Nature Trails and Mixed Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 72

Figure 3.4 A rainforest canopy trail in Ghana
walkways collapsing with people on them. In addition to safety, hanging
trails are noted for their educational potential, as they allow students, teachers
and scientists to study various living organisms and various physical processes
associated with rainforests. Third, Báez (2002) notes their potential role in
conservation as they help contribute to forest regeneration and the reforesta-
tion of pastureland, as they generate low-impact tourism that might provide
employment and income for people who were formerly involved in defores-
tation and ranching enterprises. As part of this, they can be seen as a way
of developing community-based tourism in areas where indigenous people
may have few other livelihood options beyond consuming jungle resources.
Long-distance, multi-day nature trails
There are thousands of long-distance trails that focus primarily on
nature, although as noted earlier in the chapter, few of them are solely about
nature, as there is almost always some element of culture being conserved
and appreciated as well. Famous multi-day nature trails can be found
throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand
(e.g. the Great Walks). While there are many local nature trails extending
from a few hundred meters to several kilometers, longer-distance footpaths
are a different product entirely. Owing to their distance, and often their dif-
ficult terrain, these see fewer full completions. Unlike short-distance nature
trails or some famous long-distance trails (e.g. the Appalachian Trail) where
people can enter at one of many entry points, mountainous nature trails
typically have beginning and ending points with few access gateways in
between. Thus, hikers completing the most rigorous trails tend to reflect the