Faced with change in the mountains, the role of partnership chairs

At a time of climate change and changes in mountain practices, many areas of human activity are being put to the test of transition. Some of these are the focus of special attention through partnership chairs supported by the Grenoble Alpes and Savoie Mont Blanc university foundations, and backed by Labex ITTEM.

The impact of tourism in the mountains, the management of alpine forests and the development of common landholdings in rural areas are all subjects that are topical in the mountains today, and provide a fertile ground for research.

How can tourism in mountain areas be reconciled with the preservation of resources, the protection of biodiversity and the year-round life of their inhabitants?
How do players in the forestry and timber industry cope with threats such as fires, storms and pest attacks, while at the same time meeting the economic and social expectations raised by forests?
How can we breathe new life into an ancestral system of collective land ownership, often little-known, but seen as a relevant response to the demands of ecological transition?

Initially formulated by researchers working within Labex ITTEM, these questions are now being investigated as part of large-scale projects embodied by three partnership chairs – headed by Dominique Kreziak, Mikaël Chambru, Jean-François Joye and Olivier Chavanon – bringing together scientists and socio-economic players to address key societal issues.

Ultimately, these chairs aim to produce new knowledge capable of accompanying the changes underway. They are offering several events to share the results of this research.

• Sustainable Tourism” Chair:
  On September 9, 2025, a restitution of the results was organized on the Jacob Bellecombette campus of Université Savoie Mont Blanc. Mountain Change Makers recently interviewed Dominique Kreziak for its Sound of Change podcast on the role of research in the transition of mountain regions.
• Alpine Forests in Transition” Chair:
  The Alpine Forests and Ecological Transition study day was held on September 30, 2025 at Grenoble Alpes Métropole headquarters.
• Valcom – Valuing the land commons” Chair:
  On October 17, 2025, the Senate (Paris) will host the study day entitled Les communs fonciers enfin accueillis par la puissance publique ?

To find out more, visit the page dedicated to partnership chairs on the Labex ITTEM website.