FOOTPATH MANAGEMENT IN ICELAND A VISUAL REFLECTION ON QUALITY CONCERNS AND FOOTPATH POLICY CONSIDERATIONS ANDRÉS ARNALDS DECEMBER 2016
INTRODUCTION It is evident that Iceland is facing tremendous work developing and maintaining tourist locations, hiking paths and other routes of travel. This undertaking is urgent, as the environmental impact of the rapidly increasing tourism sector has become a severe environmental issue. Popular destinations are particularly in need of attention, but the problem is a serious one across the whole country. Much is at stake. It is vital to insure that professional and specialist knowledge and administrative culture is adequate in order to address these issues. A STRATEGY FOR REINFORCING SPECIALISED PROCEDURES There is a dire need for long term vision and a comprehensive strategy in order to reinforce professionalism in planning, developing and maintaining tourist locations, footpaths and other routes. It is important that this be successful. Damage to nature and unaccountable maintenance costs must be avoided, for example due to poorly thought out construction. A long term holistic project is under development to increase quality of footpath and small site management. This strategy must entail: Vision That all those involved in some way with planning, constructing and maintaining foot paths or hiking trails and other related projects are guided by solid knowledge on good practice and meet strict standards in all areas of environmental protection and personal safety. Purpose To lay the foundation to the professional knowledge entailed in aforementioned vision, to facilitate development in field, gather experience and promote development of capability to advice on a national scale. Guiding principle Everything done should be based on principles of footpath management and a clear policy. Objectives and principal tasks The objectives of this overall plan for advancing professionalism in footpath and small site management include: 1. Strengthening the knowledge base required. 2. Development of policies for footpath and small site management. 3. Preparing training and educational material for footpath management. 4. Practical training for footpath management, including design, building and repairing paths. 5. Exchange visits and interactive communication of Icelandic and foreign experts. 2
THIS REPORT In the following pages, a few examples are shown to illustrate and underline the urgent need to take bold steps to increase quality in all areas of footpath management in Iceland, from development of policy, planning and design to implementation and maintenance. In this report, these challenges are displayed visually, emphasising the problem at hand, and mistakes that have been made. This method is often valuable to hone in on what can be improved and underlining need for increased specialist knowledge. This approach is meant to complement the important learning that can be made from successful undertakings. The natural beauty of Iceland must be preserved. 3
All over the country, destinations and routes face damage due to increasing strain. A tremendous undertaking for improvements lies ahead. There are thousands of examples of such locations and routes. Economically the most practical approach is to emphasise preventative measures, as opposed to waiting until the damage is done. Strategic planning and the development of professional knowledge and culture are required. Part of such efforts relates to design and procedures, but also to the management of strain and the evaluation of which places should be omitted from any works, namely, which places should be left untouched. 4
All over the country, new routes and paths are continually being formed randomly. In many instances they need to be relocated and adapted to the lay of the land and other principles of path management, as opposed to repairing these routes. If this is not done, expensive construction is at risk of only having a short-term effect. A popular foot path where expense has not been spared on construction. Choices made in materials are good; the gravel compresses well and is comfortable for walking. However, the path is much too steep and also too straight with regards to visual effect. It follows the previous route which lay straight ahead. It would have been more ideal to design a new route that blended more effortlessly into the environment, and that entailed curves to lessen the slope and facilitate the construction of channels to clear water off the path. 5
Water erodes. If care is not taken to clear water off and away from paths, there is increased risk that the lifespan of improvements becomes very short and maintenance costs high. (Left photo by Guðmundur Ögmundsson). A common mistake is to demarcate paths by arranging rocks at the sides of the paths. By doing this, the path is turned into a watercourse. Channels must be constructed to direct water off paths in many locations. 6
In multiple locations around the country, severe damage has been done to the land due to strain from foot traffic. In this example, an approx. 9 m wide path has been formed, blemishing the land. Curves must be constructed and the location of path re-evaluated to minimise water erosion. Here, as in many places, it is easy to direct water off the path, and by doing so multiply its durability. Improvements should generally start with such executions, as they become increasingly expensive as the damage grows. 7
A foot path on very sensitive soil. One section of the path has become 19 m wide. Across the country, a substantial effort is needed to direct water off paths in order to greatly decrease the rate of land erosion. Initially, such undertakings should take priority over more labour intensive and vastly more expensive constructions. Special care should be given to selection of materials. Research, knowledge and professional guidance is needed. 8
Steps and stairs are expensive. This image is from 2006. By now there is a new path, but in this instance many rules of path management were broken, i.e. straight direction as opposed to curves in the path, incline, material choice, height of steps and methods for water redirection. Common mistakes that can be seen all around the country. A muddy area on a popular route, causing many to fall or get stuck. The placement of the trail marker underlines the general need for ranger patrolling, which is also a prerequisite for quality of improvements and the prioritising of construction. 9
Are we currently behind other nations when it comes to developing methods to decrease the risk of water-erosion? The image on the left displays a diagonal water channel on a trail in the Dolomites. The image on the right underlines that the durability of such efforts to prevent water erosion is often short in Iceland. On the left: A new path to a beautiful location. Are the laws of path management respected, i.e. in relation to visibility in landscape, incline and protection from water erosion? The image on the right shows the opposite, a construction that blends effortlessly into its surroundings. The prerequisites to design must be clarified, and contractors must be trained in ways to minimise environmental impact and ensure the durability of construction. (Left image: Photographer: Magnús Jóhannsson). 10
This image displays an effort to improve access and protect vegetation. The environmental impact must be taken into consideration when it comes to construction that is meant to facilitate tourist access to popular destinations. The appearance of the natural treasures being preserved must be protected, visual effect should be minimised and care should be taken that the construction doesn t damage its delicate surroundings. Construction can severely impact the overall appearance of a location. This path in a popular location deforms the area in a pronounced way, and can be seen from far away, including from the natural wonder the path leads to. It is vital to ensure that an undertaking of this scale be evaluated for its environmental impact. 11
This image is from a lecture on footpath management held by Scotsman Bob Aitken. Here, incline is kept to a minimum. In Iceland, too many paths have been formed randomly, by multiple hikers walking straight ahead, the shortest way possible. In many places, new paths must be created to reduce incline and water erosion, as opposed to repairing aforementioned paths. Too many constructions to create foot paths resemble vehicle roads more than foot paths. More care must be given to the design of paths, prerequisites for planning and procedure. 12
The country s geothermal areas are hyper-sensitive and many of them are already severely downtrodden. It is fundamental to prepare such areas for preservation before increased traffic is directed to them by creating paths. Additionally, the layout of such paths should be meticulously thought out to avoid trampling damage in sensitive parts of the geothermal areas. Where to construct? Which areas should we spare from development? What draws the eye? How do we ensure that man-made constructions blend in with their surroundings, like this? 13
Can it be stated that care is being taken that the actions of man don t corrupt the overall appearance of the natural wonders they are meant to serve? Are we in a phase of repair as opposed to clear direction and precaution? At what stage of preparation can sensitive areas meet increased use, if at all? CONCLUSION Professional knowledge of best practices needs to be greatly reinforced. If this is not done, many projects for improvement could become be insufficient in relation to, among other, preventing soil erosion and other ecosystem damage, conservation of nature and maintenance costs. In each undertaking, all relevant parties should aspire that everything done blends in with nature to all extent possible. 14