Glaciers, even more threatened by tourism that fears their disappearance | Tourism | Ecology | Travel | TECHNOLOGY

“More than 14 million people, with a mix of fascination, scientific curiosity and ecological grief, visit the sites of the most famous glaciers every year (…) which increases pressure in already fragile areas,” the study researchers warned in a statement.

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The research, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, points out the problem of the rise of “last chance” tourism where this “fascination with what disappears” degrades the very ecosystem you want to visit.

As harmful examples, they cited the construction of new access walkways, the installation of geotextile membranes (synthetic fabrics) or helicopter rides around glaciers.

“These solutions, often motivated by economic interests, often fail to raise awareness about the root causes of glacier disappearance or address water security or access issues faced by local communities,” the researchers stressed.

A phenomenon that especially occurs in Alaska, Greenland and Antarctica, said the main author of the study, Emmanuel Salim.

“Some tourists will simply go to the next popular destination once the glaciers disappear,” Salim added.

The researchers from the University of Lausanne also highlighted citizen initiatives around the commemoration of glaciers: funeral ceremonies in Switzerland, France, Nepal or Iceland, awareness-raising sporting events such as the ‘Glorious Glacier Ride’ or petitions to prohibit access to certain peaks such as Stok Kangri in India.

“An analysis is necessary to understand the motivations of the public and how these visits or rituals could allow them to better understand current phenomena, become aware of environmental problems and adopt responsible and sustainable behaviors,” the authors of the study emphasized.

They also highlighted the need to anticipate how to manage post-glacial areas “in a world where 60% of ice volume could disappear by 2100,” they warned.