auditing in ski areas 1 auditing in ski areas · 2auditing in ski areas auditing in ski areas3...

1Auditing in ski areas

Auditinginski areas

A guide to ecological upgrading- Short version -

2 Auditing in ski areas 3Auditing in ski areas

Concept, text and design:

Dr. habil. Dr. Ulrike PröbstlWorking Group for Land Use Planning St. Andrä-Straße 8D-82398 Etting-PollingGermanyhttp://www.agl-proebstl.deoffi [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Ralf RothGerman Sports Academy, CologneInstitute of Sports and EnvironmentCarl-Diem-Weg 6D-50933 CologneGermanyhttp://www.dshs-koeln.de/natursport/[email protected]

Heiner Schlegel and Rudolf StaubOffi ce for Land Development and NatureIm Bretscha 22FL-9494 [email protected]

Board of Trustees:

Hans BrunhartChairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VP Bank

Dr. Mario F. Broggi Director of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

Gebhard FrickManager of the Foundation, VP Bank

Wilfried KaufmannBotanical-Zoological Society Liechtenstein-Sargans-Werdenberg

Erwin LauterwasserChairman of the Environmental Advisory Council of the German Ski Association DSV, Environmental Offi cer of the International Ski Federation FIS

Dr. Felix NäscherLiechtenstein Offi ce of Forests, Nature and Land Management

Bernhard Russi Technical Expert of FIS

In addition, M. Revaz was included as a representative of the International Alpine Protection Commission (CIPRA).

Publisher:

pro natura – pro ski FoundationP.O.Box 885FL - 9490 VaduzLiechtenstein


Introduction

The Alps are a fascinating mountainous area, annually attracting a large number of vacation guests and day visitors. Winter in the mountains and its opportunities for athletic activity enjoy great popularity. Winter sports in particular are an important source of income and part of the economic motor. While many advantages result for the Alpine population, a sober assessment will also fi nd that tourism affects the sensitive ecology and landscape of the mountain region.

The recreational needs of people and their desire for athletic ac-tivity should be met and the requirements of nature should be re-spected. Important progress has been made in the past ten years with regard to precautionary measures, such as the introduction of an environmental compatibility assessment for ski areas and the defi nition of a framework for land use planning.

Awareness and willingness to improve current use are still insuf-fi ciently developed. Mandated requirements and thresholds have only limited traction. It is therefore worthwhile to search for tools and forms of cooperation that build on the individual responsibil-ity of the providers and that rely on partnership. The Eco Audit (Ecological Audit Regulation EEC No. 1863/93, EMAS or DIN/ISO 14001) comes very close to this requirement profi le.

These methods are currently still limited to internal processes. The inclusion of the landscape used is, however, particularly urgent and necessary in the case of ski areas and ski lift operators.

“Auditing in ski areas - A guide to ecological upgrading”, commis-sioned by the pro natura - pro ski Foundation as part of a research pro natura - pro ski Foundation as part of a research pro natura - pro skiproject, closes this gap. The guide applies to areas used for skiing and is aimed especially at the operators of ski lifts. This brochure represents a short version of the actual guide.

The project was conducted by Dr. habil. Dr. Ulrike Pröbstl, Work-ing Group for Land Use Planning, Etting-Polling, Prof. Dr. Ralf Roth, German Sports Academy, Cologne, and RENAT AG, Heiner Schlegel and Rudolf Staub, Schaan. The project could be realized thanks to the fi nancial support of:

¡ Verwaltungs- und Privat-Bank Aktiengesellschaft

¡ Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein

¡ Propter Homines Foundation, Vaduz (Liechtenstein)

¡ Binding Foundation, Schaan (Liechtenstein)

¡ Princely Counsellor Guido Feger Charitable Foundation, Vaduz (Liechtenstein)

¡ Safety in Skiing Foundation (SIS) of the German Ski Associa-tion


General principles of the audit

Regulations

Voluntary environmental business assessment systems and man-agement systems have established themselves as the most impor-tant instrument of a continuously changing environmental policy. Many businesses have successfully introduced environmental management in their business structures and are registered in accordance with the EC Environmental Audit Regulation (No. 1836/93, also EMAS I). Initial experience has also been gathered at the international level with the Environmental Management System (DIN/EN/ISO 14001), introduced in parallel with the EU Regulation.

