“Shifting to a Model of Shared Stewardship. Shifting from a model of the Forest Service attempting to “do it all” to meet the expectations and needs of trail users and stakeholders, to a model where the Forest Service, trail users, and stakeholders form a collective community of stewards who provide support to and receive shared benefits from trails.”

“The Forest Service will improve how it manages and provides sustainable trails by using this strategy as a catalyst for change over the next decade.”

“Actions:

Inspire Intent and Commitment:
Inspire agency leaders, employees, partners, volunteers, trail users, and friends to achieve shared stewardship of a sustainable trail system.

Implement 10-Year Trail Challenge:
Using the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act in 2018 as a catalyst, invite partners, volunteers, and employees to develop and implement a bold, national 10-Year Sustainable Trails Stewardship Challenge toward achieving
a sustainable system of trails.

Apply Leader Intent Incentives:
Develop incentives for demonstrating and championing leader intent at all levels of the agency, including the application of associated annual performance expectations.

Establish Trails Advisory Group:
Establish a Trails Advisory Group comprised of agency employees to give advice and timely input to the Chief of the Forest Service on emerging trail issues.

Encourage Shared Partner Leadership:
Encourage establishment of a multipartner group— championed by NGOs, academia, Indian tribes, and other agencies and entities—to contribute shared
leadership in carrying out this strategy.”

“Sustainable Change Leader-led change is often initiated with a high level of impact that may wane over time. Grassroots-led change often grows slowly, yet must be adopted by leadership to achieve lasting results. Sustainable change is cultivated where leader intent meets grassroots initiative and both are infused with regular feedback and support.”