Sustainable Soil Management in Ski Areas: Threats and Challenges

Emanuele Pintaldi, Csilla Hudek, Silvia Stanchi, Thomas Spiegelberger, Enrico Rivella and Michele Freppaz
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Emanuele Pintaldi: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Csilla Hudek: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Silvia Stanchi: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Thomas Spiegelberger: National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, Research Unit Mountain Ecosystems, University Grenoble Alpes, 2 rue de la Papeterie, F-38402 St-Martin-d’Hères, France
Enrico Rivella: Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale—ARPA Piemonte, via Pio VII 9, 10135 Torino, Italy
Michele Freppaz: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: The skiing industry often represent the main contribution to mountain regions’ economy, by providing several economic benefits and the improvement of services and infrastructure. Ski resorts also play a crucial role as an impacting factor, causing severe changes on Alpine landscape and ecosystems. In particular ski runs construction and operation have considerable impacts on alpine soils, influencing their chemical and physical properties which affecting the establishment and development of plant communities. The work provides a description of the changes in soil properties and the related effects on vegetation. It aims furthermore to investigate the recent best practices applied for a successful soil restoration after ski runs construction, which may contribute to a sustainable use of mountain soils and ecosystems. Based on the current regulatory framework, this review gives a global overview on how, in Europe and specifically in Italy, the sustainable use of soils is considered during the construction and management of ski runs. As the framework is still lacking of specific rules regarding soil protection and management on ski runs, the present work wishes to provide recommendations in order to fill this gap, favoring the effective application of best practices for soil protection during ski run construction and maintenance.

Keywords: soil erosion; artificial snow; soil restoration; ecosystem services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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