Trails are too often considered to be simply places to spend a little time walking. However, they can also be environmental protection tools. One of the reasons trails matter is because, when done well, they directly and indirectly contribute to wildlife conservation efforts.
The key phrase here is “when done well.” Having a positive impact requires intentional actions by designers, managers, and the people using trails. With a little knowledge sharing, everyone involved can understand and boost how trails can contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
Boosting Biodiversity
One of the main challenges we face in the current climate is the loss of biodiversity. As our society has continued to grow and our spaces develop, this negatively impacts the natural areas that are both replaced by and adjacent to cities.
Our noise has scared off wildlife and construction and resource gathering has destroyed habitats. This isn’t just a problem from a simple ethical perspective or for how it affects other species. It’s also a practical problem for humans. We rely upon strong biodiversity to ensure our crops are pollinated, which affects our food and even medical supplies. Not to mention that biodiversity helps with air purification and flood moderation, among many other aspects of life.
There’s certainly an argument that trails in natural areas could disrupt biodiversity. After all, designers are making trails through ecosystems and inviting humans to hike, bike, or even camp there. How a trail is designed makes a difference to whether it positively or negatively affects biodiversity. This can include designers ensuring that they build trails on or close to existing walking areas, rather than developing untouched natural spaces. They can also make plans for the trail routes to lead away from habitats to minimize impact on these areas.
Another way that trails are supporting biodiversity efforts is by giving a forum to citizen science. Hikers on trails can help keep track of changes to the natural environment. Wherever possible, designers should include informational signposting that provides visitors with details of how they can contribute to biodiversity research. For instance, hikers could email a designated address to inform of different bird or insect species that have made their homes in the area. They could also send photographs of potentially invasive species of plants. This gives trail managers and conservationists the tools to collaborate on adjusting the space to support positive biodiversity.
Balancing Recreation and Responsibility
Trails are pathways to adventure amidst people’s daily lives. This makes them incredible and convenient resources of recreation and connection to nature. That said, as with any natural resource, increased visitation can compromise the integrity of the ecosystem.
Part of the solution here is for trail designers and operators to give insights into trail etiquette. Visitors may not be acting irresponsibly due to a lack of care, but rather a lack of information. Designers can fill potential knowledge gaps by:
- Visitors’ center guidance: Larger trails often have visitors’ centers, which can provide immediate access to information. Staff members can provide more nuanced insights by discussing what visitors’ intentions are for their trip and provide advice on any adjustments they can make to help conservation efforts while having fun.
- Signposting: Static signposting throughout the trail can be useful. At the entrance to the trail, often the most effective approach is to list general rules related to behavior on the trails, such as cleaning up litter or avoiding disturbing wildlife. There can also be specific signposts related to the challenges certain animals or plants face. For instance, in areas that see regular deer traffic, signposts could advise hikers to not feed the animals and to stand at a safe distance when photographing them.
- Website information: Particularly for people who haven’t visited the trail before or are coming from further afield, the website is likely to be their first point of call for information. Federally managed trails will usually have pages on the National Park Service or the Bureau of Land Management websites. Privately or locally owned trails can have sites. Trail managers should provide advice here on how to achieve the balance between recreation and responsibility. Text can be great, but videos can be even more engaging.
The approach trail designers take to offering information can certainly depend on the location of the trail and the types of activities visitors are likely to perform. For instance, when the trail is on the coast, a guide to responsible beach camping can help outline ways to have fun while protecting wildlife. Trail information can include tips about climate and weather, teach people how to be mindful of the local ecosystems, and also provide gear recommendations since specific equipment is needed to camp safely in coastal environments. By being informative and not just dictating rules, trail managers encourage responsible behavior on their own trails and other green spaces.
Supporting Mutual Health
Eco-friendliness is increasingly recognized as having a positive impact on wellness. Spending time in green areas—such as trails—the outdoors can help relieve stress and anxiety and also can improve oxygen intake. Trails that prioritize conservation efforts can play a role in maintaining health, especially if people are using them to exercise, such as commuting by bike, trail running, or hiking. With additional planning, there are ways to support the mutual health of both people using trails and the wildlife that call the trails home.
Regular inspections
When left alone, natural areas will often develop an ecosystem that is right and healthy for the wildlife and plant species living within them. However, when trail owners intervene by encouraging human activity, there needs to be a little more attention to the ongoing well-being of the space. This can include checking the integrity of the trail paths for elements that might be dangerous to human visitors. Soil erosion or unstable trees may be hazardous to hikers, which affects how well the trails can promote healthy walking routines.
It’s equally important to reduce the natural and human-made threats to local plants and wildlife. This includes trail managers regularly inspecting for signs of disease, unauthorized hunting, and trail misuse. Partnering with local wildlife and safety agencies is a key part of building a trail in any case, but these stakeholders can also provide guidance and expertise on what to look for here.
Inspections should always be followed by swift action, wherever problems are highlighted. For instance, if the inspections reveal that animals are migrating their nests closer than usual to trail paths, designers may need to arrange seasonal trail detours. This can both keep wildlife safe from unintentional intrusions that might impact their health as well as prevent injuries to humans from animals protecting their young.
Foraging opportunities
One of the key health benefits of nature trails is the potential access to natural food sources for both animals and humans. Trail designers need to make certain that non-native plant life isn’t introduced to the trail area. At the same time, excessive foraging by trail users can have a negative impact. It can put pressure on the ecosystem, taking food sources away from animals that may rely on them. In some instances, reckless foraging can cause plants and soil around the foraged items to become damaged. Less-educated foragers could also run the risk of gathering protected species.
Many trail management organizations have set up hard limits on foraging for certain species of plant and fungus. For instance, on some of the properties run by the National Park Service, small amounts of specific edible mushrooms can be collected each day for personal use. This can be a useful approach, particularly if trail managers have enough staff to enforce these limits. Educating people on why to keep their foraging to a reasonable level is also important.
One approach to this is to set up foraging tours with trail managers and other experts. A good example of this is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which holds programs of events throughout the year in wildlife refuges across the country. This is a way to both show visitors what wellness-boosting foods are available to them in the area while also outlining what constitutes fair and mutually healthy behavior.
Wrapping Up
Trails are already a source of natural beauty, but some extra design and management efforts can really make them effective for wildlife conservation. This includes ensuring the spaces support biodiversity and that visitors are educated on rules that balance recreation with responsibility.
Photo Credit
Image Source Pexels
Guest Author Bio
Charlie Fletcher
Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. When not writing she spends her time doodling and embroidering. And yes, she does love all kinds of potatoes!
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