EUROPE’S SKI resorts have seen their first decent snowfalls, but they have come too late for tour operators, who have slashed prices to sell Christmas and new-year trips.

The specialist travel agency Iglu (020 8542 6658, www.iglu.com), for example, has a 40% reduction on seven nights in a three-star catered chalet in Val d’Isère, Tignes or Courchevel: the price, £369pp, includes flights from Birmingham, Gatwick or Manchester on December 20.

Neilson (0870 333 3347, www.neilson.com) has seven nights, chalet-board, at the Chalet Ushuaia, Tignes, for £399pp (a saving of £256pp), flying from Birmingham on December 20.

Skiworld (0870 241 6723, www.skiworld.ltd.uk) has seven nights in St Anton, Austria, for £329pp (a saving of £210pp), flying from Gatwick on December 21.

Total Ski (0870 163 3633, www.skitotal.com) has several chalets over Christmas, including a week, full-board, at the Chalet Brigitte, in Selva, Italy, for £349pp (a saving of £300pp), flying from Manchester on December 21.

Descent International (020 7384 3854, www.descent.co.uk) has reduced the price of seven nights in a chalet for 16 people, from January 11, by £8,000 to £14,760 (a saving of 35%). Les Brames, in Méribel, has a private cinema, a steam room and two gourmet chefs.

Wildlife in peril

THE FUTURE of one of Central America’s most important wildlife sites, Chalillo, in Belize, remains uncertain after the privy council, the final court of appeal for Commonwealth countries, failed to rule on plans to construct a controversial dam in the area.

Last week, five appeal judges in London did not find in favour of environmental campaigners. They have “reserved judgment” and say that their decision is unlikely until some time next year.

Chalillo is fast becoming the Three Gorges of Latin America. Conservationists argue that the building of the 160ft-high hydroelectric dam could wipe out much of the wildlife around the upper Macal River Valley, which would be flooded. This includes 20% of the world’s remaining scarlet macaws, as well as rare jaguars, tapirs and crocodiles.

The World Wide Fund for Nature says: “An unblemished wilderness, teeming with exotic flora and fauna, risks being razed to the ground and flushed from the face of the earth.”

High-profile protesters include the Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz, who says: “One of our continent’s last remaining rainforest habitats is at great risk of being destroyed.”

Readers can sign a petition to lobby against the dam at www.stopfortis.org, which is run by a coalition of environmental groups.