From reports to works, the management of trails in Ticino (cross-border guide)

Context

Trail management in Ticino is an important process to ensure the safety of hikers. When a path is closed, a coordinated system involving several actors comes into play. The trail management process is governed by the Ticino Walking and Trail Signalling Law, approved by the State Council on 15 June 2018.

The process begins with a hiker or trail manager reporting a problem or hazard on the trail. The report can be made through the online reporting system of the Canton of Ticino or through a direct appeal to the Forest and Territory Service of the Department of Infrastructure and Mobility.

The report is then evaluated by the Forest and Territory Service, which decides if the trail should be closed or if maintenance work needs to be carried out. If the trail is to be closed, the Forest and Territory Service communicates the closure to trail managers and hikers via a press release.

Hikers can also check the website of the Canton of Ticino to check the status of the trails and receive safety information. 📊

A concrete example is the path of Monte Tamaro, which was closed for maintenance work in 2020. The works were carried out by the Forest and Territory Service in collaboration with the Municipality of Lugano and are

Operational details

The management of trails in Ticino is a complex task that requires the collaboration of different bodies and subjects. When a trail is closed, the report is sent to the local tourist office, which defines the times and methods of intervention. In addition, hikers can report damage or closure of a trail by filling out an online form.

Ticino law stipulates that tourist organisations must carry out at least 5 annual checks on the trails to ensure the safety of hikers. In addition, it is expected that tourism organisations must publish the results of the checks on their websites. According to the regulations in force since 2020, tourist organisations must ensure the maintenance of the trails at least once every 5 years.

In 2022, the tourist board of the Municipality of Bellinzona carried out 7 checks on the trails in the area, at a total cost of 35,000 Swiss francs. The results of the checks highlighted the need to intervene on the following paths:

• Trail of the Hut: need to repair the road sign
• Path of Monte San Giorgio: need to repair a wooden bridge
• Path of Lake Lugano: need to clean the vegetation

Ticino tourism authorities must also ensure the safety of hikers in the event of extreme weather events. According to the rules in force since 2019, tourism organizations must prepare an emergency plan in the event of extreme weather events.

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Key points

The collaboration between the various public and private bodies makes it possible to define times and methods of intervention for the maintenance of the trails in Ticino. Hikers can report damage or closure of a trail by filling out an online form, which is then processed and evaluated by the relevant authorities.

The management of trails is a complex task that requires the collaboration of different actors. The Ticino Region, in collaboration with the Municipality of Lugano, the Municipality of Bellinzona and other local authorities, has established a trail management system that provides for the creation of a list of trails to be maintained and the definition of an annual intervention plan.

The intervention plan is established based on the reports received from hikers and the maintenance needs of the trails. The Ticino Region has allocated 500,000francs for the year 2023 for the maintenance of the trails, while the Municipality of Lugano has allocated 200,000 francs for the same purpose.

The competent bodies for the management of the trails are the Ticino Region, the Municipality of Lugano, the Municipality of Bellinzona and other local authorities. The Ticino Region is responsible for defining the annual intervention plan and managing the funds allocated to the maintenance of the trails. The Municipality of Lugano and the Municipality of Bellinzona are responsible for the maintenance of the trails within their territories.

Trail management is a complex task that requires collaboration

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Source: rsi.ch