Wetlands preservation : How to hike without disturbing the ecosystem. 👣 Whenever you go for a hike in Sweden, you will notice these wooden paths discreetly crossing the landscapes. As this is not something I have ever seen in my native land, where hiking paths are simply primitive foot trails, I was wondering what was the use of these. I came to the conclusion it was a way to avoid to get our feet wet, and to make it easier to hike and find our way. Turns out I was wrong! Luckily I had a Swedish guide with me while I was hiking in this beautiful area of Umeå, that told me these pathways are actually made to preserve the overall environment. Simply walking repetitively on the ground would actually disturb the flow of water which could accumulate in one area, and therefore potentially dry another one. And, being slightly uplifted, the water isn't stuck under the wood but can freely move, light can still reach the soil, which does not disturb vegetation. 🌱 I find it amazing that we can hike without disturbing the ecosystem with those type of simple but effective solutions. Wetlands preservation is an important topic that I highly recommend you read about if you are used to outdoor activities. It is a vulnerable area that play an extremely important role in supporting earth's flora and fauna. All decisions when it comes to design a hiking path must be made with water quality as a major concern. 📷 Photo : wood pathway while hiking in Umeå, Sweden. (Still got my feet wet, somehow!)