Piste pressure on alpine plants
April 20, 2005
The impacts of ski piste preparation on alpine plants are long-lasting and greatest at higher altitudes, Swiss researchers report.
The effects are likely to worsen as global warming forces ski operators to use more artificial snow and open higher runs, the scientists say.
They compared the vegetation on and off-piste at 12 Swiss ski resorts, in the biggest study of its kind.
Overall, they found 9% less plant cover and 11% fewer plant species on-piste.
Woody plants and early-flowering species were seen to be worst-affected.
These differences were more pronounced at higher altitudes, suggesting greater future impacts as skifields move upwards.
The work was undertaken by a team from the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF), the University of Zurich and the University of Potsdam in Germany.
It has been published online in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
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