Boris Molinier 5386As part of the ecological and cultural fabric of Saint-Gervais-Mont-Blanc, our valued partner farmers are the guardians of mountain life and tradition. Their sustainable practices and commitment to quality nourish both the landscape and our taste buds, creating a harmonious link between nature and our table.
Good management of water resources is a major issue in Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, between climate change, energy production and local food supply…
In the mountains, and particularly in Saint-Gervais, the environment has a direct impact on water management, little visible because well-integrated, irrigation infrastructures ensure water supply whatever the specificities of the terrain.
Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc makes a point of strengthening mountain agriculture by reinvigorating pastoral activity and life in the mountain pastures. By supporting young farmers as they set up dairy farms in the mountains, while at the same time pursuing a policy of buying up local farmland, the commune of Saint-Gervais invests in mountain pastures in order to preserve this unique and fragile resource, which certainly benefits farmers and the local economy, but also wildlife, tourism and the environment.
It’s a fact: the wolf is back, and its presence is having a serious impact on the countryside, pastoralism and tourism. The confirmed return of the large predator is already jeopardizing an entire section of the Commune’s agropastoral activity, causing sheep breeders to flee or give up. The immediate effects are detrimental to the development of agriculture in Saint-Gervais, but worse are the medium-term consequences for mountain development and the sustainability of the alpine pastures, since if they are no longer exploited, they will become wastelands and no one will clear the brush instead of the sheep and large herbivores: the forest will take over, effectively preventing the installation of new breeders.
The overgrowth of alpine pastures will hinder the development of tourism and render certain areas of the ski area unusable. Faced with this problem, the town of Saint-Gervais is strongly committed to supporting pastoralism on its territory. One response to the return of the wolf is the presence of guard dogs among the herds. These dogs, often patous, can pose a few difficulties for those who frequent the mountains. To improve cohabitation between the activities of breeders and outdoor enthusiasts, a few instructions
should be followed when approaching a herd.
.
Each year, at the end of the summer season, the town of Saint-Gervais organizes the traditional “alpages tour” to meet farmers and exchange views with them in the field. This visit is an opportunity for the commune to adapt to farmers’ projects and invest in the mountain pastures in an intelligent way. Numerous facilities for alp farmers have been created, including:
