Overview
Across the Alps, climate change and changing tourism patterns are leaving behind a growing number of obsolete ski infrastructures (OBSI), from abandoned lifts to unused facilities. These sites can fragment habitats, degrade landscapes and limit opportunities for sustainable land use.
ReSkiLience supports the revitalisation of Alpine landscapes affected by OBSI by developing a shared Alpine framework to identify, map and assess them. Its approach is built on citizen science: local communities, stakeholders and public authorities actively contribute to data collection, awareness-raising and the co-design of future solutions.
The project tests sustainable reuse, restoration and dismantling strategies in pilot areas across the Alps, while producing practical guidelines and policy recommendations to support wider uptake. By combining scientific knowledge, community engagement and transnational cooperation, ReSkiLience contributes to turning obsolete ski infrastructures from environmental liabilities into opportunities for a more resilient Alpine future.
Factsheet
- 2021 – 2027
- Climate resilient and green Alpine region
- SO 1.2 - Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution
-
- AG6 Natural resources
- 09/2026
- 08/2029
- 2.488.840 EUR
- 1.866.630 EUR
Description
Across the Alps, climate change and evolving tourism trends have left behind a growing number of obsolete ski infrastructures. These sites often fragment habitats, degrade landscapes, contribute to pollution, and limit opportunities for sustainable land use. Yet, despite their widespread impact, there is no shared Alpine-wide strategy or dataset to address them in a coordinated way.
The main objective of the ResKiLience project is to restore biodiversity and reduce landscape degradation in the Alpine region by mapping and assessing obsolete ski infrastructures (OBSI), transforming selected sites into ecological and cultural assets through pilot actions.
In the next 3 years the project partners will engage local communities through citizen science for data collection, awareness and restoration actions, developing policy recommendations for long-term biodiversity and landscape restoration, nature protection and pollution reduction in obsolete / problematic ski sites.
ResKiLience brought together 4 NGOs, 1 Public Authority, 2 Sectoral Agencies / Institutions, 2 Universities and 2 Research Organisations from five Alpine Space countries (France, Italia, Austria, Germany and Slovenia) and a number of observers and supporters to implement 10 key Actions with 12 Deliverables dedicate to achieve 5 Outputs and 2 main Results. The aim is to have Alpine communities more actively engaged in the stewardship of their landscapes impacted by obsolete ski infrastructures (OBSI) and Alpine public authorities formally take up and apply the ReSkiLience approach for managing OBSI.
Partners
- Lead partner
- Italy
- Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano/Bozen (ITH1)
- Bolzano
- Andrea Omizzolo
- andrea.omizzolo@eurac.edu
- France
- Rhône-Alpes (FRK2)
- Grenoble
- Elisa Flandrin
- elisaflandrin74@gmail.com
- Italy
- Veneto (ITH3)
- Venezia
- Viviana Ferrario
- vferrario@iuav.it
- Slovenia
- Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
- Jesenice
- Nina Kobal
- nina.kobal@ragor.si
- Italy
- Lombardia (ITC4)
- Milano
- Simona Colombo
- simona.colombo@legambientelombardia.it
- Germany
- Oberbayern (DE21)
- Übersee
- Katharina Gasteiger
- info@alpenallianz.org
- Italy
- Piemonte (ITC1)
- Torino
- Roberto Dini
- roberto.dini@polito.it
- Austria
- Niederösterreich (AT12)
- Wienerbruck
- Theodor Wimmer
- tw@naturpark-oetscher.at
- Slovenia
- Zahodna Slovenija (SI04)
- Ljubljana
- Maruša Goluža
- marusa.goluza@zrc-sazu.si
- Italy
- Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (ITC2)
- Aosta
- Mauro Bassignana
- m.bassignana@iaraosta.it
- Germany
- Oberbayern (DE21)
- München
- Christine Busch
- christine.busch@cipra.org
- 46.494530211.3472734
- 45.18857275.7372871
- 45.437763812.322569
- 46.442377214.0283053
- 45.4996989.226216
- 47.823948412.4829808
- 45.06246067.6623476
- 47.863542715.2961624
- 46.047610114.5047112
- 45.73699917.2997142
- 48.134382311.5611877
Outcomes
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Participatory mapping of OBSI in the Alps and beyond, and their relations with the environment
A transnational, citizen science-based mapping that identifies and documents OBSI across the Alpine region. It integrates environmental and societal data into a shared and validated database, visualised through a digital interactive platform, which serves as a foundation for restoration, planning and policy development. -
Feasibility studies for landscape regeneration through OBSI sustainable second-life solutions or dismantling in pilot areas
A detailed feasibility study for each pilot area, co-developed with local stakeholders, in local language. They assess technical, environmental, and social aspects of repurposing or dismantling selected OBSI. Each study integrates field testing, participatory design labs, and monitoring data, resulting in tailored, actionable plans that guide implementation and inform the refinement of broader project guidelines. -
Technical guidelines for sustainable reuse and/or dismantling of OBSI
Generalised technical guidelines derived from pilot experiences, taxonomy, best and worst practices. It includes step-by-step instructions for sustainable and environmentally friendly OBSI reuse and/or dismantling. Designed for replication, the guidelines promote sustainable participatory approaches applicable across the Alpine region and beyond. -
Transnational policy pathways for participatory revitalization of Alpine landscapes impacted by OBSI
A set of policy pathways for the integration of participatory approaches into OBSI management aimed at revitalising impacted landscapes across Alpine regions and beyond. It includes the activation of a transnational and interdisciplinary working group of NGOs, policy experts, and institutional stakeholders, fostering ongoing dialogue, peer exchange, and alignment of strategies. It provides adaptable guidance for diverse governance contexts and long-term policy uptake. -
Proposal for policy integration targeting public administrations and institutions from local to transnational Alpine level
Actionable policy recommendations for the management of OBSI and OBSI impacted landscapes restoration targeting administrations and institutions at local, regional, national, Alpine, and EU levels. Developed through the collaborative work of a transnational working group and reinforced by the policy engagement activity (e.g. EUSALP AG7), they aim at driving institutional uptake and to be integrated into existing strategies, ensuring long-term policy alignment and territorial impact.
Project calendar
