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Five Elements of Sustainable Trails
HomeSustainable TrailsFive Elements of Sustainable Trails

Maintain natural beauty of trails and minimize impacts to natural habitats and indigenous culture while satisfying different recreational needs and reasonable uses in the present.

 

If properly designed, constructed, and maintained, trails can minimize soil breakouts, seasonal mud, and soil loss that is caused by runoff. The existence of trails should not affect natural fauna and do not require frequent rerouting and extensive maintenance.

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How to make trails sustainable?

 

Hong Kong is a small place with world-class natural landscapes. In the face of intensive recreational needs, we need sustainable rural resource management and education more than ever to establish a good outing attitude and work together to maintain the natural beauty of Hong Kong's mountain trails and its social value.

 

Five Elements of Sustainable Trails
I
Planning
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Develop appropriate trail design and management strategies based on conservation, education and recreational needs. A comprehensive trail planning can enhance the tourism experience value, divert tourists away from wild risks, achieve the function of protecting the natural ecological environment, and even reduce long-term maintenance costs.
II
Design
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The alignment, pavement and slope of the mountain trails will affect the flow direction and penetration degree of water on the topsoil, affecting people's usage habits. An ideal trail design can reduce soil erosion caused by running water and human activities, increase the trail's carrying capacity, and balance human needs and conservation goals.
III
Construction
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Building trails (hand-made trails) based on natural materials, manual labor, and local conditions can minimize the damage posed to the surrounding environment.
IV
Maintenance
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Repair worn-out trails and damaged waterways regularly, and adjust the trail maintenance measures based on user needs, environmental changes and other factors can reduce the need for large-scale trail maintenance in the long run.
V
Education
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Enhancing the public’s understanding of sustainable mountain trails through education can avoid improper behavior that accelerates the loss of mountain trails, and eventually achieve ‘‘Leave No Trace’’.
Tips to Protect Trails
1.

Conduct activities on durable places

1.

Conduct activities on durable places

  • Use designated sites and country parks facilities including concertised sites for group activities

  • Use trails that with regular maintenance preferentially

  • Cycle only on designated mountain bike trails

2.

Stick to the existing trails

2.

Stick to the existing trails

  • Do not create shortcuts
  • “Stay on track”, avoid damaging surrounding vegetation
3.

Take your litter home

3.

Take your litter home

  • Avoid disturbing the nature due to waste pollution
4.

Do not damage vegetation on the trails

4.

Do not damage vegetation on the trails

  • Plants can protect trails’ topsoil and therefore, reduce soil erosion

註

 

1. Hugh Duffy，美國國家公園管理局，《可持續山徑指南：山徑評估，規劃和設計草圖》，2007 年；最初發表於 1991 年的科羅拉多州立山徑通訊，《開發可持續山徑走廊：概述》。