Ecotours
Mountaineering's Environmental Impact
Discussion
From: tochs.blogspot.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
From: alfie halibas
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 10:19 PM
To: mfpi@egroups.com
Subject: [mfpi] New Meaning
I don't know about you guys but I think its high time we give new meaning to
mountaineering. I have known that being mountaineers, we do not really
uphold the real value of environmentalism. Climbing on mountains in such a
great number can do so much damage to the mountain. We enjoy scaling them
and we bask in their grandeur not knowing that we too are not protecting
them and we in turn are not helping them either but instead are killing them
softly. Since we've enjoyed mountaineering for over a long long time and
never really felt the impact we do not understand so many things about them.
I talked to this friend who's an ecotourism adviser from England and he's
been to different mountains in the country. I mentioned the upcoming forum
and the expected no. of participants. It drove him mad how we as so-called
mountaineers can know so little and care so less. It bleeds my heart how
anyone not from this place can care so much for our mountains and how we can
not redefine our meaning of mountaineering. I do not know how to make of
this anymore but I just hope we all will come up with a better solution than
merely climbing mountains and pretending to care about the environment when
in fact we too are helping them lose their beauty with every step we trudge
upon her body as she lie there helpless and wailing but no one hears her
voice.
alfie
Alfie Halibas is with CARE-Iligan (Climbers Association in Response to
Ecology)
======================================
From: Celina Carmel C. Villavieja
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 1999 4:42 PM
To: palmc@egroups.com
Subject: [palmc] Re: New Meaning
Dear Alfie,
There have already been efforts in the past to promote a new consciousness
for the Fed climbs. In 1995, UPM sponsored the Banahaw traverse via Dolores-Tayabas.
In response to the guidelines of the Tayabas municipality, the number of
participants per organization is limited. As an option for the other
participants, UPM conducted concurrent activities in Tayabas basecamp like
sport climbing competition and discussions on MFPI issues. Even the eminent
Chang Guzman joined in exchanging views on environmental protection. At the
end of the Congress, UPM presented a manifesto, which summarizes the
delegates' views on environmental issues. This manifesto would have been the
first step towards a concrete set of guidelines that would be adhered to by
the members of the Federation.
However, instead of staying at the basecamp, most of the club presidents
preferred to join the climb and rekindle the mountaineering camaraderie the
traditional way. The manifesto that was presented and published at the end
of the Congress was of little significance to them, because they were not
part of its undertaking. The manifesto was not sustained. It, well, died.
That was more than four years ago. Nothing much has changed since. There is
a rising consciousness among us about the real damage that we inflict on
nature. But only few of us freely admit it because it would only make us
self-contradictory.
Other countries have instituted measures to protect the environment, while
allowing nature lovers to still enjoy the outdoors. We do not have such
legislation in our country. In the absence of it, we can possibly do one
thing. Stop climbing.
But are we ready for it?
Celine
Celine Villavieja was active with PAL MC in the early 90's. She was a prime
mover of Bantay Banahaw, a maintenance program staged every Holy Week during
her active days.
======================================
Subject: Re: What has the popularity of mountaineering done?
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Date: 1999/11/30
I absolutely agree with Alfie that, as mountaineers, we should be
environmentalists. I also agree that climbing in "great numbers" can damage
the mountains. Finally, I also agree that we "do not understand so many
things about the mountains".
Insofar as MFPI is concerned, environmental protection has always been one
of its original goals. Regretfully, climbers, both members and non-members
of MFPI, are presently unable to agree on what climbers need to do to
protect the mountains. Personally, I feel that any proposed course of action
should be well thought out and must have solid scientific basis. And since
we "do not understand so many things about the mountains", the first thing
we have to do is undertake some verifiable studies of Philippine mountain
ecosystems before we come to such conclusions like "stop climbing" or "stop
'mass' climbs".
