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Introduction
In 1906 H.R.H. Luigi Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Abruzzi,
conquered the peaks of the Rwenzori Range (on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo) achieving a great scientific expedition in an area of paramount environmental
interest.
In the Centenary of such an event the University of Studies of Brescia (Italy), in collaboration with the environmental association “L’Umana Dimora” (Milan, Italy),
registered at the Italian Ministry of Environment, intends to celebrate that great event by organising a new expedition on the Mountains of the Moon together with an articulate scientific
and cultural action (hereinafter called the Project); the outcomes may result into bringing out the environmental features of the Rwenzori range, and in the realisation of didactical and
educational tools for Ugandan students, locally spread thanks to a close collaboration with the italian NGO AVSI (International Service Volunteers’ Association) and through
educational scientific initiatives also for the non-specialist public in Italy concerning the environmental peculiarities of the Rwenzori National Park, and Uganda in general.
This Project is a direct consequence of the scientific interest for the mountain territories of Central Africa and of an historical collaboration in the realisation of research projects
shared by some researchers of the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land and Environment of Brescia University, together with the “Mountain Working Group” (hereby
called Mountain Group), active from many years within the association “L’Umana Dimora”.
The Department has also signed with “L’Umana Dimora” a convention, because many members of the Mountain Group have already participated in international mountain
expeditions and have given their technical support and collaboration in research projects at national and international level organized by the Department itself.
The original idea of the “Rwenzori 1906-2006” expedition mainly springs from the experience lived in Uganda by the co-ordinator of the Mountain Group, Mr. Gustavo Corti
(physiotherapist in one important hospital in Milan - Italy), strong climber, who worked for three years within international co-operation projects for AVSI, italian ngo who has been
working in Uganda for 20 years on many humanitarian projects of various nature. Between 1998 and 2001 Corti, besides living an interesting professional and human experience, could
maintain his climber passion by exploring the wonderful territories of Uganda, and especially climbing, solely accompained by a local guide and a porter in July 2001, among other peaks,
the Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley (m. 5125), the highest peak of the Rwenzori range, being the first non-African climber soon after the Rwenzori Park reopened following the long period
of denied access for guerrilla disturbances.
Starting right from that experience, in 2005 the Mountain Group, proposing the Project to scholars of Brescia University and other Universities, has decided to organise, in the centenary
of Duke of Abruzzi’s 1906 expedition, a new scientific and mountaineering expedition. A number of specialists and authorities have been contacted since then, with the aim of
proposing research projects that, coordinated into a frame, will adequately celebrate such an anniversary through the repetitions of various specific climbs, along however the cultural
and practical guidelines of the Duke of Abruzzi’s and other contemporary explorers, meaning with that, mountain climbing at top level, never separated however from scientific
research.
The aim of such a Project is thus an up-dating of the researches carried out so far in the area, together with the production of new knowledge for the local people for a modern
valorisation of that territory.
Some members of the Scientific Committee of Italian Alpine Club will participate to the Project, which has also been included in the research themes of the Club itself for 2006. The
31st of March 2006 the Italian Alpine Club has granted its general Patronage to the Project.
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