Our goal

This project group wants to prepare Europe’s trails and the regions they run through for a changing climate. We investigate how trails in different regions and climate zones are affected and develop measures that help trail organizations adapt.

Why this matters

Trail managers are already dealing with the consequences. Heavy rain washes out paths, storms bring down trees, long dry periods increase the risk of forest fires, and in the mountains melting ice and permafrost make rockfall more likely. Repairs are needed more often and cost more, while budgets and volunteer teams stay the same. Many trail organizations react from one damage event to the next because they lack a plan for adaptation.

Climate change also changes where and when people go outdoors. Hot summers push trail use further north and to higher altitudes. Regions with shorter or no winters need new offers for the rest of the year. These shifts affect the economy of whole regions.

Why now

The last summers have shown how quickly the situation is changing. Heat, drought, wildfires and extreme rainfall have hit trail regions across Europe, in the south as well as in the Alps and in the north. Every year without a plan makes adaptation more expensive.

The European Trails Policy Paper calls for additional, targeted funding for the long-term maintenance and climate adaptation of existing trails. This project group provides the basis for that demand.