Ceremony for ERA’s ECO Award 2012

ERA’s ECO Award 2012 goes to the Club Vosgien Vallée de St-Amarin (CVSA) for its action in favour of the protection and preservation of the biotop and the flora as well as the improvement of the walking trails on top of the Grand Ballon (with 1,424 m highest elevation of the Vosges/France). The prize was handed over on November 10, 2012 by Armand Ducornet, vice-president of ERA, and Marcel Grandjean, chairman of the walking commission, in presence of many volunteers who helped in the realization of the action.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the local association, the umbrella federation Club Vosgien, the regional natural park Ballons des Vosges and the president and the mayors of the mixed syndicat Markstein-Grand Ballon. Y. Godard, president of the Club Vosgien Vallée de St-Amarin, thanked ERA for the distinction his association got by receiving the prize. J. Peter as project leader summerized the history of this exemplary action. Ph. Girardin, president of the regional natural park Ballons des Vosges, pointed out the excellent teamwork that prevailed during the realization. J.M. Parment, vice-president of the umbrella federation Club Vosgien, reminded that the protection of the nature has been for a long time one of the main preoccupations of his association. The construction management was assured by the mixed syndicat Markstein-Grand Ballon und its president, J.J. Weber, emphasized the importance of this initiative for the highest summit of the Vosges. This success was only possible thanks to the contributions made by public and associative institutions.

A. Ducornet brought the greetings and congratulations of ERA president Lis Nielsen. He thanked once again all voluntary members of the Club Vosgien Vallée de St-Amarin for their engagement in the action. He also made a short presentation of ERA and its roots in Europe. He promised the CV St-Amarin that ERA will – on her homepage – call the readers’ attention to the great work accomplished here. At the same time, this will promote the Grand Ballon as ideal excursion and walking destination. Finally, he reminded that the award of this prize was only made possible thanks to the support of ERA’s partner, the Enterprise Foundation GDF SUEZ. M. Grandjean explained in a few words why the action of the CV St-Amarin had been chosen by the jury of the “Eco Award” by unanimous vote to be the winter for 2012. It corresponded exactly to the selection criteria set in the call for tenders.

An Alsace wine tasting set a final highlight to this ceremony held in a friendly atmosphere despite of a November storm raging around the guesthouse.

Information boards on the different trails leading visitors to the summit of the Grand Ballon will be placed to certify that CV St-Amarin has won ERA’s Eco Award 2012.