In response to the positive experiences businesses gathered with these two environmental management systems, the European Un-ion renewed the Regulation. The Audit Regulation (No. 761/2001, EMAS (II)), which entered into force on 27 April 2001, expands its scope of application to all organizations and adopts the require-ments of DIN/EN/ISO 14001 with respect to the environmental management system.

Intention and potential utility

The regulations do not contain concrete details nor do they defi ne thresholds or environmental standards beyond the design of en-vironmental policy, programs, and management. By participating, operators commit themselves to reducing their environmental im-pact to such a degree that is reasonably achievable economically with the best available technology. It is therefore the responsibil-ity of the business to analyze its environmental impact itself and to take measures on the basis of individually defi ned goals.

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Process

As a rule, environmental policy is at the top of the process, as an umbrella for all environmental activities. The fundamental en-vironmental guidelines are formulated as part of environmental policy and integrated into business policy. This guarantees that environmental guidelines are put in the same category as eco-nomic business objectives and pursued in a uniform manner.

The environmental assess-ment is the cornerstone of the environmental audit system. It represents a fi rst stocktaking. In addition to the compilation of business data relevant to the environment, the analysis and evaluation of weaknesses is undertaken, as well as the assessment to what extent environmental legal provisions are complied with.

The environmental program derives from the results of the environmental assessment. Taking into consideration the means and possibilities of the business, goals and measures for eliminating weaknesses are formulated and a time schedule is established.

Structures for implementing the business’s environmental pro-tection are determined in the environmental management system. It includes assignment of responsibility to employees, or-ganization of the structure, progress control, and documentation of all environmental activities.

The environmental declaration represents the interface with the public and ensures communication with interest groups through regular information on the environmental activities of the business.

Certifi cation of the business is undertaken on the basis of the environmental declaration. If the conditions are met, the busi-ness can participate in the EC Environmental Audit System and is authorized to issue a declaration of participation.

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Presentation of the test areas

The guide to conducting audits in ski areas relies on the outcome of the research project, which selected three differently consti-tuted ski areas from three different Alpine countries to test and conduct the audit.

Adelboden / Switzerland

The Adelboden ski area, operated by the Adelbod-en-Silleren-Bahnen AG, is located in the western part of the Bernese Oberland. It represents large tourism and ski resorts with a long and evolved tradition, in which annual ski world cup events take place.

Only minimal interventions were necessary to cre-ate the downhill surfaces (clearing / leveling), and the proportion of slopes using artifi cial snow is relatively low in an international comparison at currently 38%.

Schladming / Austria

The ski area of the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen GmbH in Schlad-ming lies on the northern slope of the Schladminger Tauern. It is also a representative of large tourism and ski resorts, internation-ally known in part because of its regular international competi-tions.

In comparison with the Adelboden ski area, the Schladming ski area however also represents ski areas at a lower elevation (60% of the slope surfaces are located below an elevation of 1400 meters). A large proportion of the slope surfaces was created through clearing and leveling. The area is considered skiable until late spring due to the use of artifi cial snow, which is available on over 90% of the slope surfaces.


Malbun / Liechtenstein

The ski area of Bergbahnen Malbun AG, which is considerably smaller than the two other ski areas, lies in the mountain region of the Principality of Liechtenstein. The ski area is mainly fre-quented by locals and visitors from the neighboring region.

The extent of interventions in the terrain through clearing and leveling is modest, but the damages resulting from Alpine agricul-ture are serious in parts. Artifi cial snow has not been used on the slopes so far.

Conclusion

This short overview of the ski areas illustrate the requirements crucial to the auditing process:

¡ The process can be applied independently of the planning requirements and the basic data available in each country.

¡ It can be applied independently of the natural conditions and the resulting ecological confl ict potentials, since it starts at the applicable potential for upgrading.

¡ The size of the business is not relevant, since both small ski areas in low mountain ranges and large ski regions in the Alps can conduct this process.


Methodological foundations

The technical part of the guide shows which subject matters per-taining to landscape ecology must be dealt with in the framework of auditing ski areas and to what level of detail. This is intended to ensure that the audit is conducted as simply as possible, but nevertheless as detailed as a professional analysis requires.