For instance, if we take Alfie's concern about climbing in great numbers, we
first have to agree on what that "great number" is. To do this, we have to
find out the impact of specific numbers of climbers on specific mountains
under specific conditions. There are no shortcuts. While some member clubs
of the MFPI have espoused limiting climbers on certain mountains to a
specific number, I have yet to see anybody come up with some honest to
goodness study on which these numbers can be based. Most have merely
parroted what studies conducted in foreign countries on totally different
ecosystems have concluded. Regretfully again, these so called studies have
also proven to be inconclusive. This is the root of the problem.
We can not continue taking the word of foreign friends and foreign
publications, no matter how well meaning, as ex cathedra gospel truth
without pausing for a moment to think if they are applicable locally. We can
not keep on mouthing environmental buzzwords. We have to understand that, in
order to launch an honest to goodness environmental crusade, we have to be
able to defend our proposals in Plaza Miranda or in any other forum our
detractors may choose. More importantly, we have to be able to convince our
fellow mountaineers and environmentalists of the legitimacy of their cause
in order to propel them to action. To do otherwise would be to court
divisiveness within the mountaineering and environmental community. The
members of the community would be unable to agree on something which lacks
basis and can not be rationalized or explained.
This is precisely why, when we sought permission to climb Mt. Kanla-on for
the last president's climb. We offered to undertake a study on the effects
of climbing on Mt. Kanla-on in cooperation with the Makiling Center for
Mountain Ecosystems at the U.P. Los Banos. This study would have taken at
least one year of data gathering and we were supposed to gather the initial
data during that climb. Sadly, some local public official, who claims to be
an environmentalist, insisted on an absolute ban on climbing Mt. Kanla-on on
the basis of a two page position paper (authored by himself) which failed to
even relate climbing and mountain ecosystems. This despite the fact that he
has no qualms about allowing gamecock farms on the slopes of Mt. Kanla-on.
To end on a personal note, I am perfectly willing to abide by any course of
action or regulation which would protect the environment that we all love.
However, I do not intend to be stampeded into action by some environmentalists
who think that, by mouthing some environmental jargon and appealing to my
love for the environment, he can convert me to his cause. I demand that
anybody who suggests that the federation do something grant me and the
federation a modicum of respect (the same respect I offer to every other
mountaineer and environmentalist) by presenting defensible and concrete
propositions.
In the meantime, pending the results of the proposed studies, the federation
can reach some consensus on any urgently needed preventive measures to
minimize the damage climbers may be causing to the mountains. This can be
done at the Vision Mission Goal seminar to be conducted this month in
Tagaytay. and if any climbers are really concerned about the future of
climbing, then I urge them to attend.
Butch Sebastian, MFPI President
======================================
From: tochs@excite.com
Subject: What has the popularity of mountaineering done?
Newsgroups: soc.culture.filipino
Date: 1999/11/26
What has the popularity of mountaineering done?1. Raised the consciousness of the climbers for the environment, acting on
it though is different from just knowing.
2. Gave pleasure to the climbers either through their appreciation of
nature, the camaraderie, use of equipment, purchase of equipment, physical
exertion, feeling of completion, seeing new places, meeting new people,
eating, drinking or mere escaping or a combination of all.
3. Sharpened special skills: photography, cooking, organizing, leading,
relating, writing, website developing, handling socials, technical climbing
etc.
4. Not to mention improved the economy: equipment trading and local commerce
thrived from guides, food that you eat, transportation that you avail, places that
you stay in.
5. Above all, it ignited the passion in individuals, to enjoy their lives to
the edge.
6. Close to saying it has opened us to our spirituality, to our role in
life, our relationships with others and our place in this universe.
So what are we complaining about? We are concerned that our playing ground
is not kept and in fact desecrated. We see it and know we can do something
about it. Does this animal we are looking for really exist? Perhaps the
environmentalist is a state of perfection and the purist is just our
projection. The best that most can do is keep the campsite clean and stay
alive. But it is good to be reminded at times that we can fill in to that
obligation. Just like what Alfie and Celine did. Until we push so hard, it
will be difficult. Because that is our nature.
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
-Chito