It is extremely easy to forget the impact skiing has on mountain environments. Most people believe that the only effect they have on the environment in mountainous regions is the tracks left by their skis in the snow. However, there is clear evidence that skiing has both a social and, more obviously, an environmental impact that influences the natural environment. Some experts on the Alpine region suggest that tourists directly affect more than half of the entire Alpine surface. It can therefore be said that the Alps are today one of the most threatened mountain ecosystems on Earth. This view was further supported by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, president of Geneva-based Alp Action, which works to preserve and restore alpine habitat, stating that "tourists have simply transported the city's problems to 6,500 feet ". Most ski slopes are located on the sides of large, rugged mountains, and the process of deforestation is necessary to create downhill ski slopes. Deforestation can lead to the displacement of natural habitats of resident birds and cause increased surface runoff from meltwater that flows down from mountains once the snow has melted in the summer months. The problem of surface runoff is further aggravated by the modification of the slope of the slope to make it accessible to skiers. This allows the melt water to flow more quickly and ensures that the melt water comes into contact with few obstacles that can eventually lead to landslides. Other wildlife such as ibex, snow hare and red deer are also affected by deforestation and slope alteration. Wildlife is initially impacted by development and expansion of ski slopes...... middle of paper ......m/environment/environmental-impact-of-skiing.htmhttp://www.independent .co. uk/environment/is-it-possible-to-ski-without-ruining-the-environment-465772.htmlhttp://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/copy102162.htmhttp://www.surfrider.org/snowrider/ Barilotti2.htmhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2006/may/20/ecotourism.guardiansaturdaytravelsection?page=allhttp://alpsknowhow.cipra.org/ background_topics/urban_rural_areas/urban_rural_areas_%20introduction.htmlhttp:// alpsknowhow.cipra.org/ background_topics/alps_and_tourism/alps_and_tourism_chapter_introduction.htmlhttp://www.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/alps/news/?64940/Tourism-in-the-Alps-hard-choices-aheadhttp://www .panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/alps/news/?164742/Sustainable-holidays-in-the-Alpshttp://www.tkk.fi/Yksikot/YKS/fin/opetus/kurssit/ysss/arkisto/arkisto_0203/ zehetner.pdf