A mountain guide from Haute-Savoie and a general practitioner from the Paris region are demanding "responsible access to nature" during the confinement period in an online petition which collected several tens of thousands of signatures.
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Mountain guide Billy Fernandez and Dr Solène Petitdemange, the duo behind the text, believe that the ban on the practice of sports and outdoor activities, although "authorized in Germany", does not rest "on no health security criteria ". "Walking in nature does not affect the rules of social distancing and does not lead to an increase in accidents", they argue, adding that the means mobilized to enforce the regulations in place in natural areas "are considerable" .
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The two signatories ask Emmanuel Macron to modify the decree which establishes confinement until May 11 at least, "in order to authorize access to natural spaces". "On condition of strictly respecting the rules of social distancing, and exclusively for activities which objectively present no more risk than domestic or gardening activities", they underline. "We leave it to the authorities to define this framework, including by preventing possible overcrowding which is harmful to the fauna, flora and the environment".
Deconfining the practice of certain sports from May 11
Supported by fifteen personalities, including the former Minister of Ecology Delphine Batho or the mountaineer Lionel Daudet, this petition had collected nearly 75,000 signatures on Saturday. On Tuesday, two unions and an association of mountain professionals called for deconfining the practice of certain outdoor sports for amateurs from May 11, in accordance with the "pandemic objectives" of coronavirus.
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The Interprofessional Mountain Union (SIM-CFDT), the National Union of Mountain Guides (UNAM) and the Professional Sport & Outdoor Association (APSO) plead for a "reasoned and early restarting of mountain activities and nature "and submit several" deconfinement measures by May 11, 2020 ". The three organizations propose to lift the ban on sports and outdoor activities "low or moderate risk" such as "hiking, horse riding, cycling and touring" or "running" and "climbing in sports site ". They also support the resumption of outdoor activities supervised by professionals and draw up a series of eight measures to be observed for a "gradual recovery".