Stéphane Patry

In an educational way, he also makes school groups and visitors aware of the regulations in place to protect natural areas. For him, “It is important to be able to explain this in a way that people find interesting. If we are to safeguard ecosystems, we must be aware of how to use them moderately”. As part of his role in development, he is in charge of ensuring the footpaths are safe, marked-out and can be used. It is very important for him to be able to take a step back, and put himself in the shoes of the walkers. This helps him to ensure the quality of the facilities and ensure they are suitable for public use. “When I go walking, I pretend I don’t know the area. I explore the footpaths to try to understand and figure out what people might expect from this area”.
This critical stance allows him to see what might otherwise be overlooked. The fascinating biodiversity of the Vuache is a real treasure and every walk is amazing. Above-all, Stéphane enjoys meeting people, chatting to them and sharing knowledge. For the past 22 years, Stéphane has been working on building a strong connection with the locals and local authorities.
He has spent a lot of time with Jacques Bordon (renowned naturalist in Haute-Savoie) and much of his knowledge and passion was passed on from him. Every day, he draws inspiration from his passion for the mountains and his fondness for the local people who are so deeply attached to their region.

A priority for him today is to raise awareness and safeguard the Vuache. The Vuache is listed as a remarkable site of Haute-Savoie, is classified a NATURA 2000 site and a Sensitive Natural Area for its biodiversity. He works hard to share and pass on his respect for the area, for the fascinating wealth of the natural, cultural and rural heritage here. “Exploring the Vuache is discovering the very heart of nature”.