Focus On: The Resilient Communities Of The Dolomites

VALMOREL, ITALY - APRIL 28: Gabriele, one of the founders of the cooperative, tries to bring the cows inside the farm after an attempt of them escaping on April 28, 2025 in Valmorel, Italy. Pascolando, a cooperative founded a year ago by young and locals, has rejuvenated Valmorel community by purchasing a mountain farm where they raise cows with sustainable methods, inspired by the local "latteria turnaria" — a collective system where farmers share responsibilities, milk production, processing, and profits — they foster community-driven dairy production. Combining innovation and tradition, the cooperative aims to inspire youth to reconnect with alpine life and its values. Dolomite communities are increasingly threatened by mass tourism and climate change, which put immense pressure on the region, with data indicating that the Dolomites have experienced an increase in average temperatures of 1.5°C since 1970 and a significant reduction in snow cover, the retreat of glaciers in particular of the Marmolada glacier has reached alarming levels, while tourist hotspots are often crowded with visitors who even last summer were seeking refreshment, and communities are finding and experimenting with adapting to change and investing in sustainable practices for tourism as well. (Photo by Simone Padovani/Getty Images)