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UIAA launches 2023 Mountain Protection Award

07.03.2023

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA), a member of the Mountain Partnership, has launched the 2023 Mountain Protection Award (MPA). Created in 2013, the MPA celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year. 

Across its past nine editions, the MPA has showcased over 150 sustainability initiatives in over 50 countries. Each year one project is selected as the award winner, receiving both prize money and recognition through the UIAA's international climbing and mountaineering network. The nine past recipients of the MPA have come from nine different countries including projects from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. These have included earthquake disaster recovery programmes, wildlife conservation initiatives, clean-up campaigns on Everest and projects which engage students and young people into mountain protection.

"The UIAA MPA marks a tenth year anniversary this year, which offers a great opportunity to reflect on the sustaining impact and value that such platforms offer in showcasing and rewarding real mountain protection action on the ground," said Carolina Adler, UIAA Mountain Protection Commission President.

Submissions come from all corners of the world and focus on diverse topics such as those which directly study and mitigate the impacts of climate change, others focused on the protection of rare flora and fauna and projects which have sustainable tourism and engaging local communities at their heart. What unites all projects is that they are located in mountain regions, that they directly engage climbers and mountaineers as part of their solutions and seek to raise awareness about the diverse threats facing the future of the mountain environment.

The application for the 2023 Award is now open. Before completing the application form, it is important all candidates read the Application Guidelines. The application process closes on 15 May. Nominated projects will be confirmed in July 2023 and profiled between then and the announcement of the winner at the UIAA General Assembly in Trabzon, Turkey on 21 October.

Visit the Mountain Protection Award page

News and photo by UIAA