​​Threats to Trails

Hong Kong’s natural trails face several significant threats, including urban development encroaching on wilderness areas, illegal dumping of waste, and unregulated trail erosion caused by overuse. Climate change also contributes to increased landslides and vegetation loss, further degrading these valuable ecosystems. Protecting our trails requires targeted conservation efforts, community engagement, and enforcement of environmental policies to ensure these outdoor spaces remain accessible and healthy for future generations.

 

• Threats to conservation of natural trails in Hong Kong –  Major trails e.g. Maclehose, Wilson and Hong Kong Trails have over 50% concrete.

• Various ancient trails which are in good condition have been paved with concrete, causing damage to the natural environment and historical heritage.

• Overuse

• Steep trails should only be accessed by skilled hikers; paving steep trails with concrete staircases for the sake of easy access results in severe erosion and wastage of mountain rescue efforts.

• Concrete trails give a false sense of safety to beginner level hikers. Concrete is bad for our joints and they become an additional risk under rainy weather.

• Multiple jurisdiction by government departments on trail maintenance, lack of classification system, lack of sustainability standards and repair techniques

• Insufficient public education and awareness regarding trail sustainability and responsible hiking.

• Mountain Bikes

 

Trail Problems

• Soil erosion

• Trail Widening

• Trail Braiding

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Hiking Etiquette

• Keep on the designed trail.

• Avoid opening up new trails or shortcuts.

 

Other Resources 

Explore our collection of scientific studies, publications, and educational tools dedicated to preserving Hong Kong’s trails. Our resources provide valuable insights into sustainable practices, ecological impact assessments, and conservation strategies to support community-led trail protection.

 

• Results From questionnaire 

 

  步道面臨的威脅 香港的自然步道面臨許多重大威脅，包括城市發展侵占荒野地區、非法傾倒垃圾以及過度使用造成的步道侵蝕。氣候變遷也加劇了山崩和植被流失，進一步破壞了這些寶貴的生態系統。保護我們的步道需要有針對性的保護措施、社區參與以及環境政策的執行，以確保這些戶外空間能夠持續為子孫後代所用，並保持其健康狀態。

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香港自然步道保護面臨的威脅－主要步道，例如麥理浩徑、衛益路和香港徑，超過50%的路段鋪設了混凝土。 一些保存完好的古老步道也被鋪設了混凝土，對自然環境和歷史遺產造成了破壞。 過度使用 陡峭的步道只適合經驗豐富的健行者通行；為了方便通行而用混凝土台階鋪設陡峭的步道，會導致嚴重的侵蝕，並浪費山區救援資源。 混凝土步道會給初級徒步者帶來虛假的安全感。混凝土對關節有害，在下雨天會增加風險。 步道維護涉及多個政府部門，缺乏分類系統、永續性標準和維修技術。 公眾對步道永續性和負責任的徒步的教育和意識不足。

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步道問題

土壤侵蝕

步道拓寬

步道交錯

徒步禮儀 請沿指定步道行走

請勿開闢新步道或捷徑

 

其他資源

我們收集的研究、出版品和教育工具，這些資源致力於保護香港的步道。我們的資源為永續實踐、生態影響評估和保育策略提供了寶貴的見解，以支持社區主導的步道保護工作

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問卷調查結果