Editing Mont Blanc (section)

== Protection ==
The Mont Blanc massif is being put forward as a potential [[World Heritage Site]] because of its uniqueness and cultural importance considered the birthplace and symbol of modern mountaineering.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1431/ |title=Massif du Mont Blanc |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=10 January 2011 |archive-date=2 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102231021/https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1431/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It would require the three governments of Italy, France and Switzerland to request [[UNESCO]] for it to be listed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2001/10/02/pour-l-inscription-du-massif-a-l-unesco_4191592_1819218.html |title=''Pour l'inscription du massif à l'Unesco'' |newspaper=Le Monde.fr |date=2 October 2001 |access-date=25 December 2018 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227234423/https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2001/10/02/pour-l-inscription-du-massif-a-l-unesco_4191592_1819218.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mont Blanc is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. For this reason, some view it as threatened.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/24/climate-change-is-melting-the-french-alps-say-mountaineers |title=Climate change is melting the French Alps, say mountaineers |last=Birch |first=Simon |date=2018-08-24 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=9 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209201244/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/24/climate-change-is-melting-the-french-alps-say-mountaineers |url-status=live }}</ref> Pro-Mont Blanc (an international collective of associations for the protection of Mont Blanc) published in 2002 the book ''Le versant noir du mont Blanc'' (The black hillside of Mont Blanc), which exposes current and future problems in conserving the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pro-mont-blanc.org/fr_art_aff.php?id_article=21 |title=proMONT-BLANC >> (Le versant noir du Mont-Blanc) |date=9 October 2007 |access-date=23 October 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009164929/http://pro-mont-blanc.org/fr_art_aff.php?id_article=21 |archive-date=9 October 2007}}</ref>

In 2007, Europe's two highest toilets (at 4,260 metres, 13,976 feet) were taken by helicopter to the top of Mont Blanc. They are also serviced by helicopter. They will serve 30,000 skiers and hikers annually, helping to alleviate the discharge of urine and faeces that spreads down the mountain face with the spring thaw.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2429287.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208143034/http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2429287.html |archive-date=8 December 2008 |publisher=Ananova |title=Europe's highest toilet |access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref>

[[Global warming]] has begun to melt glaciers and cause avalanches on Mont Blanc, creating more dangerous climbing conditions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/warming-threatens-safety-on-mont-blanc-jmsm6rknc32 |title=Warming threatens safety on Mont Blanc |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=28 May 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013 |archive-date=29 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529022221/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/science/article3776375.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>