2023 Emerging Trail Leaders

Emerging Trail Leader Scholarship Recipient

Goda Lukoseviciute

Faro, Portugal

I am a third year PhD student in the programme of nature-based recreation at the University of Algarve (Ualg) in Portugal, developing my doctoral thesis on the topic trail-related recreation and sustainable territorial development. Currently I am developing my further research focusing on local economic and social impact of trail developments, involving various stakeholders. I have been the project manager for 3 years for a EU funded international project "Trail GazersBID" in Portugal; which aims to revitalize, regenerate and re-imagine rural communities by developing a ‘shared vision' for the future sustainable development of trail sites, their natural and cultural assets and surrounding towns, villages and countryside. During the project we have developed an analytical and technical framework to measure returns from trail investments in various European Atlantic coastal regions. My research interest in trails is interdisciplinary holistic aiming to develop trail-based communities and enhance local and rural economic and socio-cultural development. Currently I am teaching an international master’s students in this area at Ualg. Attendance of ITS 2023 in Reno would provide me with the opportunity to broaden my exposure to these topics both by learning about approaches throughout The Americas and networking with a wide variety of professionals in the trail recreation field in order to bring different perspectives back to the European trail recreation arena. In addition, I am willing to engage new contacts and collaboration with experts in recreational trails, their design and management which is crucial for my early career development.