The third most visited natural site in the world, the Mont Blanc massif represents a major ecological crossroads for the Alpine region, with 430,000 animal and plant species identified to date. Yet, at present, the site has no viable and coordinated ecological preservation programme. With the combined effects of tourism, air pollution and climate change now threatening the massif, it is imperative to develop a protection system that truly responds to the region’s high environmental and economic stakes. To this end, a tri-national collective involving twenty or so organisations, including WWF France, was created in 1991. Thanks to this initiative, a common movement uniting economic and political players has emerged. Today, with local, regional and national forces fully conscious of the importance of preserving this environment, it seems, more than ever, the right time to obtain a protected status for the site. The UNESCO World Heritage label affords a special legal status to the area, and would allow for a broader recognition of this exceptional natural treasure through a concerted economic, educational and ecological effort in harmony with the local population’s relationship with the site. Given the unique geographical situation of the massif, straddling the French, Swiss and Italian borders, the WWF is a logical and important supporter of the World Heritage effort. Though the case for protection is clear, the candidacy process can take between two and five years, and requires extensive resources.