Should trail runners pay to use Hong Kong’s country parks to help preserve the environment their sport damages, and would they?
- Research paper shows there is lasting damage caused by trail runners but also a willingness to contribute financially to the solution
- Trail-running community could be an example for other country park users to take part in contributing to sustainability
Trail runners are willing to add a surcharge to their race fees to help preserve Hong Kong’s country parks, according to an academic paper published in the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. The paper examines the lasting damage caused by trail races and the desire of participants to be part of the solution.
The paper asserts that the increased popularity of trail running is causing trail degradation, littering and disturbance of wildlife – including the spread of pathogens to species of animals and plants. While trail runners are highly environmentally conscious, there is no practical model for them to contribute to fixing the problem financially or by volunteering their time.
“It’s a common pool resource,” co-author Samuel Ribet said. “The tragedy of the commons is that no one has ownership so they use it freely and no one looks after it, and over time it is damaged irreparably.”
“The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have acknowledged it’s an issue and they are considering how to manage it because it’s going to have a seriously detrimental affect,” Ribet said.
