Trail-running – changing attitudes and forging strong partnerships for conservation

More than 400 international and many more South African athletes prepare to tackle one of five races at this weekend’s RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town (RMB UTCT), celebrating the synergy between health and wellbeing from participating in the sport and important conservation of nature.

And with RMB UTCT announced as one of nine World Trail Majors this week, there is even a stronger ‘green’ commitment, with ‘respect for the environment’ listed as the second of the association’s primary fundamentals.

Trail runners and conservation authorities have not always been close bed-fellows. At worst, trail runners may have disrespected conservation ethics while park managers and authorities may have taken positions, not necessarily backed by science, to restrict or ban trail running.

Increasingly, however, trail runners and conservation authorities are recognising mutual benefits from stronger partnerships, with two of South Africa’s premier trail races leading the way.

The Otter African Trail Run, which traverses 42km through the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, has for some years demonstrated the value of a close relationship between trail and conservation, while RMB UTCT has grown a professional and beneficial relationship with its host, Table Mountain National Park.

“What the Otter African Trail Run does well,” reflected race director Mark Collins this week, “is to communicate a message that reinforcers in trail runners a cognizance of where we are, what we are doing, what impact we are having, taking a responsibility for it and above all accentuating just how vulnerable and yet essential our wildernesses are.”

In similar vein, Tsitsikamma Park Manager, Victor Mokoena, emphasised the importance of putting people at the centre of their approach to conservation. “A people-centered approach to conservation of biodiversity recognises responsible sports, such as trail running, as instruments of inclusivity towards ‘reconnecting’ people to nature and developing a love for conservation.”

The close working relationship between the Otter team and the Park management is clear from Mokoena’s enthusiastic response. “The Otter African Trail run has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Tsitsikamma, spanning 15 years of loyalty to conservation through exposing trail running to the most pristine landscapes of Africa’s oldest Marine Protected Area,” continued Mokoena.

“This event has not only positioned trail running as a responsible contributor to conservation but also has accelerated socio-economic transformation in the landscape.”

RMB UTCT race director, Stuart McConnachie, acknowledged that developing relationships with Table Mountain National Park had not always been easy, but took pride in having earned the respect of the park as an organization committed to similar goals.

“In the early years there was a lot of mistrust,” McConnachie conceded. “But we have proved ourselves as a committed and serious organization and have now been granted that trust. SANParks know we are not fly-by-nights who might try to sneak things past them. I’m very happy with where things are – we have a very good relationship with the park.”

Not yet a full year in the saddle, Park Manager of Table Mountain National Park, Megan Taplin, is thrilled to return to TMNP where she worked as a conservation student, investigating the diet of bontebok in the Cape of Good Hope section. “I try to get into the park as often as I can, but this is a difficult goal, considering my management responsibilities. But I often using weekends to enjoy exploring the hiking trails.”

Taplin recognises twin responsibilities of Table Mountain National Park, which is both a national park and a world heritage site. “The task falls to us to accommodate users while protecting the natural environment so it can be managed in a sustainable manner, taking into account the enjoyment of future generations.”

Taplin drew attention to SANParks’ vision of “a sustainable system of national parks reconnecting and inspiring society” and the importance of linking parks to people. “National Parks are integral to the well-being of people,” Talin emphasised. “It is important that parks provide benefits to people if they are to persist into the future.”

“Trail running occurs through vast areas of the park, and without theses spaces, trail running would not be thriving as it is in Cape Town. The preservation of the landscape and natural environments is deeply rooted in the culture of trail running,” Taplin continued.

“UTCT is a unique event which has successfully combined trail running in the park with urban sections to create one of South Africa’s most beautiful running events in a tapestry of diverse and utterly exceptional landscapes. The relationship between UTCT and the Park has grown over the years and we acknowledge the time invested by the organisers in building relationships and working within Park rules and guidelines.”

Key to the success of the relationship has been the time invested by UTCT and the trail community. “We’ve invested a lot in establishing that the park’s trust,” said McConnachie. “Outside the race itself, we have worked physically with the Honorary Rangers to repair trails. Over the years that represents a considerable section of the mountain – it’s not simply window dressing.”

Ultimately both race organisers and conservation managers hope that enhanced access to mountain and coastal landscapes which trail events provide to runners will lead to changed attitudes and behaviour towards conservation areas.

“Our message of leaving a place better because you were there resonates profoundly with our crew, our participants, and our hosts,” said Collins. “In the sum of all things, we hope this trickles down to the way everybody behaves on the ground on the event and more broadly and perhaps that makes a difference.”