The narrow path winds its way through the steep terrain. It is a popular and frequently used route for mountain bikers, but intensive use has taken its toll. The local authorities decide to renovate the path. It was to be flattened and the bends slightly widened, the watercourse improved and better surfaced in steep terrain. A good thing, farmers and landowners agree, and the environmental associations are part of the planning group right from the start. In good spirits, a building permit is submitted for the project, only to be surprised when the environmental organization involved lodges an appeal - against its own project. The story is not made up but actually happened.

The situation is all the more bizarre given that the primary purpose of this trail restoration is to better protect nature and grazing land. So why on earth do conservationists of all people want to prevent this? The reason is simple: the trail is also being optimized for mountain biking, and mountain bikers are still a red rag to the association's base. This is why environmental associations have to object even to exemplary projects, because otherwise they lose their raison d'être. The members want to see action, and constructive cooperation is simply not sensational enough.

Environmental associations are important because they stand up for nature. In their eyes, mountain bikers are still a danger per se that must be tackled as a matter of principle. The result of this mindset is the consistent opposition to mountain bike projects. Graubünden, for example, is considered an exemplary canton in terms of sustainable mountain bike infrastructure, but behind most of the offers there is initial and fierce resistance from Pro Natura or the WWF.

When we are out and about in the mountains, the lack of understanding is even greater. Meter-wide forest roads are built for the forestry service, artificial lakes are dug into the mountains for snow-making on the slopes and deafening car races are approved on mountain passes. And at the same time, the restoration of a 40-centimetre-wide alpine path is an ecologically relevant problem? Many mountain bikers can only shake their heads at this nonsense and turn away from the environmental associations without understanding. I am one of them. What a shame, really.