Since 2014, TrailWatch has served as an important information platform for public engagement. With over 190,000 registered users, it has provided impactful services to hikers, researchers and country park policy developers. As a hiking app, hikers can use it to plan and track their route and on top of that, to monitor the trails with us via the incident reporting function. Users are encouraged to report waste dumping on trails, “illegal structure” and heavy use of concrete on forest or slope trails, vandalism and suspicious clearance of vegetation and plants.

Waste Audit is a public education project that started in April 2021 (Earth Day), inviting users of TrailWatch and members of the public to take part as volunteers to clean up trails, and to record (by way of information, data and images), the rubbish cleared from the trails using the TrailWatch App. At the end of each activity, TrailWatch staff will organize and formulate data gathered from the event. Data is shared with government departments for follow-up; data and insights on solutions are shared with the general public.

In 2024, Parks and Trails launched a new programme – MyTree, the objective is to develop a registry for documenting tree species along country park trails. Through the MyTree App and using citizen science methodologies, the project aims to educate the public about trees, forests, ecosystem services and their relationship with climate change. Through advancing knowledge of trees and their importance, it also aims to encourage the public to take ownership of caring for and protecting our trees.

Backyard trails are footpaths traversing greenbelts, some located in the buffer zones between urban areas and country parks, while others are situated in isolated greenbelt areas. These green recreational spaces have become important community gathering spaces for nearby residents and hikers but often overlooked. In collaboration with the WYNG Foundation, we investigate the current status, existing facilities, usage patterns, and development threats of the backyard trails, and propose specific recommendations on spatial planning, management, recreational development, and conservation strategies for these open spaces.