Erasmus+ Project “Trails for Change”
Sustainable trails, responsible outdoor sports events and European cooperation for mountain biking and outdoor sports.
Mountain biking, hiking and trail running are inspiring more and more people across Europe. At the same time, the demands placed on trails, protected areas, event organisers and users are increasing. Everyone enjoying the outdoors shares a responsibility for the landscapes they move through.
The Erasmus+ project Trails for Change develops practical solutions to address these challenges: training in sustainable trail management, guidelines for environmentally responsible outdoor sports events, pilot events, digital storytelling formats, and recommendations for policymakers, public authorities and associations.
Coordinated by Suomen Latu in Finland, partner organisations from eight European countries are working together. Mountain Bike Forum Germany (MTF) is the German project partner and contributes its expertise in mountain bike development, knowledge transfer, advocacy, event practice and environmentally responsible trail use.
- Project duration
- 1 December 2025 – 31 May 2028
- Programme
- Erasmus+ Sport
- Project Coordinator
- Suomen Latu, Finland
- German Project Partner
- Mountain Bike Forum Germany (MTF)
Project Focus
Sustainable trail management forms the technical foundation of the project. Training courses and guidelines bring together topics such as trail planning, trail building, classification, conservation and maintenance. The aim is to create safe, durable and environmentally responsible trails for mountain biking, hiking and trail running.
Eight pilot events in the partner countries demonstrate how outdoor sports events can be planned and delivered in a more environmentally responsible way. The focus is on responsible route planning, waste reduction, local cooperation, resource-efficient logistics and the assessment of environmental impacts.
The project also specifically addresses young people, women+ and underrepresented groups. Through training, pilot events and communication activities, Trails for Change aims to create new opportunities for participation, skills development and active involvement in outdoor sports.
A Europe-wide awareness campaign, 24 multimedia stories, advocacy workshops and an open knowledge hub will make good practices more visible. In this way, Trails for Change strengthens dialogue with policymakers, public authorities, protected areas, associations, event organisers and the outdoor sports community.
Sustainable trail management forms the technical foundation of the project. Training courses and guidelines bring together topics such as trail planning, trail building, classification, conservation and maintenance. The aim is to create safe, durable and environmentally responsible trails for mountain biking, hiking and trail running.
Eight pilot events in the partner countries demonstrate how outdoor sports events can be planned and delivered in a more environmentally responsible way. The focus is on responsible route planning, waste reduction, local cooperation, resource-efficient logistics and the assessment of environmental impacts.
The project also specifically addresses young people, women+ and underrepresented groups. Through training, pilot events and communication activities, Trails for Change aims to create new opportunities for participation, skills development and active involvement in outdoor sports.
A Europe-wide awareness campaign, 24 multimedia stories, advocacy workshops and an open knowledge hub will make good practices more visible. In this way, Trails for Change strengthens dialogue with policymakers, public authorities, protected areas, associations, event organisers and the outdoor sports community.
Project Outputs
- Five training modules on trail management, trail building, trail classification, trail conservation and maintenance, and sustainable event planning
- Three international Train-the-Trainer courses and eight national training courses
- Eight sustainable outdoor sports pilot events
- Handbook for sustainable outdoor sports events
- Sustainability Impact Assessment including policy recommendations
- 24 multimedia stories and a Europe-wide awareness campaign
- Open digital knowledge hub featuring materials, examples and project results
- International online conference at the end of the project
Target Groups
Direct Target Groups
- Outdoor sports organisations and event organisers
- Trail managers, national parks and protected-area authorities
- Municipalities, regions, tourism organisations and land management stakeholders
- Trainers, guides, volunteers and multipliers
- Communities, professional athletes and recreational sports participants
- Young people, women+ and underrepresented groups
Indirect Target Groups
- Policymakers, public authorities and advocacy groups
- Conservation stakeholders, associations and European networks
- Media, the general public and local communities
Impressions
Implementation Activities
Lead: Suomen Latu
Suomen Latu coordinates the project, manages cooperation between the partners and ensures monitoring, quality assurance, reporting and compliance with Erasmus+ requirements. Five transnational project meetings are planned: the kick-off meeting in Helsinki, three online meetings and a final project meeting in Brussels.
