Merging Architectural Structures with Forest Walkways: A Comprehensive Review of Treetop Walkways and the Fu Forest Trail of China

Yan Ke,Xiayu Guan,Yuebin Lin,Baoying Shen,Biying Lin,Qingxi Chen,Jian Liu

doi:10.3390/f12101343

Yan Ke, Xiayu Guan + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f12101343

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Abstract

Treetop walkways are unique trail constructions. Their support structure suspends a walkway platform several meters from the ground, shuttling among the canopies of trees in the forest. Many countries have built canopy trails for forest recreation, tourism, and other uses. In certain cities, the treetop walkway is no longer a single building unit or forest trail in the narrow sense, and is planned as a multi-functional urban public landscape. This study reviews the development of treetop and elevated forest trails, introduces several representative cases, and provides a comprehensive reference point that fills previous research gaps. We also analyze the Fu Forest Trail, the most representative treetop walkway in China through, inter alia, its modular system, elevated structural, and design appearance. We explore the background and application of treetop trails that connect residents and the environment as a multifunctional urban public landscape in China, and related future research directions. We conclude that treetop walkways have many distinct advantages, and are becoming trendy in forest trail development; there is excellent potential to transform them creatively and innovatively into high-quality forest infrastructure or urban public landscape for public benefit.

Highlights

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
This study explores the Fu Forest trail in detail based on the hypothesis that its design could constitute a reference point that many mountainous and hilly cities can imitate and contribute to the better livelihoods of the locals
Materials collection and other related research about treetop walkway lasted for 4 years

Summary

Introduction

The rapid development of recreation has changed the functional value and management directions of land types. The forest is a typical example of this: the value of modern forests is no longer reflected in economic benefits from the direct use of wood [1]. People’s forest needs and demands are gradually moving toward healthcare and fitness, tourism and recreational values, and landscape appreciation experiences [2,3,4,5,6]. In the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many European countries, millions of people frequently visit forests for recreational activities every year, and this number is rising [7,8], making forest recreation research significant [1]

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