Abstract
The High Peaks of the Adirondack Park in New York is home to many of the state’s precious natural resources and is a favorite destination for hikers. Severe erosion on trails threatens the region’s environmental health. Most conservation groups advocate for reducing the number of hikers as the primary solution to combatting erosion; however, the scientific literature indicates that reduction of foot traffic is ineffective at combatting already deteriorating trails. Instead, we recommend the state legislature and Department of Environmental Conservation pursue a plan to rebuild these trails using sustainable design principles, which more effectively ensures their longevity. We outline the research and expertise required to successfully rebuild these trails as well as a mechanism to fund this expensive endeavor.
Highlights
The Adirondack Park, part of New York State’s Forest Preserve, is the largest protected forest in the United States
The Department of Conservation (DEC) acknowledges the problems on these legacy trails and identifies the need to repair or reroute them (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 1999, 143)
The DEC does not consider these paths as part of the network of trails under its jurisdiction, devoting few resources to their maintenance (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 1999, 72)
Summary
The Adirondack Park, part of New York State’s Forest Preserve, is the largest protected forest in the United States. We recommend the state legislature and Department of Environmental Conservation pursue a plan to rebuild these trails using sustainable design principles, which more effectively ensures their longevity. We advocate the New York State Legislature to enable the Department of Conservation to rebuild the region’s hiking trails using sustainable design techniques.
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