Safer in nature with better trail management

Enjoying nature: Talking a walk on Berapit Hill in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The letter writer says that trails, like any public infrastructure, require long-term management to be safe. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

TRAILS are the backbone of outdoor recreation. They are where people experience nature, where environmental impacts are most visible, and outdoor recreation incidents occur. They also support local livelihoods through nature-based tourism.

Trails, therefore, are the critical intersection where resource protection, visitor experience, local economic development, and visitor safety meet. When one is compromised, the others inevitably suffer.

As Garrett Hardin argued in The Tragedy of the Commons, the unmanaged use of shared resources ultimately benefits no one. The question now is: How do we ensure that recreation trails continue to deliver these benefits?

First, trails must be recognised as critical infrastructure. Roads connect communities, while trails connect people with nature. Like any public infrastructure, trails require proper planning, clearly defined standards, and long-term management.

Effective planning depends on sound information on trail location, use, and condition. This provides the foundation for setting standards, prioritising maintenance, allocating resources, and supporting long-term decision-making.

Second, this infrastructure must be monitored and maintained systematically. Recreation management has largely focused on regulating visitor access through permits, visitor quotas, seasonal closures, and mountain guide services. While these measures remain important, managing visitors alone does not necessarily prevent trail deterioration.

Many recreation trails in Malaysia originated as routes used by local communities, and few were designed to accommodate today’s levels of recreational use. Consequently, many are increasingly vulnerable to erosion, degradation, and avoidable safety hazards. Regular monitoring enables managers to detect drainage failures, unstable slopes, and other signs of deterioration early, allowing timely maintenance before problems become more serious and costly to address.

Third, trails must be supported by effective information, wayfinding, and safety systems. Just as motorists rely on road signs and navigation systems, visitors should be able to navigate confidently using standardised trail markers, directional signs, distance markers, and trail difficulty ratings.

Effective wayfinding reduces the likelihood of visitors becoming lost, discourages informal trail development, and provides essential reference points during emergencies and search and rescue operations.

Visitors should also have access to up-to-date information on trail conditions, hazards, closures, and emergency procedures. Although digital platforms have made trail information more accessible than ever, official agencies should remain the authoritative source of reliable trail information and safety advisories.

Imagine a trail network that is properly planned, monitored, maintained, and supported by effective information and wayfinding under a nationally-consistent system. Visitors know what to expect before they set foot on the trail, navigate confidently using clear and standardised markers, and receive timely information when conditions change.

Trails remain resilient, erosion is minimised, surrounding vegetation is protected, and the natural character of the landscape is retained for future generations. Local communities benefit from nature-based tourism, visitors return home with a deeper appreciation of nature.

After all, “Tak kenal, maka tak cinta” (you can’t love what you don’t know). Well-managed trails do more than provide access to forests, mountains, rivers, and coastlines. They connect people with nature, cultivate appreciation for our natural heritage, and inspire people to value and protect these landscapes for generations to come.

ZAMRU AJUHARI

Serdang, Selangor