Living in the Alps

(Message from the Alpine Association of Slovenia on December 11, International Mountain Day)

Hill and mountain areas cover more than 72% of Slovenia's territory. In the alpine world, approximately half of Slovenia's population lives. The population on the plains is steadily increasing, while higher and traffic-isolated areas of solitary farms and hamlets are emptying. Mountains are visited by more and more domestic and foreign visitors every year. Due to mass tourism, it threatens the very assets that enable its development. Protected natural areas are therefore areas with long-term and sustainable prospects.

We develop a special relationship towards the space of mountain areas in Slovenia, especially towards the protected area of the Julian Alps. We proceed from the fact that mountains are an exceptional natural ecosystem, an economic resource, and a living space for plants, animals, and people. Close to us is the understanding of mountains as summarized by the international organization for the protection of the Alps CIPRA in its slogan: Living in the Alps. The image of mountains as a kingdom of unlimited freedom should be transcended by sustainable development and established individual responsibility. Although mountain areas were the first to receive legal protection in the past (national parks), this is obviously no longer sufficient for their continued existence. Promoting responsibility for one's actions, awareness of environmental impacts, and the effects of various mountaineering activities is a permanent task of the state, mountain local communities, and non-governmental organizations.

Triglav National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Europe. Its first protection dates back to 1924, when the Alpine Protective Park in the Valley of the Triglav Lakes (1600 ha) was established. In 1961, a decree was adopted declaring the Valley of the Triglav Lakes as Triglav National Park (2000 ha), and in 1981, the park was legislated in approximately its current extent (83,807 ha). The mountaineering organization (Alpine Association of Slovenia, mountaineering associations, and its prominent individuals) played an important and active role in these milestones (and throughout the time between them). The Alpine Association of Slovenia also joined the events surrounding the adoption of the new Triglav National Park Act (ZTNP-1) in 2001, which we received only in 2010.

Mountaineering is an activity consisting of hiking, climbing, and skiing. However, it is not only a physical activity; it is also creativity and a source of ethical, aesthetic, educational, and spiritual values. The high experiential value of mountains is complemented by authenticity, modesty, camaraderie, consideration, solidarity, and self-sacrifice. Therefore, every visit to the mountains is an irreplaceable contribution to general education, broad-mindedness, and personal growth of the individual. Those who walk the mountain trails are one of the largest groups of visitors to Triglav National Park. Among them are members of the mountaineering organization and non-members. Regardless of membership, we are united by the form of activity and commitment to promoting universal human values, which are even more refined and noticeable in the mountains.

Mountains are not a fairy tale, although many stories have been woven there. Mountains are not a backdrop, although many films have been shot there. Mountains are not a tourist brochure, although a picture of a mountain says more than a thousand words. Mountains are a real and tangible living space that enables survival. For the local population through the use of traditional activities (agriculture, forestry, home crafts) and tourism, and for everyone else in many indirect ways by enriching everyday life. Without drinking water collected and purified by mountain areas, cities would have many problems. Living and working in the Alps is therefore a privilege that binds us with great responsibility for their preservation.

Instead of the state – in the name of its population – recognizing mountain areas, especially protected natural areas, as areas with long-term and sustainable prospects, parks are still considered areas that represent (a major) cost and hinder development. We are following with concern the responses showing that after a year, practically no one is satisfied with the new Triglav National Park Act anymore (park residents, park municipalities, politics, professional and non-governmental organizations). In one year, we have come to the position that the law in all shades applies to people – residents and visitors of the park, but not to the state, which has eaten a lot of its promises. The park's administration is shrinking funds, municipalities are waiting for promised projects, unregulated traffic in the valley leaves a bitter taste.

The Alpine Association of Slovenia is one of the few organizations that, due to its age, has followed the fate of the park throughout its life. The mountaineering organization invests in this space year after year: it maintains mountain huts, takes care of mountain trails, non-profit guides mountain visitors, and informs foreigners about our exceptional natural and cultural heritage through publications. In addition to financial and material resources, we invest a lot of volunteer work in this space, seasoned with love for the mountains.

Therefore, we offer a hand of cooperation conciliatorily but determinedly. We call on the Government to act, not to forget that mountain hearths are those that ensured the survival of the nation at the crossroads of cultures and languages. When the war and daily horrors left, the locals persisted in the devastation with the knowledge of their ancestors. Around these same hearths, cooperation between different areas and solidarity were woven when nature showed its power. Let us not forget that Ložani, Trentarji, Sočani, Tolminci, Graparji, Bohinjci, Kranjskogorci, Jezerjani, Solčavani, Bistričani, Korošci, Pohorci, Rovtarji (and all others who preserve their own identity in mountain areas) are people who keep our hearths alive.

Borut Peršolja,

Vice President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia