Preserving biodiversity & natural areas

Since 2020, an Environmental Observatory — created with the independent consultancy EPODE — has enabled us to closely monitor the evolution of local wildlife, plant life, and natural environments.

This tool helps us anticipate, measure, and minimize the impact of current and future projects, especially when creating new slopes or installing new lifts.

Biodiversity: a key priority

Each year, the Valmorel Ski Area invests in ecological monitoring, before and after construction work, to guide decisions.

Thanks to this fieldwork, the following species have been identified:

94 protected bird species
2 protected mammal species (excluding bats)
1 amphibian species and 3 protected/restricted reptile species
1 protected plant species

Concrete Actions to Protect Local Wildlife

Protection of alpine brown frogs: installation of safety nets during construction in their habitats.
Installation of 4 bird nests in partnership with the LPO (French Bird Protection League) on administrative and technical buildings.
100% of high-risk cables on ski lifts now feature special markers to prevent bird collisions.

Dispositif prévention collision galliformes

Concrete Actions to Preserve Flora

Limiting soil artificialisation: every square meter of impacted land must be compensated with an equivalent action benefiting nature: revegetation, habitat restoration, buffer zone creation… Goal for 2030: 1 m² impacted = 1 m² restored
Rethinking revegetation practices: Since 2015, we systematically revegetate grassy or alpine areas affected by work. Each summer, several hectares are restored using local alpine seeds, supporting natural regrowth and avoiding invasive species.

Summer 2025 figures:

12 ha hectares restored

Valmorel x ONF: A Partnership for Forest Ecosystems

In 2024, Valmorel worked with France’s National Forestry Office (ONF) on a sustainable forest-management program. Funded with €13,000, the project included reforestation work and brush clearing. Together, ONF and Valmorel created nearly 100 regeneration islands on treated deadwood across 2 hectares, helping spruce seeds sprout naturally.

Spotlight on Wetland Protection

Mountain wetlands play a crucial role in environmental balance. On the Valmorel Ski Area, we count 62 wetlands to protect.

Why Are Wetlands Important?

Natural sponges:
they absorb excess water during rain or snowmelt and release it slowly in dry periods — maintaining water flow in summer.
Natural filters:
wetland soils trap pollutants, helping maintain water quality.
Carbon storage:
wetlands are major carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon in their soils.
Biodiversity hotspots:
many rare or threatened species depend on wetlands to survive.

Rousse Frog

Amphibian protection device

How Do We Protect Them?

We restore impacted wetlands by reintroducing natural vegetation and limiting drainage.
Each project is carefully reviewed to minimize potential impacts.
All working machinery uses precise maps showing wetland locations to prevent accidental disturbance.

By understanding their importance and explaining it clearly to everyone, we can better protect these invisible but vital “hearts” of the mountain.