A Path to Nature Conservation : The Role of Mega Trails in Connecting Hikers, Communities, and Landscapes
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Resource ID
1264
Access
Open
Contributed by
Appalachian Trail Museum Library
Date
2023
Tags - Places
Entire Trail
Document Extract
Trail advocates argue that they generate economic benefits for many small communities, promote contact with nature, and raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation. Mega trails, thousands of kilometers long crossing different regions, could spread these benefits for extensive landscapes, protecting important ecological and climate corridors. However, these statements are poorly supported, and few studies evaluated whether these trails show effective conservation outcomes. This study uses a multidisciplinary approach to answer at what level mega trails are effective conservation tools. Based on extensive surveys and interviews along the three most renowned US national scenic trails. ... Overall, when properly managed, mega trails seem to contribute to people's awareness, community engagement, and habitat connectivity, corroborating the discourse in favor of mega trails as conservation tools.