La Tourbière – La Tourbière Marie Anselme Martin Ot Les Saisies 27668 1920px
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La Tourbière – La Tourbière Marie Anselme Martin Ot Les Saisies 27668 1920px

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Marie Anselme Martin - OT Les Saisies

A long-term commitment

  1. Winter Home
  2. Once on site
  3. Village life
  4. A place to live together – EN
  5. A long-term commitment

A long-term commitment

A resort committed to the environment for many years

  • A ski resort committed to making a real difference:the resort’sEnvironmental Observatory ( Video) has added a pastoral dimension to its remit. A first in France! Criss-crossed by mountain pastures, the Les Saisies ski area is used in summer by the herds of more than 20 farmers practising summer grazing, who produce Beaufort AOP cheese. The aim of this initiative is to foster dialogue with farmers and to take pastoral activities into account in development and management plans for the ski area and tourism in general (mountain biking, etc.).This section provides a detailed description of the users, pastoral practices, existing facilities, as well as areas of concern and potential improvements. There are 24 farmers operating within the Les Saisies ski area. This pastoral section was set up in partnership with the Société d’économie alpestre de la Savoie (SEA 73). A collaboration ‘that’s heading in the right direction’, explains Pierre Simon, a farmer and ski patroller at Les Saisies.
  • The sharing of water resources is also a key concern for the resort. Some farmers benefit from water supply systems fed by high-altitude reservoirs to supply drinking troughs for their herds during the summer.
  • The use of HVO fuel for shuttle buses, snow groomers, vehicles and snow-clearing machinery significantly reduces the carbon footprint of transport and piste grooming (an 83 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel). Find out more
  • Eco-grooming: optimisation tools for snow groomers (GPS and snow depth measurement)
  • Practising eco-driving with snow groomers to optimise fuel consumption.
  • Practising eco-driving on ski lifts (reducing the speed of chairlifts during off-peak periods) to save energy.
  • Refurbishment of the ski area operator’s administrative building (external insulation, replacement of glazing, dual-flow ventilation, etc.)
  • Douce chairlift: recovery of waste heat from cabinets and heat exchangers to heat the station premises

    ·        The Diamant Confort label, created by SAEM Les Saisies Villages Tourisme and supported by SIVOM, guarantees the quality of accommodation in the destination by supporting private owners with their renovation projects and awarding the label to those that meet a range of criteria, including a focus on sustainable development.

    · Diversification, with a vast range of summer and winter activities, as well as a recognised commitment to welcoming visitors during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn).

    · The destination also provides accommodation for seasonal staff working at the resort.

    · Roads leading to the mountain summits are closed to motorised vehicles during the summer months to protect the mountain environment. Access is possible on foot, by electric shuttle bus or via a ski lift.

    · The Les Saisies – Beaufortain – Val d’Arly Regional Nature Reserve. A real gem situated at the Col des Saisies, it covers an area of nearly 300 hectares, on which a large part of the Nordic ski area is located. It is the largest acidic peat bog in the entire Alpine arc and therefore constitutes a unique natural heritage site of international importance.

    Let’s respect the mountain pastures
    The resort of Les Saisies has grown and developed at the heart of an exceptional natural heritage. Nestled between the mountain pastures of this beautiful ‘cow...
    Read more
    The Saisies peat bog
    The Saisies peat bog is a protected natural area that is home to a specific and diverse flora and fauna. It is also a very popular hiking site, with several marked trails...
    Read more

    Our ambition

    Portrait of a lekking Black Grouse in central Sweden
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    Portrait of a lekking Black Grouse in central Sweden

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    sylviaadams - stock.adobe.com

    Our aim is to provide a vibrant community all year round that serves the local population (residents and visitors). Les Saisies and its villages (Hauteluce and Villard-sur-Doron) are committed to protecting and promoting their heritage (both natural and cultural), with stakeholders taking the lead in decarbonising their activities and welcoming tourists through a diverse range of attractions.

    Four strategic priorities have been identified to put the region’s vision into practice:

    · Controlling urban development and land-use change

    · Decarbonisation of activities, focusing on transport and energy-efficient refurbishment

    · Diversification of activities

    · Year-round local life and active citizen participation

    Local commitments

    The Saisies Nature Reserve

    Situated at the Col des Saisies, straddling the Beaufortain massif and the Arly Valley, the Saisies–Beaufortain–Val d’Arly Peat Bog Regional Nature Reserve covers an area of nearly 300 hectares. It isthe largest acidic peat bog in the entire Alpine arc!

