Managing ski resorts: the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) of the United States’ 2001 and 2002 Annual Progress Reports on the Environmental Charter and the reaction from conservations groups

Abstract

Protecting scenic values, optimizing efficient use of water for snowmaking, planning, designing and constructing facilities and lifts in an environmentally sensitive manner, are some of the areas in which ski resorts have made substantial improvement since implementing the Environmental Principles, according to NSAA in their 2002 annual report. Michael Berry, NSAA’s president, proudly indicates that the Association is succeeding in taking collective steps toward proactive environmental stewardship. However, when the Charter was developed in June 2000, several issues regarding the voluntary nature of the principles of the Charter and the impact it would have on ski operations and ultimately, the environment were raised by special interests groups in the United States, such as the Colorado Wild Organization and the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition among others. Such organizations aim to halt the environmentally harmful or real estate driven aspects of ski area expansions and ensure that ski area management decisions, either by ski companies, forest service, or other governmental bodies are responsive to the needs of real environmental protection, local communities, and the skiing public. NSAA has since released two annual reports in 2001 and 2002 indicating progress in reducing environmental impact. However, those special interests/ conservation groups are still not convinced of the environmental commitment of the NSAA and the resorts that adopted the charter. The purpose of this follow-up study is two-fold, the first is to provide a follow-up evaluation of the impact of the Environmental Charter on ski resorts’ as highlighted in NSAA’s two Annual reports, and the second is to determine from conservation groups, if their skepticism of the NSAA and its Environmental Charter has changed in any way.

Acknowledgments

To the various conservation groups for responding to my requests for information regarding this project. To Stacy Toutenberg of the National Ski Areas Association, for supporting this project. To Dr Gbekeloluwa Oguntimein, Morgan State University, for support, encouragement and input in this paper.