Conservation Cooperative, Ep. 1: Trails
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This inaugural episode of the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers' New England and New York Chapters Conservation Cooperative explores the complex relationship between recreational trail development and conservation in Vermont. Host Chris delves into how the rapid expansion of multi-use trails—driven by a thriving outdoor recreation economy and state initiatives like VOREC and VOBA—has created tension between preserving wild landscapes and expanding public access. While acknowledging the economic benefits and cultural significance of trails, the episode highlights growing concerns about their ecological impacts, including habitat fragmentation, increased human presence, and stress on wildlife and forest ecosystems. Key voices, including BHA board member Ethan Dreisigacker, wildlife researcher Meredith Naughton, and outdoor industry leaders, emphasize that the real issue isn't the trail infrastructure itself, but the sustained human activity it enables. The episode also examines the role of private landowners, the limitations of Act 250 in regulating linear development, and the potential of large-scale projects like the Velomont Trail to serve as conservation tools. Ultimately, the discussion centers on the need for inclusive dialogue, shared stewardship values, and a landscape-level approach to balancing recreation with ecological integrity.
Trail development in Vermont is driven by economic incentives and state-supported initiatives, but it poses significant ecological risks due to increased human presence and habitat fragmentation.
The real conservation challenge lies not in trail construction itself, but in the sustained recreational use and the behavioral impact on wildlife and ecosystems.
Private landowners play a crucial role in trail access and conservation; strategic placement of trails can help preserve untrailed, ecologically sensitive areas.
Projects like Velomont aim to merge recreation with conservation by protecting over 200,000 acres of land through a hut-supported trail network.
Bridging the gap between trail users and conservationists requires ongoing dialogue, education, and a shared ethic of stewardship that includes ecological awareness.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Introduction to the Conservation Cooperative
Chris introduces the new Conservation Cooperative series, explaining its mission to explore conservation issues in New England and New York through diverse perspectives, with a focus on the impact of trail development in Vermont.
The Dual Nature of Trails: Recreation vs. Conservation
“Most of the time when you're recreating on a trail, you're not thinking about that. And to me, that's sort of where this becomes an issue is it's like, it's not really necessarily about the physical infrastructure directly. It's about the human presence on the landscape that comes with it.”
Economic Drivers of Trail Expansion
“In 2021, Vermont's GDP from outdoor recreation rose to 4.1%, the third highest in the nation behind Hawaii and Montana.”
The Role of Private Land and Act 250
“Act 250 was never developed to govern linear development. It's about plot-based development, a housing complex or a building or a parking lot things like that so acreage is really the language of Act 250 in terms of trigger.”
Conservation Through Trail Design: The Velomont Vision
“The corridor through which the trail will pass presents an opportunity to conserve a little over 200,000 acres of unprotected land.”
“Most of the time when you're recreating on a trail, you're not thinking about that. And to me, that's sort of where this becomes an issue is it's like, it's not really necessarily about the physical infrastructure directly. It's about the human presence on the landscape that comes with it.”
“The corridor through which the trail will pass presents an opportunity to conserve a little over 200,000 acres of unprotected land.”
“I think just continuing to talk about it brings it into everyone's ear. But I think also like making the ecology of place inextricable from recreation is so important.”
Host
Guests
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
organization
Velomont Trail
other
Ethan Dreisigacker
person
New England BHA Chapter
organization
Nick Bennett
person
Act 250
other
Vermont Mountain Bike Association
organization
Meredith Naughton
person
RJ Thompson
person
Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative
organization
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