After the French students showed us the impressive school building, we were welcomed warmly by the team of the headmaster and his two deputies. Thanks to a short “petit dejéuner” with croissants and pain au chocolat we had enough power for the presentations of our schools and our tasks we’re working on in multinational mixed teams this week:
- Waste management
- Protection of sensitive natural areas
- Development of new forms of tourism
- Transportation
- Development of forests and mountain pastures
- Hazards & risks management
After lunch in the school canteen we had a short walk to town hall, where we had a reception by the mayor of Ambérieu-en-Bugey. We learned some interesting facts about the city and the region and now it is quite clear to all of us why we meet the little prince at every turn in this area.
The first “external input” was given by a presentation about the Plateau d’Hautville by Yann Cruiziat, who was the mayor of this area between 2008 and 2014. In this period he took care of a skiing area in the Plateau d’Hautville belonging to the department de l’Ain. But there were problems. Every 30 years, they had to fix the ski area, which cost a lot. The town didn’t have enough money, and not many people bought ski passes. New security rules required expensive measures, straining the budget further. Despite efforts to maintain winter activities, dwindling snowfall became a problem. In 2010, a decision had to be made: invest more or close the slopes. Eventually, a project transformed the site into a year-round destination, with biking in summer and various activities. What a good idea! Unfortunately, after 2014, new political parties brought changes and investments, including snow cannons. What a bad idea! But challenges has persisted, with decreasing snowfall due to climate change. It remains exciting to see how the region will develop in the future, and it is hoped that politicians will make more sustainable decisions in the future.
