March 5, 2010
Stowe earns sustainable certification
by PR Wire Report/
Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont has earned the Sustainable Community Certification from Audubon International, becoming the first ski resort in the U.S. to merit this environmental achievement.
Members of Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program are eligible for certification, which recognizes dedication to the process of becoming a more sustainable community and beginning to act on a sustainability plan. The plan covers 15 focus areas, and members must choose timelines and measurable goals. Once progress is documented, members become certified.
Among Stowe Mountain Resort’s accomplishments include:
► Food sourcing – Stowe supports local farmers and community supported agriculture in food operations resort wide and the local economy by reducing reliance on food that increases the carbon footprint of the resort by using local products whenever possible.
► Rural heritage – To maintain the ‘look and feel’ of Mount Mansfield and the Smugglers Notch region, Stowe Mountain Resort has worked with Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, Vermont Dept. of Forests, Parks & Recreation, and Audubon International to utilize only a small percentage of available land in its development efforts.
► Outreach and education – In 2009, Stowe established an Environmental Advisory Committee to assist the resort’s planning director with the identification of potential additional environmental actions.
► Environment and wildlife – Through partnerships with the Vermont Agency Natural Resources, The University of Vermont, and the Green Mountain Club, the ridgeline of Mount Mansfield is managed and used for research by the university environmental professors and students.
► Water quality – Stowe has seen annual improvements in the water quality of its streams and conducts quarterly monitoring of selected stream segments.
Other areas of focus Stowe was recognized for include economic development and tourism, energy and resource use efficiency, transportation and waste reduction.
Audubon Members maintain their certification in the Sustainable Communities Program by demonstrating continuous progress towards goals in the plan under 15 focus areas complete with a detailed set of sustainability indicators.
For more information about sustainable community efforts, visit http://www.auduboninternational.org or http://www.sustainablecommunityinitiative.org.