    In addition to its designation as a regional nature reserve, the Saisies peat bog is also subject to other protective measures.

    Since 1989, the area has been designated as a biotope protection zone under a prefectural decree. The aim of this designation is to protect the habitat (the biotope) of species of conservation concern, particularly plant species. To this end, the prefect has adopted regulations setting out the activities that are prohibited or restricted within the area.

    In August 2006, the peat bog was included in the European Natura 2000 network. It was because the Saisies peat bog is of ecological importance at a European level that the site was designated as part of this network. Natura 2000 designation provides funding for measures that help to preserve biodiversity. Finally, the peat bog was granted Regional Nature Reserve status in 2013, providing the site’s managers with greater financial and human resources.

    Through environmentally responsible management, the reserve thus helps to protect this exceptional natural heritage whilst promoting a harmonious coexistence between human activities and nature.

    Natura 2000
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    Natura 2000

    Rnr Aura logo
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    Rnr Aura logo

    A resort with the ‘Flocon Vert’ label

    Logo Flocon Vert 1 Flocon
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    Logo Flocon Vert 1 Flocon

    The Saisies area was awarded the Flocon Vert label on Friday 24 November 2023, the result of several months’ work led by a group of stakeholders ensuring seamless coordination for the benefit of the area:

    · the SIVOM des Saisies: a multi-purpose inter-municipal association comprising three municipalities (Hauteluce, Villard-sur-Doron and Crest-Voland). It is responsible, in particular, for tourism development.

    · the municipalities of Hauteluce and Villard-sur-Doron, responsible for their respective municipal remit,

    · SAEM Les Saisies Villages Tourisme: a private company responsible for the resort’s tourism management (Tourist Office, communications, and tourism, sports and leisure facilities and infrastructure, such as the Le SIGNAL aquatic centre),

    · SPL Domaines Skiables des Saisies: manager of the alpine and Nordic ski areas, footpaths and snowshoe trails during the winter season, and intra-resort shuttle services, as well as related activities such as the bike park, the Mountain Twister and the Parc des Elfes.

    The Flocon Vert label was created in 2011 by the Mountain Riders association to support mountain resorts in adopting more environmentally responsible practices. The label is awarded based on compliance with criteria divided into four categories: the local economy; social and cultural aspects; governance and the destination; and the environment and natural resources.

    Being awarded the Flocon Vert label enables the Les Saisies region to draw up its roadmap and identify its strengths and areas for potential improvement. This approach also brings together all the region’s stakeholders to actively involve them in a sustainable development strategy at the destination level.

    The process does not end once the label has been awarded; on the contrary, it is only just beginning! The region is committed to long-term initiatives.

    In the face of today’s climate and societal challenges, we have decided to roll up our sleeves and take action, drawing on the Flocon Vert label to draw up our roadmap.

    From this assessment, it became clear that we are collectively committed.

    A roadmap drawn up

    An action plan has already been drawn up to take our commitment a step further, with the guiding principle of remaining true to our values (authenticity, friendliness, family spirit, respect for nature) whilst continuing to innovate.

    The first key initiative we have undertaken is the completion of our carbon footprint assessment across the region, in accordance with the methodology set out by ADEME and covering all three scopes. The carbon footprint assessment enables us to scientifically measure the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the region’s main activities. This has therefore given us a deeper understanding of our environmental impact, allowing us to adjust our actions accordingly. The results have been standardised to a ‘skier-day’ to measure the impact of tourism activity.

    We also take into account the travel patterns of our guests, as well as those of workers and local residents.

    And what about you? Would you like to find out your carbon footprint? impactco2.fr

    Flake
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    Flake

    Flocon0
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    Flocon0

     Carbon footprint of Les Saisies, Villard-sur-Doron and Hauteluce
     Carbon footprint of Les Saisies, Villard-sur-Doron and Hauteluce

    Among the other actions identified in our roadmap, the first is the completion of our own carbon footprint assessment at regional level, which will give us a more in-depth understanding of our environmental impacts so that we can adjust our actions accordingly.

    We will also be introducing acharter for committed stakeholders toraise awareness, bring together and promote the destination’s professional stakeholders (restaurateurs, accommodation providers, activity organisers, etc.) who wish to adopt an ecological, sustainable and socially responsible approach.

    We will encouragesoft mobility through the continuous improvement of transport within the destination via the shuttle bus system.

    We will step up the promotion of unadvertised tourist accommodation, the impact of whichon the local area is primarily economic.

    And other challenges as we work together to build the Les Saisies of tomorrow and look to the future with a smile.

    #happyaltitude