Active History: Creating Sustainable Cities Through Heritage Trails

Sustainable city planning plays an important role in fighting climate change, and heritage trails are critical to this effort. Heritage trails are walking, hiking, and biking paths that link features of historical interest. Examples include paths in parks, trails connecting villages, and walking routes in the historic centers of cities. On its face, historic conservation is not a sustainable practice. Heritage sites can be constructed with non-sustainable materials, and they occupy valuable space that city planners could otherwise use. Heritage trails offer a solution. In addition to providing access to cultural sites, these trails are beneficial to the environment for two reasons. First, they promote emissions-free activities. Second, they are green spaces that offset carbon emissions. In order to create buy-in, constructing heritage trails should include a wide range of stakeholders from across the community.