The Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) was founded in November 2004. It was decided at the meeting that all mountain leader associations would be awarded the same

carnet CARNET (Croatian Academic and Research Network, ) is the national research and education network of Croatia. It is funded from the government budget and it operates from offices in Zagreb and five other cities. CARNET was established in 1991 as ...

and

badge A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fir ...

giving an internationally recognised

identity Identity may refer to: * Identity document * Identity (philosophy) * Identity (social science) * Identity (mathematics) Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Identity'' (1987 film), an Iranian film * ''Identity'' (2003 film), an ...

. It also paves the way for other countries from around the world to join UIMLA setting a world standard for mountain leaders. The principal aims of UIMLA are: * To promote the profession of International Mountain Leader (IML) and to reinforce its identity beyond

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

; * To develop relationships between the professionals of various nationalities and to take part in the evolution of the IML training and qualifications; * To represent the profession at a European and international level. The UIMLA International Mountain Leader and the

IFMGA The ''Union Internationale des Associations de Guides de Montagnes'' is the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations, known alternatively by its French, German and English abbreviations: UIAGM, Union Internationale des Associ ...

Mountain Guide are the only internationally recognised qualifications for those leading groups in the mountains. The International Mountain Leader Award is the professional qualification for individuals who wish to lead

trekking Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain hu ...

parties to all mountain areas,

summer Summer or summertime is the hottest and brightest of the four temperate seasons, occurring after spring and before autumn. At or centred on the summer solstice, daylight hours are the longest and darkness hours are the shortest, with day ...

and

winter Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Dif ...

, where the techniques or equipment of

alpinism Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas that have become mounta ...

are not required. On successful completion of the full training and assessment programme, and by belonging to their recognised National Body, the individual will gain the full IML Award, a professional Carnet and Internationally recognised badge, giving them comparability with other IMLs worldwide. UIMLA is a member of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the International Commission for Alpine Rescue UIMLA is officially based in Switzerland in the commune of Villars-sur-Ollon in the canton of the Vaud.

Member associations

* Andorra
L´Associació de Guies i Acompanyants de Muntanya d´Andorra (AGAMA)
* Argentina
Asociación Argentina de Guías de Montaña
* Austria
Verband der Österreichischen Berg- und Skiführer
* Belgium
Union Professionnelle des Métiers de la Montagne (UPMM)
* Bulgaria
Mountains & people association
* Chil
Asociación Chilena de Guías/Instructores de Montaña y Escalada A.G. (ACGM)
* Croatia
Savez gorskih vodiča Hrvatske
* Czech Republic
Czech mountain leader association (CZIML)
* France
Syndicat National des Accompagnateurs en Montagne (LESAEM)
* Germany
Verband Deutscher Berg.- u. Skiführer (VDBS)
* Hungar
Magyar Hegyivezetők és Hegyi Túravezetők Egyesülete (MHVE)
* Italy
Associazione Italiana Mountain Leaders (AIML)
* Japan
Japan Mountain Guides Association
* Netherlands
Nederlandse Associatie van International Mountain Leaders (NLAIML)
* Norwa
Norsk Naturguideforbund (NNGF)
* Peru
Asociación de Guías Oficiales de Caminata del Perú
* Poland
Stowarzyszenie Międzynarodowych Przewodników Górskich "LIDER’ (SMPG)
* Republic of North Macedonia
Macedonian Association of International Mountain Guides
* Romania
Societatea Ghizilor Liberilor Montani
* Slovenia
Združenje planinskih vodnikov Slovenije
* Slovakia
Slovenská asociácia horských sprievodcov
* Spain
Asociación Española de Guías de Montaña (AEGM)
* Swede
Svenska Fjälledarorganisationen (SFLO)
* Switzerland
Association Suisse des Accompagnateurs en Montagne (ASAM)
* United Kingdom
British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML)

References

* European Mountain Leader Commission, (1992). ''Community Standard for Conditions of Access to and Practice of the Profession of European Mountain Leader'': UK Mountain Leader Training Board, Capel Curig, Wales. * Mountain Leader Training UK, (2007). ''International Mountain Leader Handbook'': Mountain Leader Training UK, Capel Curig, Wales. * UIAA Youth Commission, (2001) ''Seminar on Youth Leader Education for Mountaineering 7–10 October 2001'' UIAA Switzerland. Downloaded fro

16 June 2007.

External links

Union of International Mountain Leader Associations website

International Mountain Leader Award details (MTUK website)

UIAGM / IVBV / IFMGA official website

Official International Mountain Leader Award Handbook
{{Climbing navbox Mountain guides associations Supraorganizations

See also

Member associations

References

External links