual for expedition and trekking for teaching their guides in sustainable practises for

guiding trekkings and expeditions, special CPD has been set up for guides working on trekking and expedition in extreme environment.

The IFMGA commisions has to help local guides organisations in developing sustainable structures for training new guides and

administer the institution of a guides association. Giving them the aid for setting up autonomous work on high standard.

Sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas (S-America, Asia…)

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Common structures for teaching in guides education and CPD:The IFMGA manual for trekking and expedition

Sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas (S-America, Asia…)

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Environmental travel is an important part of this manual

Sustainable guiding in remote mountain areas (S-America, Asia…)

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Conclusion

Coming from very different mountain ranges all over the world, the IFMGA certified mountain guides and their association follow very

different approaches to environmental practises in their education and their everyday work with clients in the mountains.

The work of mountain guides is different to other commercial users of the alpine environment. The guides can never be part of mass tourism

industry and he has to be a model for his clients and all other mountaineers in his behavior in the sensitive mountain aereas.

Yet the goal has to be the same all over the world. We have to conserve the mountain areas for future generations, bearing in mind that these

regions are also the base for the furtherance professional guiding.

Sustainable guiding

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Thanks

In the name of all IFMGA guides organisations i want to thank the organisators of the sustainable summits conference to give me a possibility

to present the guides view to sustainable practisíng in guides work.

Thanks to all of you helping together to conserve the beautyness of the mountains for future generations.

Sustainable guiding