Held on 7 – 10 November 2024, Paris, France

🌍✨ Wrapping up the 3rd European Trails and Paths Conference ✨🌍

The 3rd European Trails and Paths Conference in Paris has come to a successful close! Over these past few days, trail experts, enthusiasts, and representatives from across Europe have come together to exchange knowledge, address challenges, and create solutions for the future of Europe’s trail networks.

Conference highlights:

Sustainable trail management:
We discussed creating a unified European standard for digital trail data and enhancing open-source platforms for easier implementation and broader access.

Climate resilience:
Experts shared best practices for building trails that withstand climate change impacts, emphasizing proactive assessment and partnerships with local communities and volunteers.

Inclusivity and innovation:
We explored strategies for making trails more inclusive, understanding user motivations, and addressing overcrowding through smarter trail certification systems.

World Café insights:

The conference concluded with an engaging World Café session, where participants brainstormed and shared ideas on:

• Enhancing Cross-Border collaboration: Participants emphasized the importance of international exchange programs and collaborative initiatives financed by the EU.
• Climate resilience and data: Ideas included centralized communication systems for real-time trail information and comprehensive data collection on climate impacts.
• Sustainability in trail standards: Discussions covered implementing adaptive trail standards, utilizing local materials for maintenance, and supporting volunteer programs for sustained trail upkeep.

The World Café was a vital opportunity for collective thinking, and the outcomes will shape the strategic framework for sustainable, resilient trail management and cooperation across Europe.

Find the DRAFT report here:

What’s Next?

ERA and EUMA are excited to turn these discussions into actionable projects and partnerships. We’ll be sharing a detailed summary of the outcomes and proposed actions soon. Thank you to all who contributed and made this conference a milestone for Europe’s trail community!

🌿🛤️ Together, we’re forging stronger, more sustainable paths for future generations.