Editing Ski resort (section)

== Environmental effects ==
{{See also|Environmental impact of tourism|Vegetation and slope stability}}
As rising temperatures, receding glaciers and declining snowfall affect the environment, resort development and operations also have an [[environmental impact]] on land, lakes, streams, and wildlife.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report |last=Chivers |first=John |orig-year=1994 |date=December 2010 |title=Effects of the Skiing Industry on the Environment |url=http://www.laviniaes.com/files/8013/5980/3263/EffectsOfTheSkiingIndustryOnTheEnvironment.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822105954/http://www.laviniaes.com/files/8013/5980/3263/EffectsOfTheSkiingIndustryOnTheEnvironment.pdf |archive-date=22 Aug 2016}}</ref> Amenities and infrastructure such as concrete buildings, ski lifts, access roads, parking lots, and [[railways]] have contributed to the [[urbanization]] of mountainous zones.

=== Primary (direct) impact of resort development ===
In recent years, the use of [[snow cannons]] by many ski resorts has increased to compensate for reduced levels of snowfall.<ref>Gerretsen, Isabelle (2023)  [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230124-how-climate-change-threatens-to-close-ski-resorts How climate change threatens to close ski resorts] BBC</ref> In order to sustain good quality snow coverage, snowmaking requires large amounts of water and sometimes the creation of [[artificial lake]]s. Snow cannons also introduce a noise element.

=== Secondary (indirect) impact of resort development ===
The required infrastructure can affect [[erosion]] through the increased area of [[impervious surface]]s, redirecting the flow of [[Surface runoff|water runoff]].

=== Mitigation efforts ===
Many resorts are taking steps to reduce their energy and water consumption and waste production, increase recycling, and restore habitats. Initiatives aimed at addressing environmental concerns include:
*[[Alpine Convention]]
*Snowsports Industries America (SIA) ClimateUnited
*NSAA Sustainable Slopes Initiative
*[[National Forest Foundation]] Ski Conservation Fund
*[[Ceres (organization)|Ceres]] [[Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy]] (BICEP) Network
*FESI Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN)
*[[Protect Our Winters]] (POW)