The Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative
The Goal
The Goal
Strava Metro will help forest managers make better decisions about where to focus conservation efforts and how to manage recreation.FEMC
The Forest EcoSystem Cooperative (FEMC), a long-term forest monitoring and data analysis collaborative based at the University of Vermont, recently used Strava data to inform recreation management in Northeastern forests. By analyzing trail use for hiking and mountain biking and combining it with data on soil suitability and forest canopy health, FEMC generated a portfolio of geospatial datasets geared toward improving recreation management in New England and New York.
The resulting map products show which areas in northeastern forests have the most hiking and mountain biking activity. It comes as no surprise that the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondacks in New York are popular places for hiking. The analysis also highlights smaller albeit popular mountain biking areas, such as Kingdom Trails in northeastern Vermont.
By combining trail use data with soil information (NRCS 2023), FEMC can identify areas where foot and bike traffic overlap with sensitive soils. This allows forest managers to make informed decisions about where to invest in maintaining and improving trails, ensuring these areas remain accessible and enjoyable for recreation, while also safeguarding the environment.
FEMC’s work also highlights how recreation and wildlife can coexist. By mapping trail use alongside wildlife habitats, managers can better understand how to balance outdoor activities with habitat protection. This helps forest managers maintain access to beautiful natural spaces while making management decisions that also support wildlife conservation. Through these insights, trail users can continue to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, with opportunities to learn more about how to protect the environment as they explore.
These tools will help forest managers make better decisions about where to focus conservation efforts and how to manage recreation.
The geospatial products—as well as a full report describing the products and methods in more detail—are openly available for download on the FMEC website
