A new study by the University of California Davis has determined that creating a ski run by clearing trees and foliage manually but leaving the underlying eco-system otherwise intact is better than using heavy machinery to re-grade the slope.   The study was compiled by UC Davis ecologist Jennifer Burt and professor of plant sciences Kevin Rice who added “Ski slope grading by heavy machinery is worse for plant abundance and diversity, reduces soil depth and fertility, and promotes erosion”.      

The findings are not just on environmental grounds, but also found that operating cost of machine-cut slopes were higher than those of slopes which had been left in a more natural state. The report authors believe that this makes the slopes more expensive to maintain to, offsetting any extra income that may be made by being able to open a machine cur slope a week or so earlier in the season as machine-cleared slopes require 20% less snow cover to be able to open.

The report supports all the information and evidence on www.ResponsibleSkiing.com.    Veronica Tonge says that the removal of trees should be kept to an absolute minimum but acknowledges that sometimes it is necessary.    Where trees are cleared completely with machinery – there are nearly always issues with run-off and erosion and difficulties re-seeding and there are countless examples of this.  Whilst more snow is required to cover slopes where more of the undergrowth has been left – the costs of stabilizing the slope are vastly reduced and, importantly, the ecosystem is maintained.    There are resorts such as Banff and Kicking Horse in Canada that have followed this approach and the ecosystem on the pistes and under the lifts, where large trees have been removed but the bushes left, has actually left a habitat that is really beneficial to the local bear population.