Forests are the lifeguards of the snowy peaks of the Alps. They provide a

natural barrier against avalanches and landslides, but the skiing industry, which

proved a boon for poor Alpine farmers, is damaging the environment. Forests have

been felled to make way for more ski runs, car parks, and hotels, and Alpine

meadows have been abandoned by farmers keen to exploit tourism. Consequently,

the avalanche has now become a common phenomenon. Forestry experts estimate

that two-thirds of the several thousand avalanches that descend into inhabited parts

each year are the result of forest depletion.

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