The objective of SLOPE is to enhance understanding of the relationship between skiing and biodiversity, while simultaneously promoting management capacity and biodiversity conservation practices among national and international ski organizations. The project supports the integration of biodiversity management into governance frameworks and sustainability strategies, ensuring that winter sports organizations adopt effective measures to reduce their environmental footprint.

By engaging major ski federations — including the French Ski Federation (FSF), the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF), and the Estonian Ski Association (ESA) — and in collaboration with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), SLOPE promotes a systematic approach to biodiversity management at both the organizational and event levels.

The project focuses on three distinct skiing ecosystems: the high alpine mountains of France, the boreal plains of Estonia, and the subarctic fjord mountains of Norway. This geographical diversity enables a comprehensive assessment of the risks and pressures affecting biodiversity across diverse natural environments.

SLOPE is structured around three main pillars:

• Biodiversity Assessment, encompassing the analysis of the environmental impacts of skiing, related risks and opportunities, the development of a biodiversity Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboard, the examination of challenges across the supply chain, and the identification of best practices.

• Implementation of Biodiversity Actions, aimed at supporting ski federations in integrating biodiversity strategies into governance structures, testing mitigation measures, improving product traceability, and adapting assessment tools to the specific needs of ski organizations.

• Capacity Building and Dissemination, designed to strengthen the knowledge and awareness of ski professionals, athletes, and stakeholders through training courses, webinars, awareness campaigns, and digital initiatives.

Partnership

• Fédération Française de Ski (Coordinator, France)
• Scuola Superiore di Studi Universitari e di Perfezionamento Sant’Anna (Italy)
• Norges Skiforbund (Norway)
• Estonian Ski Association (Estonia)
• Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre (Estonia)
• In collaboration with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS)

_{Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.}