Other links about IYM 2002 : All events in the world
International Year of Mountains
PRESS COMMUNIQUE, 1st February 2002
Participation to the inaugural ceremony in Chambéry, the 1st February
EQUESTRIAN MEETING IN THE PYRENEES MOUNTAINS
21-29 SEPTEMBER 2002
Chartre Pyrénéenne de l’Ecotourisme Équestre d’Altitude
Within the context of the International Year of Mountains led by the U.N.E.S.C.O, the Bureau des Guides Équestres Transpyrénéens (B.G.E.T) organise an equestrian meeting at high altitudes.
The B.G.E.T,
(Bureau des Guides Équestres Transpyrénéens)
a non-governmental organisation, created in 1998, has the aim to "create, secure, develop equestrian paths in the Pyrénées mountains. This association gathers altitude equestrian tourism professionals, working both in France and Spain, and who want to promote and protect the Pyrénées' natural heritage." (extract from the J.O of February 1999)
Since its creation, this association has been working on international altitude equestrian ecotourism development. In this context, the association's members passed in April 2000 the Charter of Altitude
Equestrian Ecotourism in the Pyrénées mountains.
That meeting will take place during the French national week for horses (21-29 September 2002, dates to be confirmed by the horse riding French federation
Fédération
Française d’Équitation). So it won't be a day "open-doors" but "open-mountains"
!
During this event, the trans-Pyreneans guides will welcome for some days of organised bivouac at high altitudes every amateurs interested by the project. This meeting has the goal to make citizens get in touch with mountains inhabitants,
from France, Spain or even other countries.
There conferences and animations will be organised, with themes such
as :
Making people sensitive to their natural environment;
with the National Office for Forest.
Office
National des Forêts
Presentation and use of renewable energies for electricity production in refuges, cabins, equiped bivouac areas; by the association
"Phébus"
Information about sustainable development in mountain areas, promotion of a tourism respectful of the environment and based on a local network of skills (technical and human means, traditional resources,...). This conference will be led with the partnership of A.R.P.E Midi-Pyrénées (Regional association for the environment)
Education
: the idea of sustainable development pass necessarily by future professional's training. That's why students and teachers of the
L.E.P.A.P
school of Vaxergues, Saint-Affrique (Aveyron, France) will take part in that meeting.
Security of trekkers and rescuers in mountain areas, thanks to the use of modern communication means by satellite
Promotion of
Pyrenean horses, donkeys,...: presentation of Mérens and Castillon horses, natives from Ariège (French Pyrénées), donkeys and mules from the Pyrénées, all official races according to national stud farms
(Haras
Nationaux). The aim is to help for economic viability for mountain agricultural businesses, and to remind the essential role of breeding to maintain natural areas
Presentation of equestrian trekking paths, both from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea and between France and Spain, with the will of european co-operation; by professionals from the Compania de los Guidas Ecuestres Transpirenaicos (CGET), from the BGET and from the
Sentiers Transfrontaliers Pyrénéens
.
Discovery of Pyrenean identities, in order to promote local human heritage: traditional music, tales and legends;
with the "Atelier Pyrénéen".
Atelier
Pyrénéen du Patrimoine
Exhibition about historic relationship between French and Spanish Pyrénées: flocks, contraband, mines, freedom routes,... and about the future of such relationship.
Initiation to astronomy at high altitudes on occasion of autumnal equinox: sky, moon and planets observation. Telescope
on station.
Other partners have been contacted, this page will be brought up to date according to participation agreements.
The place(s) of the meeting are not decided yet.
This project was accepted by the French National Committee AIM 2002 on 17th January 2002. The secretarial work is made by the DATAR.
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