04.02: Exemplary Actions of Education for Increasing the Resilience of Communities to Natural Hazards in High Mountain Paola Dellavedova

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2 EXEMPLARY ACTIONS OF EDUCATION FOR INCREASING THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES TO NATURAL HAZARDS IN HIGH MOUNTAIN Presenting Author: Paola Dellavedova pdellavedova@fondms.org

3 Co-Authors: VibertO. 2, PitetL. 1, FossonJ.P. 1, SegorV. 3, BenatiA. 1, CeaglioE. 1, DurandN. 1, BrulportA. 2 1 Fondazione Montagna sicura Montagne sûre, Courmayeur, Italy 2 Association La Chamoniarde, Chamonix, France 3 Assetto idrogeologico dei bacini montani, Quart, Italy

4 Where is the Project area?

5 Where is the Project area? Aosta Valley: km inhabitants 60% > m a.s.l. (6.562 ft) 30% > m a.s.l. (8.200 ft) Highest peak is M.Blanc m ( ft)

6 In the winter the average snow cover is over 60% of the Region and up to 80% from December to February. 15% of the Region is affect by avalanche activity. In the summer the snow line > 3000 m a.s.l.

7 135 km 2 of glaciated area about 4% of the territory n. 209 glaciers 77% < 0,5 km 2 n. 7 > 5 km 2 Small size glaciers means that they are strongly affected by climate trend and react very fast to climate phenomena

8 PrévRiskHauteMontagneaimsto improveknowledgeof emergingrisksin high mountain environment. It s necessary reinforcing a risk culture in alpine mountain in the local and touristic population to reduce its vulnerability - existing risks independent of human presence or consequent to human actions- WHY and HOW

9 On July 17th 2015, due to a particularly strong heatwave, was observed an increase of the number of rock falls on the normal route to Mont Blanc, French authorities decided, after several fatalities, to close this itinerary.

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11 This year, a large crevasse appeared at 4.700m of elevation, making the normal route of the Mont-Blanc a more technical itinerary. This example highlights the strong link between high mountain environment and local economy. Guides building the ice ramp on the crevasse of the Mont- Blanc normal route, July 2016 (copyright: Compagnie des Guides de Saint-Gervais)

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13 a sunny girl

14 Mountain sports evolved and are, now, also focused on racing. In the past winter season (from late November 2015 to mid-april 2016) over 180 alpine ski races were held on the Italian side of the Alps. The high routes are crossed earlier and earlier (first snow falls). Ski slopes are often used by these new adepts for training, and some of them doesn t know much about avalanche risks, and feel on safety. Race Tour du Rutor 2016 n. 300 teams of competitors at the start (copyright: sci club Corrado Gex)

15 It is also necessary to consider the influx of tourists in mountain communities. This influx represents an important part of mountain goers, and needs proper training, taking into account their own knowledge of mountain environments and conditions. During periods with possibile critical avalanche risk, like in January 2016 it becomes essential to be able to set up an adeguate, timely and effective communication to the population. Avalanche in Cervinia (tourist area of the Matterhorn), 01/12/2016. "For a few minutes - he told a witness - the darkness fell throughout the area" (ANSA).

16 Campaignto raiseawarenessin the populationof the risksin high mountain environmentthroughfieldactivitiesframedby alpine guides(summer 2016).

17 - Mountain Safety Festival (August 2016) - Conferences on mountain rescue for large audiences(september 2016)

18 Work in progress: -development of an application for sharing information on mountain conditions; -implementation of a Snow Plan for the population.

19 Diffusion of obtained results and web upload of data and developed tools.

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21 4150 m slm Observation Grandes Jorasses : loss of stability of hanging glaciers due to warming ice temperature 4000 m slm

22 Pte Whymper Pte Walker

23 Permafrost and associated risks (rock falls, landslides, debris flow). Dynamics of unstable glaciers (Mt Blanc du Tacul, Grandes Jorasses, Charpoua Glacier). Stability and failure mechanics of snow bridges. M.Cervino, 2003 photo L. Trucco

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27 Dedicated to: who spends hundreds or thousands of dollars in equipment and clothing. Do as "sunny girl". THANKS FOR THE ATTENTION!