Ecological Sustainability

The esteemed  physicist, author and systems theorist Fritjof Capra lists the essential characteristics of a resilient and sustainable ecological system (or any other living system for that matter.) : Interdependence, Recycling, Flexibility, and Diversity.
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“As our century comes to a close, and we go toward the beginning of a new millennium, the survival of humanity will depend on our ecological literacy, on our ability to understand these principles of ecology and live accordingly.” Capra advises.

As our aim is to preserve the trail system and the South Hill forest indefinitely for posterity, we will diligently strive to understand and adapt these characteristics which will help to build and maintain a resilient system serving the ecological and human community for many years to come. Here are some of the ways we have successfully incorporated sustainability into the Green Mountain Trails and which will help guide us in the future.

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Interdependence

A sense of reciprocal responsibility with the surrounding community helps to make both the trails and the community stronger. The neighbors who hike and bike on the trails are the ones who are going to advocate for its continued existence and improvement in town meetings and elsewhere. When we help draw business to the local eateries, shops, and hostelries they in turn will help us with promotions and donations. Our relationship with VMBA highlights us as part of a association of high quality trail systems and we serve as a valuable representation of Killington area mountain biking for them.

Ecologically we hold sacred the invaluable services that the forest provides as part of its nature: clean water, air, biodiversity, beauty, solace, erosion control, soil building, wildlife habitat...in sum, the functions that enable life on earth. We honor this by protecting it from those uses that would compromise those functions, while recognizing that doing so without some alteration to the environment is impossible. We instead, through our caring, attempt to make the wisest decisions utilizing the best information available to do the least harm possible.

Flexibility

Look for inspiration everywhere, not just within one’s core discipline or field. Don’t be afraid to experiment within reason. Harbor a healthy skepticism of “the way it’s always been done” while still respecting established wisdom. Cultivate “beginner’s mind” as a way of encouraging fresh approaches to challenges. Encourage playfulness and not rigidity in thought and practice. Invite both seasoned expertise and rank amateurism and recognize that both have their place and their value as sources of time honored technique and fresh perspective.

Without being unduly inefficient, build redundancy into the trail system. Observe the trails in the most challenging conditions and modify the trails according to those standards. Trails are ever evolving and not meant to be static. With this in mind do not grasp onto a rigid idea of what a trail “should be” and instead honor what it is in the act of becoming and enhance it accordingly.

Strive for the harmony of maintaining the core integrity of the trails while recognizing the ever shifting trends which affect how the trail community wants to experience them. A strong sense of the defining character of the trail system actually facilitates honoring the changing times and human desires.

Recycling

Calling forth the full extent of our ingenuity, use and reuse as much material that can be sourced from the trails as practicable with the least harm possible/failing that, utilize supplies already on hand on the property before looking elsewhere/ failing that, procure needed tools and materials with the aim of maximizing durability and minimizing ecological and ethical impacts.

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Diversity

​Cultivate an awareness and understanding of plant and animal communities in the forest and strive to coexist with them with the lowest impact possible, ideally next to none. Respect and develop an understanding of the role every organism plays in keeping the forest healthy, not just favored species, yet also accept that much of this knowledge is still beyond our comprehension. An important part of our strategy is knowing what we don’t know and avoiding the pitfalls of arrogance.

Welcome and encourage trail users young and old, male and female, of every race and creed, adaptive and able bodied, of different backgrounds, of different income levels, with varying cultural backgrounds, of diverse political affiliations, of differing levels of formal education. In outreach, strive to reach as diverse group as possible without compromising the core values that ensure the integrity of the trail system. We feel if our core values are sound, then they will benefit anyone who happens to visit the trails.

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