Ecological Pilgrimage
Engaging with biodiversity through walking interventions
With biodiversity in rapid decline, there is an urgent need to rethink and repair human–nature relationships. We are currently developing the idea of ‘Ecological Pilgrimage’ along four hiking trails in Norway, Iceland, Finland, and Sweden, in areas where forestry, infrastructure projects, nature conservation, tourism, agriculture, and hunting shape local ecosystems. Unlike historical colonial expeditions and religious ceremonies, we approach Ecological Pilgrimage as a form of walking that safeguards biodiversity and fosters meaningful engagement among more-than-human communities.
Through national and transnational walking interventions, we are bringing together actors from different fields to develop creative ecological pilgrimage practices. Through our walks, we seek to broaden understanding of the role of tourism and outdoor recreation in times of ecological crisis and support the EU Biodiversity Strategy to restore nature across Europe.
