Internet saving the Fitz Roy massif

The Fitz Roy massif will remain public property and should be declared a Provincial Natural Monument.

April 2000

We have received fresh news about the possible privatisation of the Fitz Roy massif. It was sent to us by the Italian journalist Antonella Cicogna and is accompanied by a letter by Rolando Garibotti, in which the Argentine mountaineer reports about the current situation and thanks those who have answered his call to protect the area.
We would like to inform those who do not know about the Fitz Roy problem that it was highlighted in our previous news dated 22/01/2000.

Thanks to the numerous letters of protest the area will remain in public hands and should be declared a Provincial Natural Monument. But those who have not yet written should not hesitate. The many emails sent already have brought their rewards. The news about the possible privatisation of the Fitz Roy area, spread via the web, and the resulting mobilisation of all those who love this land, is contributing in saving the area. According to the latest information by Rolando Garibotti, the area in danger of being privatised should be declared a Provincial Natural Monument, which would guarantee it the highest conservation status possible.

Antonella Cicogna

The letter by Rolando 'Rolo' Garibotti:

The Provincial Deputy Oscar Bellini (Av. Libertador, 1888, 9405 Calafate, Pcia. de Santa Cruz, Fax: 02902-493129) presented a proposal to the Provincial Legislative Chamber to create a law that would declare the Lot Fiscal 071 2906 a Provincial Natural Monument.

The project was given to three Commissions of the Chamber to be evaluated before it is presented to the Chamber itself for voting.

The Commissions of Natural Resources and Education have already approved the proposal, but we are still waiting for a response from the Commission of Legal Affairs before it is voted on.

The situation is certainly very positive. The requests for permission to occupy this land have been declined, which means that this land will remain in public hands.

The proposal presented to the Chamber is to declare the Lot a Provincial Natural Monument which is the highest possible conservation status, ensuring that this land will be protected as the National Park it borders, in the present and in the future. It is a possibility that the Legislature will decide on a lesser category, which would not be satisfactory.

This whole process has been extremely efficient thanks to the fact that it involves just one Lot which has already been surveyed and has not been transferred from the public domain as was originally feared.

It has also been extremely important and helpful that so many of you have voiced your concerns and have taken the time to write to the Governor. Without this the issue would not have been given so much importance.

So to those who wrote letters many thanks, to those who haven’t, please do so as there are still issues to be resolved.

We hope that it will not be long until this proposed Law is approved. We will forward any information as soon as it comes to us. I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns that any of you might have.

Rolando Garibotti

rgaribotti@aol.com

The Fitz Roy massif will remain public property and should be declared a Provincial Natural Monument.

Antonella Cicogna

Journalist and Press Office Director for the internationally renowned Italian Film Festival di Trento, Antonella Cicogna is also on the Editorial Board of the Rivista della Montagna and Italian correspondent for American Alpine Journal, for which she reported on Tomaz Humar’s 1996 feat in detail.

Her articles have appeared in many international magazines including:
Climbing (USA), Desnivel (Spain), Vertical and Alpinisme & RandonnÃ©e
(France), Klettern and DAV (Germany), Alp, No Limits World and La Rivista della Montagna (Italy).