In reply to TobyA:
This is a good read too..
http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/roctrip-argentina/site-description
Conservation and archeology: The Petzl Foundation's commitment
The La Buitrera canyon is a fragile zone that needs to be protected; car traffic, domestic animals and fires are forbidden. There is rich fauna and flora in the sheltered areas. You will undoubtedly come across families of chinchiyon, a wild rabbit with a long tail and powerful claws. He likes to position himself on top of a boulder to observe traffic, but one false move will make him run into the cliff at lightning speed! You may notice small lamas in the area, or a wild guanaco, or more rarely, a herd of nandus, small wild ostriches. Although always invisible, the puma still populates this wild place...
This exceptional site merited a visit by the Petzl Foundation, to encourage the development of a crag where the climbing is respectful of the environment and history of the site.
The goal is to focus on the balance between practice and conservation. Supporting development of tourism in the broad sense, while respecting historical, heritage and environmental elements, is part of The Foundation's role. So its mission here has been directed to three major areas:
Supporting the political process that will guarantee access to climbing crags, which are located on protected land, while protecting the environment.
Helping protect the archaeological site in the La Buitrera Canyon. The rock shelter, located outside the river's flood zone, served as a dwelling for the area's first inhabitants some five to ten thousand years ago. Although important discoveries have been made at the digs, the site is presently not protected, in particular from animals seeking shelter from the rain.
The Foundation will help implement protection and distribute information on the digs. On the other hand, some climbing routes were too close to the archaeological site, and the footsteps of climbers could have compromised future research. In agreement with the archaeologists, these routes were taken down and will no longer be climbed. These agreements thus defined a climbable zone. This way it was possible to keep the first historical routes, like Mickey Mouse, left of the cave's entrance. Win-win negotiations!
Contributing to an better welcome for climbers. Presently, the campground near the canyon has no infrastructure. The Foundation will participate in creating a sustainable set-up that is respectful of the environment (dry toilets, for example), while the owner of the campground will provide a better welcome for visitors.
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This is very similar to when I was living Bishop.
A once obscure area that suddenly became popular (I was something to do with that but not the only one)....... through the internet, magazines, guidebooks, word-of-mouth.
First thing we did before any publicity.... we contacted the Bureau of land Management and worked with them in advance of publicity to deal with sanitation, trail, camping, flora and fauna and archeological concerns; developed a code of practice, built a new campsite, did trail work, only publicised certain areas, fundraisers, climber days etc...
It has worked quite well.
Mick