Screening

The audit process begins with screening, a targeted preliminary evaluation of relevant issues. The most important steps and tasks are:

¡ Selecting the persons responsible / the project team

¡ Delimiting the audit area

¡ Collecting existing and relevant data on the area

¡ Determining the thematic and geographical focuses of the examination

Is it characteristic of data collection for such an audit that not only data on winter sports, but also further use of the area, such as summer tourism and agricultural and forestry use are taken into account. The protected assets of soil, water, climate/air, vegeta-tion, fauna, and landscape jointly constitute the basic data per-taining to landscape ecology.

The contents and thematic areas represented in the illustration opposite have proven to be essential in con-ducting the audit in the three test regions. The col-lection and initial evaluation of the regional data pro-vides the basis for determining the special examina-tion framework.

The goal is to de-velop effi cient up-grading measures for each business / ski area.

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Geographical information systems

The use of geographical information systems (GIS) in auditing ski areas is characterized by the following fi elds of work:

¡ Digital cartography

¡ Area-specifi c analyses

¡ Ski area information system

¡ Exchange of data

GIS enables the digital collection of area data and the establishment of a ski area information system (SIS). This makes it possible to compile, analyze, and statistically evaluate various contents. Since it is an open system, data can always be imported and exported, facilitating medium-term and long-term planning.

In addition, the possibility exists to present the data on the ski area and therefore the business in an innovative way, e.g., through attractive cartographic representations, 3D views, and simulated fl ights through the ski area.


Ecological study

In the ecological study, confl ict potentials pertaining to landscape ecology arising from the use of the area are analyzed, and up-grade possibilities building on this analysis are developed for the environmental program.

This comprehensive approach, oriented toward the protected assets and their use, guarantees a complete and structured treat-ment. On this basis, the guide derives working aids for every pro-tected asset and use-oriented assessment, contributing to an ap-propriate treatment according to scope, direction, and intensity. As an example, the illustration shows the form for collecting data on the protected asset of vegetation.

In addition to these forms, the guide provides the methodological basis for specifi c assessments, such as the mapping of vegetation including an evaluation method.

Despite the differing points of departure in various ski areas, it has become apparent out that the following surface data should be collected in every case:

¡ Ski slope delimitation including lifts

¡ Surfaces supplied with artifi cial snow

¡ Vegetation groups

¡ Construction measures undertaken (leveling, clearing, etc.)

¡ Damage to vegetation and soil

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With respect to the protected asset of fauna, birds and wild animals should be examined in particular. It has been shown that individual area surveys by specialist surveyors (e.g., for-ester, environmental protection authorities, experts, and employees of the business) are of suffi cient quality to determine the species and their habitats that should be mapped in more detail. On this basis, effi cient measures and goals for the environmental program can be specifi ed.

The collected basic data are analyzed as part of the ecological study and are displayed in a graphical presentation. This is important in particular with respect to later verifi cation of the success of the measures taken.


Conducting the audit in ski areas

Environmental policy

A look at the environmental audit control circuit (see il-lustration in the chapter on “Fundamental principles”) shows that the elaboration of an environmental policy is usually the top priority. It has been shown in the test areas that the formulation of an environmental policy should only be undertaken after the environmental as-sessment, i.e., with knowl-edge of the actual problem areas. Environmental policy must be a management deci-sion. This demonstrates that a successful and sustained environmental policy is only possible if it is accorded high importance within the business – similar to quality

management, for example. It must be clear to employees of the business that environmental policy is part of the basic company philosophy.

Before the environmental policy can be projected externally, it must be established internally. It should be formulated as a com-pany-internal learning and design process. The impact of the en-vironmental policy is deeper the better integrated and informed employees are with respect to elaboration of the company phi-losophy.

Overall, the following contents should be taken into account when formulating the environmental policy:

¡ Appropriate contents with respect to the impact caused by the company

¡ Commitment to ongoing improvement and prevention of environmental damage

¡ Commitment to comply with legal foundations and regula-tions

¡ Documentation and implementation

¡ Transparency through information for employees and the public


Environmental assessment

At its core, the environmental assessment is an actual-versus-tar-get comparison. It is important for the environmental assessment that the business is provided with a comprehensive analysis of the actual status. The external evaluator should not only analyze the technical content for this purpose, but also assess the actual status.

