On The Right Path

How trails are essential to climate resilience

As climate change intensifies, communities around the globe face unprecedented environmental challenges, from rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns to the loss of biodiversity. In response, innovative approaches to enhance climate resilience are essential. Trails, typically seen as recreational amenities, can play a surprisingly critical role in building climate resilience. More than just pathways for walkers, hikers, cyclists, or equestrians, trails offer numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits that directly contribute to community preparedness and adaptation in the face of a changing climate. Specifically, trails support climate resilience in the following ways:

Promoting Active Transportation

One of the most direct ways that trails contribute to climate resilience is by promoting sustainable, non-motorized forms of active transportation. In some areas, trails offer alternatives to carbon-intensive modes of transportation, like automobiles. Transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions globally, accounting for around 25% of global CO2 emissions. Expanding trail networks encourages active transportation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and curbing emissions.

Trails provide an interconnected network of routes that allow people to commute, run errands, and access services without using cars. In communities where traffic congestion is a significant issue, trails offer a green alternative, alleviating traffic and reducing air pollution. Greenways that connect parks, neighborhoods, and business districts can play a transformative role in reducing a community’s carbon footprint. By integrating trails with public transportation options, such as bike-share programs or bus or rail systems, cities can create a comprehensive sustainable transportation network that significantly reduces emissions.

In addition to reducing carbon emissions, trails can also contribute to cooling. Paved roads and buildings in cities create heat islands, where temperatures can rise more significantly than in surrounding areas. Trails, especially those surrounded by greenspaces, help mitigate this effect by providing shaded areas and enhancing air circulation. The presence of trees and vegetation along trails also helps absorb solar radiation, further reducing the heat-island effect and contributing to a more comfortable and resilient environment.

Enhancing Ecosystem Services

Well-designed trails can help protect biodiversity by providing controlled access to natural areas. This limits human disturbance in sensitive habitats by concentrating foot traffic on designated paths, reducing soil erosion, trampling of plants, and disrupting wildlife. By encouraging visitors to stay on trails, these spaces allow ecosystems to remain intact, supporting habitat protection and species conservation.

When trails are built using sustainable practices, they can help manage erosion and water runoff. Trails that incorporate features like drainage systems or permeable surfaces can prevent soil degradation and protect nearby water bodies from sedimentation. By guiding water flow and preventing the compacting of soil off-trail, well-constructed trails can contribute to soil health and water filtration.

Trails in forests, grasslands, or other greenspaces contribute to the protection of these areas, which are important for carbon sequestration. By facilitating access to these ecosystems in a way that minimizes harm, trails help ensure that plants and trees can continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is critical for climate regulation.

Fostering Community Health And Well-being

Trails support climate resilience by improving public health, which is increasingly recognized as an essential component of climate adaptation. Climate change is already affecting human health through heat waves, poor air quality, and increased rates of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Trails with lots of shade offer safe, accessible spaces for physical activity, which can improve overall health and make communities more resilient to the health impacts of climate change. (See also Hiking in the Heat.)

Physical activity, such as walking, jogging, or cycling, can reduce the incidence of chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Healthier populations are better equipped to withstand the stresses of extreme heat, air pollution, and other climate-related challenges. In addition to physical health benefits, trails provide mental health advantages. Spending time in natural settings has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Trails provide accessible greenspaces for recreation, reflection, and connection with nature, which is essential for maintaining mental health in increasingly stressful times.

Furthermore, in the wake of climate-related disasters and emergencies, trails can serve as critical evacuation routes, connecting communities to emergency services and safe areas. Having well-maintained trail networks ensures that people have alternative transportation routes in times of crisis, especially when roads may be damaged or inaccessible. Trails thus contribute to both immediate emergency response and long-term health resilience.

Supporting Environmental Education And Advocacy

Trails are also vital platforms for environmental education and advocacy, which are key to fostering long-term climate resilience. Many trails are located within or adjacent to natural areas and other types of parks, providing opportunities for communities to learn about local ecosystems and the impacts of climate change. Interpretive signs, guided tours, and educational programs along trails can raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity, the threats posed by climate change, and the actions individuals can take to mitigate their environmental impact.

For example, many trails include signage that educates the public about local flora and fauna, water conservation efforts, or sustainable land-management practices. This type of informal education can inspire individuals to become more engaged in conservation efforts, participate in local climate action, or adopt more sustainable behaviors in their daily lives. By connecting people to nature and environmental issues, trails cultivate a culture of stewardship and advocacy that is essential for advancing climate resilience at the community level.

Trails can also serve as hubs for community science projects, where members collect data on local wildlife, water quality, or invasive species. These data can be used to inform local conservation efforts and contribute to larger regional or national climate-monitoring programs. Engaging the public in hands-on environmental science not only deepens their connection to nature but also empowers them to play a role in climate-resilience efforts.

As we face the realities of climate change, trails offer much more than recreational opportunities—they are essential infrastructure for building climate resilience. By promoting sustainable transportation, preserving ecosystems, improving public health, and fostering environmental education, trails serve as key components of a comprehensive strategy to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Communities that invest in expanding and maintaining their trail networks are better positioned to withstand the environmental, social, and economic challenges posed by a changing climate. In this way, trails represent a pathway toward a more sustainable and resilient future.