International Federation of Mountain Guides Association and GRID-Arendal sign three-year partnership

19 June 2020

ARENDAL, Norway – The International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GRID-Arendal, affirming a joint commitment to support sustainable mountain development through responsible mountaineering and polar travel and expeditions.

GRID-Arendal is pleased to start this partnership and looks forward to collaborating with the IFMGA on environmental stewardship and development in mountain regions. The issue of waste management and loss of biodiversity is of vital importance to both parties, as mountains are a highly sensitive ecosystem. This partnership will assist in the exchange of environmental information with the goal of supporting environmentally friendly practices to protect and preserve the mountain environment for generations to come.

“We are bringing together two extremely passionate and committed organisations,” commented Laurent Fouinat, Polar and Mountain Environments Expert at GRID-Arendal. “Due to the IFMGA’s invaluable network and expertise composed of mountain guides who are the first witnesses of change in the mountain environment, we expect to have a very fruitful collaboration over the next three years.”

This agreement will help promote activities within mountain and polar environments and communities, with the aim of producing new guidelines, training manuals, research, and environmental campaigns.

—–

GRID-Arendal was established in Norway in 1989 with the mission to create environmental knowledge that encourages positive change. GRID-Arendal organises and transforms available environmental data into credible, science-based information products, delivered through innovative communication tools and capacity-building services.

The International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), founded in 1965 by guides from Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy, is the international umbrella for mountain guide associations from more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania, representing a total of almost 6,000 guides. Each national association represents all of that country’s mountain guides who are qualified according to IFMGA guidelines.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Hymas, Senior Communications Officer, GRID-Arendal, lisa.hymas@grida.no

Guendalina De Luigi, Junior Communications Officer, GRID-Arendal, guendalina.de.luigi@grida.no