As a rule, the employees of the business must be included when undertaking the environmental assessment. Cooperation should be provided for in any case, since it makes an essential contribu-tion to consolidating environmental awareness and to enhancing motivation. The environmental assessment should be designed as an interactive process between the employees and assessors, em-phasizing the discussion of issues.

Even if the prerequisites for conducting the environmental as-sessment in the individual ski areas are very different, the usual guidelines for the audit can be used as a basis. The environmental assessment consists of the following parts:

¡ Assessment of the impact of the business.

¡ Assessment of the environmental management system.

¡ Environmental law assessment (e.g., violation of protec-tion requirements).

There are various possibilities for analyzing and evaluating the ecological impact of the business. Two procedures that were used for this step during the project work are elaborated in more detail in the guide:

¡ The chart of accounts. On the basis of predefi ned lists, the activities and interventions to be examined are processed including the resulting impacts.

¡ The analysis of strengths and weaknesses. With a ver-bal-argumentative approach, the strengths of the business are underlined in particular, in addition to a differentiated comparison of the actual status with the target.


Environmental goals / Environmental program

The environmental goals should be formulated in a way that they can be verifi ed, which is why it is useful at the very least to estab-lish a clear indication of location. The environmental goals deal with two levels:

¡ In harmony with the environmental policy and as its con-tinuation, the goals deal with business-specifi c targets and thresholds, with questions concerning the audit process and environmental management (e.g., informing the public, in-ternal training).

¡ At the technical level, the goals represent concrete recom-mendations for further development, relying for this pur-pose on the results of the environmental assessment.

When formulating the environmental goals, the integration of employees and their practice-oriented expertise is absolutely es-sential. The environmental program specifi es the goals and estab-lishes a time schedule. It is therefore helpful to assign priorities to the individual goals. Those goals should be favored for which great potential for improvement exists, which require urgent ac-tion, or for which legal aspects must be considered. By having management decide on the environmental program, it is given more weight.

Environmental management system /Environmental information system

The environmental management system is at the end of the proc-ess and includes the implementation of the environmental policy with its environmental goals. The overarching management sys-tem includes the organizational structure, the responsibilities, procedures, processes, and means for implementation.

How differentiated and at what levels environmental manage-ment should be undertaken depends on the size of the business and its structure. Since ski lift operators are generally small to me-dium sized businesses, the assignment of environmental topics to individual employees and the development of concrete measures take on particular importance.

The environmental information system consists of the ski area information system (SIS), in the form of data and graphics, and a supplementary report. This documentation is an important foundation for later repetition of the environmental assessment. The ski area information system not only helps facilitate a repeat assessment, but also represents an independent tool facilitating everyday management of the business.

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¡ Objectives of the business

¡ Specifi c legal requirements and conditions

¡ Environmental impact, actual versus target comparison

¡ Environmental policy

¡ Environmental goals and program

¡ Environmental management requirements

¡ Monitoring requirements

Contents of the report on environmental management


Checklists for auditing ski areas

The guide concludes with a series of practice-oriented checklists facilitating application of the guide. They orient themselves by the various steps of the auditing process and include structural, organizational, and content-specifi c questions. They are also useful for verifying over the course of the auditing process whether all aspects have been taken into account for each individual step and whether individual questions can be expanded or dealt with in more depth. The following groups of topics are addressed by means of checklists:

¡ Preparation of the auditing process

¡ Data sources and basic information on delimitating the areas to be examined

¡ Ecological examination of the area

¡ Establishment of a ski area information system

¡ Determination of an environmental policy

¡ Establishment of an eco-balance

¡ Derivation of environmental goals and the environmental program

¡ Environmental management and monitoring program

¡ Public relations work on ecological upgrading and auditing

Example: Checklist for determining environmental policy

þ Did the development of the environmental policy take the corporate image into account and coordinate with it?

þ Does the environmental policy include specifi cations that are appropriate with respect to the type and scope of the impact?

þ Does the environmental policy include a commitment to ongoing improvement?

þ Does it include a commitment to comply with relevant environmental laws and regulations?

þ Does the environmental policy constitute an appropriate framework for determining and evaluating environment-related objectives and individual goals?

þ Has the environmental policy been suffi ciently documented and made available to all employees?

þ Does this create the prerequisites for introducing an environmental management system?

þ Is the environmental policy made available to the public?

þ Is the implementation and maintenance of the environmental policy goals ensured?

16 Auditing in ski areas

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