Example of evironmental management iof the snowshoe in a protected area

Introduction

Nature sports are part of outdoor recreational activities. They take place in the backside country. Their strong growth during the last decades involved a questioning of their environmental impact. Except extreme cases, their impact is difficult to underline with certainty (Mounet J.-P., Nicollet J.-P. & Rocheblave M., 2000) [1]. This result involves a controversy (Callon M., Lascoumes P. & Barthe Y., 2001) [2]. The weakness of regulations for these activities, gives room for freedom to the "actors" : their relationships are translated in the shape of a "local order" (Friedberg E., 1993) [3].
The study concerned the snowshoe’s organization in a protected area, the Natural Reserve of the "Haute-Chaîne du Jura" (the middle-chain mountain "Jura", located in the Eastern part of France).

Methods

Sixteen relevant "actors" were interviewed (semi-directive interview). About ten documents were studied.
The interviews and the documents were the object of an analysis of contents of thematic type.

Results

The structure of the "local order" underlined, was of regulation type. The "actors" participating in the management of the Natural Reserve imposed their decisions on the motive for the environmental protection, in the shape of a rule. As a consequence, many "actors" were pushed aside from the management of their activity : the usual (French) stakeholders of the sport’s management (the concerned sport federation, snowshoe instructors...), the stakeholders of tourism (hotel keepers, persons who rent out snowshoes, tourist offices...), and also a number of local stakeholders (local populations).

Discussion/Conclusions

This situation contradicts the current French evolution towards the public debate and dialogue (Law on the democracy of nearness, 2002) [4]. The snowshoe in the Natural Reserve of the "Haute-Chaîne du Jura" corresponds neither to a sports management, nor with a tourist management, nor especially with a concerted management such as it was able to be revealed in the others protected areas (Gayte X., Mounet J.-P., Perrin C. & Rocheblave M., 2003) [5].
The environmental protection constitutes here an excuse for a seizure of power by some "actors".

References

[1]. Mounet J.-P., Nicollet J.-P. & Rocheblave M. (2000). Montagnes Méditerranéennes, 11, 67-75.
[2]. Callon M., Lascoumes P. & Barthe Y. ( 2001). Agir dans un monde incertain. Seuil, Paris.
[3]. Friedberg E. (1997). Local Orders : Dynamics of Organized Action. JAI-Press.
[4]. Loi n° 2002-276 du 27 février 2002, France.
[5]. Gayte X., Mounet J.-P., Perrin C. & Rocheblave M. (2003). Colloque CERMOSEM, France.