Management of Degraded Trails in Protected Natural Areas Worldwide: A Systematic Review of Scientific Literature

The increase in the use of trails for outdoor recreation in recent decades has led to pressure on existing trails and the creation of informal new ones, resulting in damage and degradation to some of these infrastructures. This degradation is concerning because many of these trails are located in protected natural areas, which aim to conserve natural resources and associated biodiversity. Concurrently, ecosystems worldwide have also been experiencing increased degradation, prompting the United Nations to declare this the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. In this context, through a systematic review of the scientific literature, our study identifies significant gaps in knowledge regarding the management of degraded trails in protected natural areas worldwide. We observed that the number of research studies has been growing, particularly in the last decade, and is concentrated in countries with developed economies and by researchers from these countries. Notably, while the literature on trail degradation is abundant, there is a pronounced scarcity of empirical research focusing on strategies for the reversal of such degradation. Moreover, the variability in the use of terms such as restoration, recovery, and rehabilitation across studies indicates a lack of consensus that may hinder effective communication and implementation of strategies to address the reversal of trail degradation. Thus, the strength of this research lies in its ability to bridge existing gaps by providing a comprehensive analysis of current terminologies and methodologies. By clarifying the terms' meanings, this study enhances their application in trail management. This enhancement, in turn, boosts management practices and aids in the global effort to restore degraded ecosystems. Not only does this work map out the existing research landscape, but it also underscores the urgent need for more targeted empirical studies that could inform practical, effective strategies for trail restoration in protected natural areas.