- Outdoor apps could help conserve nature
Many outdoor apps do not indicate protected areas and applicable rules during route planning, but they could actually help protect nature better. This is the conclusion of a scholarly article led by Arne Schwietering, a scientist at the University of Bayreuth's Sport and Environmental Studies Chair. "Outdoor platforms harbor potentials and challenges for nature conservation," said Schwietering.
The article states that the map base OpenStreetMap (OSM) often lacks relevant information about protected areas, and the extent of embedded information varies from platform to platform. By having representatives of nature conservation collaborate with outdoor platform operators, the information situation could be significantly improved, the authors write.
Problem: many different protected areas
It continues: "The obvious display of temporary closures during route planning and consideration during routing − the calculation of routes by outdoor platforms − could significantly reduce the often unintentional disregard by recreation seekers."
A problem is that there are many different protected areas with many different rules, said Schwietering. This makes the landscape of protected areas confusing even for experts. Here, apps could help by providing specific guidance: Where can I not leave the trails? Where do I need to be quiet? "That's what the platforms could do," the scientist is convinced.
And: Nature conservation could directly benefit from the users of the apps, as the article states. "The bidirectional communication enabled by digital media offers the opportunity to involve recreation seekers in nature conservation." An example are citizen science projects where citizens record the occurrence of certain animal and plant species. "Through active participation, nature enthusiasts can become part of regional or research conservation issues."
Better directing visitor flows
Data from the apps could help gain insights into visitor flows and direct them better. For example, if it becomes clear through data that particularly many people are in a certain area on certain days, they could be redirected elsewhere through automated ranking of tour suggestions via the apps. Additionally, more rangers might be deployed when a high number of visitors is expected.
The scholarly article was published in the journal "Nature and Landscape," published by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. According to Schwietering, important stakeholders in the areas of outdoor activities and nature conservation have contributed to it. These include companies that provide the apps, scientists, and representatives of well-known recreational areas, sports associations, and nature conservation.
Sports enthusiasts often explore protected areas for outdoor activities, but they may unintentionally violate rules due to lack of clarity. Schwietering suggests that sports apps could help address this issue by providing specific guidance about protected areas, such as trail boundaries and quiet zones. For instance, an app could inform hikers that they must stay on marked trails in a national park or remind runners to keep their volume low in a wildlife sanctuary. By incorporating this information, sports apps could play a role in promoting responsible outdoor recreation and protecting natural habitats.
