http://www.uiaa.ch/web.test/visual/MouPrCom/cragclif.doc

GUIDELINES ON ACCESS AND CONSERVATION ON CRAGS AND CLIFFS

Outputs from the UIAA/IUCN workshop on

“Climbers, Mountains, and the Environment”

Barcelona, 1-3 May 1998

These guidelines are intended for the use of UIAA member federations and organisations with complementary interests. They have been formulated primarily for rock climbing on crags and cliffs below the Alpine zone, but may often have general application in the Alpine zone. The guidelines include three components: principles, strategies, and actions. Strategies should be defined and implemented through actions at two levels: national/regional and local.

PRINCIPLES

The guidelines are based on the following general principles:

1) Freedom of access to all crags and cliffs, and climbing in a responsible and sustainable way, should be basic human rights.

2) While climbing and the enjoyment of nature are essential ingredients for nurturing the human spirit, nature also has rights.

3) Where potential, actual, or perceived conflicts between these rights occur, knowledge, flexibility, dialogue, and cooperation should be employed in order to establish whether any restriction on access is appropriate, and in implementing any such restriction.

These general principles are supported by other more specific principles:

1) Many crags and cliffs have considerable importance for the conservation of birds, animals, and plants.

2) The natural conditions of crags and cliffs are very diverse.

3) Climbing is only one of a number of activities that may endanger the survival of particular species of birds, animals, and/or plants on a particular crag or cliff.

4) Decision-makers should not misuse restrictions.

5) Climbers should accept restrictions on climbing in specific places and at particular times when these restrictions are supported by well-founded data.

6) Climbers should follow minimum-impact principles.

7) Active pioneers, group leaders, and guide writers have special responsibilities for fostering sustainable climbing through example, awareness-raising, and education.