The South Tyrolean Mountain and Cave Rescue Service (CNSAS) was officially founded in 1954, although it had existed for some time before that and had been organised and operational at the provincial level since the 1940s.
The South Tyrolean Mountain and Cave Rescue Service CNSAS/CAI was officially founded in 1954, although it had existed long before that and had been organised and operational at the provincial level since the 1940s.
In 1954, the following local branches were officially recognised by the C.N.S.A.S. (Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico – National Mountain and Cave Rescue Service): Bressanone (this branch served as the provincial operations centre and coordination hub for the whole of South Tyrol until the 1960s), Bolzano, Vipiteno, Merano, Brunico, Chiusa, Appiano, Lana, Val Gardena, Sesto, Solda and Trafoi.
At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, the following branches were added: Völs, Langtaufers, Hochabtei, Martell, Seiser Alm, Taufers, Ridnaun, Pflersch, Stuls, Villnöss, Reschen, Sankt Vigil in Enneberg, Sand in Taufers and Ritten.
Today, the South Tyrolean Mountain and Cave Rescue Service (CNSAS EO) is a voluntary organisation comprising 21 mountain rescue stations and 1 cave rescue station, and is integrated into the civil protection organisation of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.
It operates throughout the whole of South Tyrol and provides a public service through rescue operations and prevention in the fields of mountaineering, hiking and caving.
The role of the CNSAS South Tyrol is regulated by specific regulations at national and provincial level, such as: State Law No. 74 of 21 March 2001, Provincial Law No. 13 of 10 December 2007, Provincial Law No. 15 of 18 December 2002, and related amendments.