File photo of Alberta's Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon. (Canadian Press)

By Justin Goulet

Province tables new trails management and preservation act

Nov 2, 2021 | 3:10 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The province has introduced legislation that aims to protect and preserve trails in Alberta.

The Alberta Trails Act will strive to make sure more trails and adjacent areas are conserved in the province, while introducing new tools to manage trails and protect public lands.

Minister of Environment and Parks, Jason Nixon said the province is “absolutely committed to protecting and preserving our public spaces for all Albertans.”

“Trails are such an important part of Alberta’s history and identity, helping us lead healthy lives and providing huge economic benefits through travel and tourism, and they are more popular than ever before.”

Nixon added that with this legislation, the provincial government is “fulfilling our platform commitment for a Trails Act that helps advance our conservation agenda and supports quality outdoor recreation for generations to come.”

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In all, the province has about 13,000 kilometres of designated and managed trails, but there are hundreds of thousands of kilometres of unintended trails.

Alberta’s current legislation for trails on public land has not been updated since 1979. An example used by the province in how the Trails Act will protect the environment is off-highway vehicles (OHVs), which are being used quite often and can put a strain on trails. If passed, the legislation will provide clearer direction on when and where OHVs can be used.

The province added that the legislation will account for the concerns and needs of Indigenous peoples. Officials say it will be able to help locate and manage trails in a sustainable way that “is sensitive and responsive to nearby [Indigenous] communities and the ways in which they use the land.”

The Trails Act will strive to strengthen trail partnerships with volunteer organizations to help maintain and improve the provincial trails system.

In a release, the province noted that the Trails Act will:

• Establish the cornerstones for a sustainable trail management system on public land;
• Enable trails to be safe and as needed designated for specific uses such as hiking or riding an OHV;
• Enable improved trail planning, which will consider other land-uses and values;
• Strengthen protection of trails so that Albertans can enjoy them for years to come;
• Strengthen enforcement tools to prevent environmental damage and promote environmental stewardship of public land and;
• Promote a bigger role for partners in building and maintaining trails.

If passed, the Trails Act will come into force upon proclamation, except the requirement for a Trail Management Plan, which will come into effect in spring 2022.