| Résumé: |
This thesis investigates the specific impacts of climate change on the profession of mountain leaders in the Swiss Alps and the adaptation strategies they adopt in response. Through a mixed-methods approach combining survey responses from 104 mountain leaders and eight semi-structured interviews, the study reveals a broad range of climate-related challenges affecting the profession.
Mountain leaders report noticeable increases in temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and significant changes in seasonality, particularly a reduction in reliable snow cover. In addition, leaders have observed ecological transformations, such as shifts in flora and fauna patterns, as well as increased geohazards like rockfalls, floods, and landslides that can render paths impassable or dangerous.
In response to these changes, mountain leaders are developing a suite of adaptation strategies. These include increased planning and flexibility, spatial and temporal substitutions, diversification of activities, and increasing safety measures. Many leaders also integrate climate change awareness into their interpretive role, using their position to communicate observed changes to the public. While most adaptation remains informal and individually driven, some structural responses, such as integrating these topics into training, are beginning to emerge.
This research fills a significant gap in the existing literature by documenting, for the first time, how Swiss mountain leaders experience and adapt to climate change. It highlights the need for further training and a supportive framework for this growing profession. |
Mémoire [22 Mo]