Mountaineering incidents in France: analysis of search and rescue interventions on a 10-year period(from 2008 to 2018)

In Europe and especially in France,there is a growing enthusiasm for outdoor sports and recreation.In the meantime,the risk of both severe and frequent injuries associated with active pursuits is acknowledged,especially in mountainous areas.The effectiveness of prevention must rely on detailed knowledge of typical circumstances and scenarios but thorough understanding of the mechanisms of accidentality remains limited by the fragmentation of sources and by mostly heterogeneous methodologies.This paper aims at giving insights on victims’profiles,season,location,and circumstances of mountaineering accidents in the French Alps,through the study of rescue interventions data from 2008 to 2018.Thanks to the analysis of the exhaustive database of search and rescue interventions from the French mountain national police force,and while questioning its limitations,we strive to answer two questions:what are the characteristics of the hazardous situations leading to a rescue intervention in mountaineering?Among these situations,what are the characteristics that tend to make them more harmful?

Concept of the integrative aspects of the forest ecosystem services with case study on recreation services assessment in Slovakia

Introduction:This paper presents basic information on the research,classification,and application of the functions of tree species and their communities(mainly forest)in Slovakia.The main aim is a scientific assessment of acquired knowledge regarding the functional effects of forests under real ecological,forest management and socio-economic conditions from various regions in Slovakia;the most up-to-date findings concerning the ecology and economics of natural resources will be applied here.The second part of the paper presents methodological possibilities for valuation of outdoor recreation in forests.Different methods and methodological approaches suitable to a valuation of recreation based on various principles and criteria(preference and non-preference methods,cost-based methods,revenue-based methods,and direct and indirect methods)are analyzed.A practical application of one indirect preference method(travel cost method)is made to evaluate outdoor recreation in forests in Slovakia.Results and conclusions:A new classification system and a methodology of integrative utilization of forest functions for the forest ecosystem services are constructed.Outdoor recreation in forests,besides recreational forests and areas,assumes the character of a public good:its use by individuals has some influence on utilization by other individuals,and single users cannot be excluded from its utilization.Therefore,some stimulation for its production is missing.In principle,there are no markets for these kinds of public goods and services.The total value of outdoor recreation in forests in Slovakia amounted to€163.4 million;if opportunity time costs were included,this amounted to as much as€825.7 million.