Environmental Protection in Trail Running: Practicing Leave No Trace Principles on Taiwan's Trails

Introduction

Taiwan’s trail running community has grown rapidly over the past decade, with more people taking to once-sparsely-trafficked mountain trails every year. This is something to celebrate, but it also brings responsibility: the more people who enter the mountains, the greater the pressure the mountains endure. Because trail runners enter the backcountry frequently and cover wide areas, their impact on trail environments is more direct than that of ordinary hikers. The seven principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) constitute an environmental stewardship framework recognized by the global mountaineering and outdoor recreation community, and they have specific applications within the context of Taiwan’s mountain trails.

The Seven Leave No Trace Principles

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare

Planning before a trail run isn’t just about safety—it’s also the first step in environmental protection.

Taiwan’s trail permit system:

• National park trails: Apply through the “Taiwan Trails and Outdoor Recreation Information System (hike.taiwan.gov.tw)”; most routes have visitor caps
• National forest lands: Some remote routes require applications to the Forestry Bureau
• Indigenous traditional territories: Respect the regulations of the Council of Indigenous Peoples before entering

Many trail runners are accustomed to a “get in, get out” approach and skip the permit process, but permit records serve as crucial rescue reference in the event of an accident and provide data that helps management agencies understand usage frequency.

Principle 2: Travel on Durable Surfaces

Trail running impacts trails more than regular hiking: foot strike frequency is higher, impact forces are greater, and erosion accelerates especially on slippery or muddy sections.

Specific practices:

• Use existing trails: Taiwan’s trails often have “animal paths” or human-created side trails branching off; even if they look like shortcuts, using them expands the damaged area
• Stay in the center of the trail: Avoid stepping to the trail edges to dodge mud—edge vegetation is key to trail stability
• Run through muddy sections rather than around them: Going around wet mud may seem to protect your shoes, but it actually expands the damaged area; running through the mud itself causes less harm to the trail

Protecting trails after rain:

• Avoid using trails when the soil is saturated; trampling saturated soil destroys soil structure
• If you must use them, step on already-compacted areas in the center rather than pressing fresh soil each time

Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly

Managing waste from trail running nutrition is the most common environmental issue on Taiwan’s trails.

Common trail running waste:

• Energy gel wrappers (the most common, as they’re easily blown away by wind)
• Wastewater from bottles and hydration bladders (electrolyte-containing fluids should not be dumped beside the trail)
• Sports tape and bandages (don’t leave them on the trail)

Zero-waste fueling strategies:

1. Use refillable soft flasks to reduce single-use packaging
2. Put empty gel wrappers in a dedicated small pouch rather than stuffing them into backpack pockets (where they easily fall out)
3. Organic waste such as fruit peels and nut shells should also be packed out (Taiwan’s mountain ecosystems decompose slowly)
4. When refilling water, choose a spot 50 meters downstream to avoid contaminating water sources

Principle 6: Respect Wildlife

The mountain areas trail runners enter are home to wildlife, and encounters are more likely during early morning and dusk training sessions.

How to handle encounters with common Taiwan mountain animals:

• Formosan black bear: Keep your distance, don’t run toward the bear (this triggers a chase response), back away slowly, and speak so the bear knows you’re human
• Formosan wild boar: Move away immediately if you see piglets—sows will attack to protect their young
• Formosan macaque: Don’t feed them (this creates dependency and aggression); if surrounded by a troop, stay calm and leave slowly
• Black kite: At races with aid stations, don’t leave food exposed to avoid attracting raptors

The Collective Responsibility of the Trail Running Community

Beyond individual actions, the trail running community has greater influence:

• Trail adoption: Every county and city in Taiwan has trail adoption programs; trail running groups can collectively apply to adopt their regular training routes
• Trail cleanups: Conduct organized trail litter cleanups monthly or quarterly, and record the data
• Trail condition reporting: Report trail damage through social media or official platforms to speed up repairs
• Education for newcomers: Every experienced trail runner has a responsibility to explain LNT principles to beginners

Practical Tips

1. Carry a small trash bag on every outing and pick up litter you see along the way (even if it isn’t yours)
2. When sharing trail running photos on social media, avoid tagging precise locations of remote trails (to prevent overcrowding)
3. Train on popular routes outside peak seasons to reduce peak pressure on trails
4. When purchasing trail running gear, prioritize brands with environmental certifications or recycled materials

Conclusion

Trail runners run in the mountains because they love them, and because they run in the mountains, they have a responsibility to protect them. As we enjoy every step on Taiwan’s trails, we are also safeguarding this precious mountain heritage for the next generation of trail runners. LNT is not a restriction—it is a concrete expression of love for the mountains: keeping the trails alive so that more people can experience what you feel today.

Related Reading

• Trail Running Beginner’s Guide: Transitioning from Road to Trail
• Taiwan Trail Running Beginner’s Guide
• Weather Preparedness for Trail Running: Safety Judgments on Taiwan’s Trails After Rainy Season and Typhoons
• Mountain Trail Race Preparation: A Complete Training Plan for Taiwan’s Trail Events