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Alpenbahnen GmbH

Nature and ecology

The unrivalled nature of the Alps is what makes our summer and winter sports region so unique and special. We live from and with nature, so it is in our own interest to preserve our marvellous landscape.

Sustainability is therefore a central guideline for our actions and decisions. In addition to ecological sustainability, we also focus on social and economic sustainability.

And: Our guests can also contribute! By visiting us as a nearby area rather than travelling further afield - and ideally by travelling to us by public transport.

Facts and figures on the eco-balance of ski resorts

BRB_Flirt_Alstom_SkiKombiTicket_Photographer BildschnittTV

Facts and figures on the eco-balance of ski resorts

Surface area
One of the main criticisms we have to deal with is the accusation that skiing has a potentially negative impact on the environment. Of course, ski slopes have an impact on the mountains and nature - but only a fraction of the Bavarian Alps are ski slopes.

  • Only 0.8% of the Bavarian Alps are part of a ski area (source: VDS)
  • A comparison of sizes: Around 3700 hectares are ski slopes in the Bavarian Alps, while the Munich city area is 31,070 hectares in size. (Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung)



Energy consumption
The operation of ski lifts and technical snowmaking also consume less energy than is generally assumed.

  • The total energy requirement for the operation of lifts and technical snowmaking in Bavarian ski resorts is 42.5 GWh. The annual standby losses in German households, for example, are 10,000 GWh. (Source: VDS)

A comparison by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber puts skiing in relation to other activities:

  • 1 day skiing/person = 23 km journey by middle-class car
  • 7 days skiing/person = 0.5 hours jet skiing/person
  • 1 month skiing/person = flight from Vienna to Mallorca/person
  • 351 skiing /person = cruise from Hamburg to New York/person

Positive effects of snowmaking

Snowmaking is often reduced purely to its energy consumption. The positive effects are often completely ignored. A stable, closed snow cover in the winter months is an important factor in the mountain ecosystem, which is supported by technical snowmaking.

  • A sufficiently thick snow cover due to snowmaking protects the vegetation from damage, e.g. from frost and erosion
  • A snow cover that remains closed for several months enriches the alpine meadow with water in the long term. Unique plants and animals can colonise these saturated meadows in spring and summer.
  • Storage ponds balance the water balance. Mountain lakes and water reservoirs fill up naturally in months of high precipitation. Periods of heavy rainfall can thus be balanced out, as can periods of drought. As the snow melts, the water returns to the natural cycle

Our concrete measures