Lead: IMBA Europe & Suomen Latu
The project develops five training modules on sustainable trail management and responsible outdoor sports event planning. Three international Train-the-Trainer courses and eight national training courses ensure that knowledge is transferred to the partner countries and shared at national level. MTF participates in the international training courses and organises one national training course in Germany.
Lead: MTB Schladming & Velo Schools
Eight pilot events test sustainable event practices in mountain biking, trail running and hiking. The experience gained feeds into a Sustainability Handbook and recommendations for future outdoor sports events. MTF organises the German community event with an environmental education component and is responsible for the Sustainability Impact Assessment, including policy recommendations.
Lead: Connect International & MTF
This work package makes sustainable outdoor sports more visible. It includes eight national Advocacy & Digital Storytelling Workshops, one international online workshop, a Europe-wide awareness campaign, 24 multimedia stories and an open knowledge hub. Together with Connect International, MTF is responsible for key elements of strategic communication, the Knowledge-Sharing Hub and impact evaluation.
Lead: Suomen Latu
Suomen Latu coordinates the project, manages cooperation between the partners and ensures monitoring, quality assurance, reporting and compliance with Erasmus+ requirements. Five transnational project meetings are planned: the kick-off meeting in Helsinki, three online meetings and a final project meeting in Brussels.
Lead: IMBA Europe & Suomen Latu
The project develops five training modules on sustainable trail management and responsible outdoor sports event planning. Three international Train-the-Trainer courses and eight national training courses ensure that knowledge is transferred to the partner countries and shared at national level. MTF participates in the international training courses and organises one national training course in Germany.
Lead: MTB Schladming & Velo Schools
Eight pilot events test sustainable event practices in mountain biking, trail running and hiking. The experience gained feeds into a Sustainability Handbook and recommendations for future outdoor sports events. MTF organises the German community event with an environmental education component and is responsible for the Sustainability Impact Assessment, including policy recommendations.
Lead: Connect International & MTF
This work package makes sustainable outdoor sports more visible. It includes eight national Advocacy & Digital Storytelling Workshops, one international online workshop, a Europe-wide awareness campaign, 24 multimedia stories and an open knowledge hub. Together with Connect International, MTF is responsible for key elements of strategic communication, the Knowledge-Sharing Hub and impact evaluation.
The Role of MTF
Mountain Bike Forum Germany (MTF) brings the perspective of the German mountain biking and outdoor sports sector into Trails for Change. As a knowledge, networking and implementation partner, MTF works at the intersection of tourism, nature conservation, public administration, trail practice, research, sport and the community.
Within the project, MTF focuses primarily on three areas:
- Knowledge transfer to Germany: MTF participates in the international Train-the-Trainer activities and organises a national training course for German stakeholders from trail management, event planning, nature conservation, sports organisations and public administration.
- Sustainable event practice and impact assessment: MTF organises a German community event, including environmental education, and is responsible for the Sustainability Impact Assessment, including policy recommendations on the transferability of sustainable event models.
- Advocacy, digital storytelling and communication: Together with Connect International, MTF leads the fourth work package on communication and advocacy. Activities include advocacy formats, webinars, digital storytelling content, the development of an open knowledge hub and the communication of sustainable outdoor sports practices to policymakers, professional audiences and the outdoor sports community.
In this way, the Erasmus+ project Trails for Change directly builds on existing MTF activities, including the German Mountain Bike Congress, the #Sauberwald initiative, MTF’s involvement in the Bike Nature Movement, as well as the Bike Booklet campaign, NAT:KIT and the European projects Re-Cycling and STANDOUT.
Contact
Contact persons at MTF for the Trails for Change project:
- Nico Graaff n.graaff@mountainbikeforum.de
- Nora Mühling n.muehling@mountainbikeforum.de
- Jörn Hessen j.hessen@mountainbikeforum.de
Project Partners
- Suomen Latu (FI)
- IMBA Europe (NL)
- Velo Schools (MK)
- MTB Schladming (AT)
- Connect International (BE)
- Mountain Bike Forum Germany (DE)
- Tara National Park (RS)
- Šar Mountain National Park / Shar Mountain National Park (MK)
- Društvo gorskih kolesarjev Pohorje / SPANK Maribor (SI)
Associated Partner
- European Network of Outdoor Sports / ENOS (FR)
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
