CONSERVATION IN

ABSTRACT: The management of avalanche safety in Fiordland National Park poses diverse challeng-es. The avalanche forecasting team must closely manage avalanche hazards on three popular walking tracks, where users ’ risk tolerance is low. Concurrently, avalanche conditions across the entire 12,500 km2 region are monitored in order to direct biodiversity workers. Extremes of weather cause avalanche conditions to change rapidly. Avalanche types range from size D1 glide slabs in unforgiving terrain to size D5 plunging avalanches, with substantial risk to National Park users across this spectrum. The pro-gramme’s management strategies will be of interest to any operation forecasting for very large areas or in extreme maritime climates, or those managing avalanche risk exposure for recreationalists