In the summer of 2021 Alta Badia will see the arrival of its Food Forest, a multipurpose cultivation area which will use a system of sustainable agriculture to grow natural food produce as well as permanently absorb carbon dioxide.

Situated in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alta Badia strongly believes in protecting the environment and is already promoting other sustainability projects such as WOWnature Alta Badia and Eco-Hiker Alta Badia.

Alta Badia (South Tyrolean Dolomites/Italy) – Responsible and ongoing wildlife conservation is fundamental for the preservation of local natural beauty. The inhabitants of this area, the Ladins, view the protection of the Dolomites through the lens of sustainability, and it is their love of these mountains which enables them to educate tourists on how they can visit in an environmentally conscious way.

Sustainability and protection of the environment are an inherent part of all the activities which take place in Alta Badia. Highlights include the Food Forest, WOWnature Alta Badia, the project to carry out the reforestation of the area hit by Storm Vaia, and the sustainable excursions run by Eco-Hiker Alta Badia.

NEW FOR 2021: NOURISH YOURSELF WITH NATURE ON A SELF-GUIDED WALK THROUGH THE FOOD FOREST

The Food Forest, otherwise known as an “edible forest” or a “forest orchard” is a multipurpose cultivation area made up of trees, plants, medicinal and officinal herbs, berries, and other fruits. It is comprised of a sustainable agricultural system that permanently absorbs carbon dioxide and increases alpine biodiversity while at the same time improving soil fertility.

In collaboration with Etifor, a branch of the University of Padua, Alta Badia has identified an ideal spot for its Food Forest at the Passo Campolongo in the Masisti Wood. Thanks to the WOWnature Alta Badia initiative, a reforestation programme was started in this wood last year after the area was severely damaged by Storm Vaia. The wood, which can be visited in summer months, is now home to huge biodiversity and delicious natural produce such as blackcurrants, raspberries, wild strawberries, juniper berries, elderberries and other fruits, all just waiting to be discovered.

Self-guided walks through the woods, as well as organised trips, will be available for visitors to discover everything that Mother Nature has to offer. Information boards will line the path, allowing visitors to learn the secrets of the surrounding woods while they enjoy their walk. It will be a profound experience, one which will allow you to recharge your batteries, enabling you to face the challenges of daily life while feeling at one with nature. Along the path there will also be information on how the herbs and fruit produced by the woods are used in local Ladin cooking. Visitors, local residents and businesses can all get involved with the Food Forest and help to protect the wood by adopting a tree at https://www.wownature.eu/areewow/alta-badia-adum/.

WOWNATURE ALTA BADIA: GROW A TREE. A REFORESTATION PROJECT OF THE AREA AFFECTED BY STORM VAIA

In late October 2018, the forests of Alta Badia suffered significant damage due to storm Vaia which violently affected this area, opening a deep wound in the heart of these mountains and destroying secular woodland. Thanks to the WOWnature Alta Badia project, today we can fight against the climate crisis. The resort and the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel cycling granfondo support the reforestation of one of the worst affected areas through this project created in collaboration with Etifor (a spin-off of Padua University and the creator of WOWnature). On the www.altabadia.org and www.maratona.it websites, it will be possible for all those who wish to, to adopt and gift one of the new trees at disposal, thus contributing to this important environmental project. This reforestation will cover 12 hectares of the Passo Campolongo area and the trees, which are either self-purchased or gifted, can be planted directly by the purchaser during the two days of reforestation scheduled in the Summer months 2021, accordingly to the Covid-19 rules. In order to do this, Etifor has enlisted South Tyrol based company WaldPlus, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ®(FSC®); the Forest Management certification (FSC) ensures that forest management complies with rigorous environmental, social and financial standards. The Alta Badia WOWnature project aims to further promote the objectives of the land and make them tangible. www.altabadia.org/wownature

Some interesting facts: an European citizen produces on average 5,000 kg of CO2 a year. Throughout its life, a tree catches approximately 700 kg of CO2. To balance one’s own CO2 emissions, a person should grow 7 trees per year.

ALTA BADIA ECO-HIKER: SUSTAINABLE EXCURSIONS, HELPING NATURE

The purpose of Alta Badia Eco-Hiker is to raise excursionists’ awareness of environmental protection and the Dolomites as a very fragile eco-system. Waste and refuse are often left behind in nature.  During the five Alta Badia Eco-Hiker meetings scheduled for summer 2020, excursionists can make a tangible impact on their surrounding environment. Participants will be accompanied by a local expert and will be provided with gloves, equipment, bio-bags and everything that is required to bring all the waste found along the way in the fields and forests back down to the valley. These events are scheduled for 5th and 19th July, 2nd and 16th August and 6th September and will take place accordingly to the Coronavirus rules. Spots are limited. Booking is compulsory and can be completed at the tourist offices in Alta Badia.

SKILIFT CONNECTIONS AT 2000M

When talking about saving the environment, it’s paramount to think about reducing the emissions caused by vehicle traffic. To this end, in summer 2021 we are keeping even more ski-lifts open to allow people to move around on this means of transport, too. In Alta Badia, there are 17 ski-lifts open during the Summer. The opening period will be decided accordingly to the Covid-19 rules. This year, thanks to the opening of the La Fraina and Bamby chairlifts, the Movimënt Parks Piz Sorega and Piz La Villa will be connected by the lifts. Bikes and prams can be loaded on the chairlifts. These changes aim to promote sustainable mobility; by using these systems, people can move between the towns of La Villa and San Cassiano with ease and without using cars.

Key to the tourism development strategy for Alta Badia are projects which ensure that the environmental impact of tourism is kept to a minimum, for the benefit of both local residents and the numerous visitors who come to the area. In the future it hopes to host more so-called “green events”, ensuring that any organised gatherings adhere to certain sustainability guidelines, both in their planning and organisation, as well as in their implementation.