IMBA Europe

🏆Award Winners - Take Care of Your Trails 2026

This year’s Take Care of Your Trails campaign celebrated a decade of volunteer trail stewardship across Europe and recognized the incredible people behind our trails.

Over the last ten years, the campaign has engaged more than 10,950 volunteers, contributed over 63,100 volunteer hours, and helped maintain an estimated 1,900 km of trails across 19 countries.

Congratulations to this year’s award winners:
• Best Nation - Scotland (Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland)
• Outstanding Local Trail Crew - Ride in Yssingeaux (France)
• Trail Advocate of the Year - Radu Papiu (Trailsilvania, Romania)
• Trail Advancement Award - Maurizio Rossi (North N Line Trail Crew, Italy)

A huge thank you to every volunteer, trail crew and partner who has helped make Take Care of Your Trails one of Europe’s largest mountain bike stewardship initiatives.

🗓️Save the Date: IMBA Italia Gathering 2026

The annual IMBA Italia talia Gathering returns on 24–25 October in Nimis, Friuli, bringing together the Italian mountain bike community for two days of learning, networking and trail advocacy.

For the first time ever, the Gathering will welcome international speakers, joining leading voices from Italy to share perspectives on trail management, MTB tourism and sustainable outdoor development.

As a long-time member of IMBA Europe, IMBA Italia continues to strengthen connections across the European trail community and inspire collaboration beyond borders.

🎟️ Tickets are now on sale and places are limited.

Find out more and book your place here:

https://www.imba-italia.org/imba-italia-gathering-2026

IMBA Italia Gathering 2026 | IMBA Italia IMBA Italia è lieta di annunciare che il Gathering 2026 si terrà il 24/25 ottobre a Nimis (UD) nel nel cuore delle Valli del Torre.

🤝Enhancing collaboration between protected area managers and outdoor recreation organizations.

All those engaged with protected areas, regardless of their background or motivations, share a respect for the value of our natural spaces and seek to engage in preservation efforts. That is becoming increasingly clear as the CONNECT – Outdoor Sports & Protected Areas project meets with a variety of stakeholders in different natural environments, most recently in Weerribben / Wieden National Park in the Netherlands

Over two days, the project coalition met with representatives of National Parks and forestry, outdoor sports, local entrepreneurs engaged in the sector, and others who seek to make our visits to natural spaces more sustainable and enjoyable while making a direct contribution to nature restoration. Whether combating invasive species, addressing threats from poor visitor management and overtourism, or encouraging sustainable mobility through bike-share systems, outdoor sports enthusiasts can, by working together through collaboration and deliberation, not only enjoy the opportunities that protected nature areas provide but also contribute to their preservation and conservation.

Learn more about the CONNECT Project here --> https://www.outdoor-sports-network.eu/blog/2026/05/04/enhancing-collaboration-through-collaboration-connect-project-advances-across-europe/