Trail races in protected mountain areas and their effects on sustainable development

This article addresses the degree of sustainability generated by trail races in the development of the territory in protected mountain areas, focusing on the extent of the protection of natural areas and on the kinds of entities that organize these events. It is based on the feedback from 95 questionnaires completed by a sample of organizers of trail-race events held within 26 protected mountain areas in Catalonia in 2015. Analysis allowed us to identify those trail races with the most exemplary practices. No differences in the degree of sustainable development were found with regard to the degree of protection of natural areas. Profit-making organizations generate a greater degree of sustainability where development of the territory is concerned than do non-profit entities. The study provides protected mountain area managers and trail-race managers with an instrument with which to diagnose the impact that such races have on the land.