Fontainebleau: an appeal to all friends of the forest

For all climbers the forest of Fontainebleau on the outskirts of Paris is world-famous for its unique, stellar bouldering but the 25000 hectare land also offers a unique natural playground for other outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, horse riding, orienteering and much more. The importance of this forest is second-to-none and over the years a successful working relationship between various associations representing these sports and the Seine and Marne prefecture which manages the land has ensured that interests of all parties have been taken into consideration.

This important dialogue may soon change: last November the Seine et Marne prefecture surprised everyone by announcing it would exclude all sports associations from the forest management committee, meaning that the interest of climbers - and other outdoor enthusiasts - may no longer be heard.

The BLO Bleau libre organisation has taken action against this decision and, together with a series of other associations (which include COSIROC, the Comité de Défense des Sites et Rochers d'Escalade and the regional committee of the FFME, the French Climbing Federation), has urgently asked for this decision to be reconsidered. In the hope that this appeal results in constructive dialogue, all climbers are asked to contribute by signing the online petition www.avaaz.org