by Leanna Joyner, ATC Senior Director of Partnerships and Trail Operations
What Makes the A.T. Unique?
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail’s foundation in community organizations’ commitment to building this hiking trail and maintaining it is recognized with the National Trails System Act as an essential component that Congress aimed to see continue. By keeping the “People’s Trail,” in the people’s hands, there is also assurance in its future.
The Cooperative Management System, comprised of the land manager, ATC, and the A.T. Club is often illustrated as a three-legged stool. 
The imagery represents shared commitment, equal involvement, and the division of responsibilities, such that all parts are essential to the existence of the whole. This ecosystem approach is described as “collective impact” by new-wave organizational development consultants, but this longstanding system of operation by A.T. partners ensures the flexibility necessary to adapt through the changes in staffing capacity or available focus among any of the cooperators.
State or federal funding from agencies may ebb and flow in the arenas of staffing, project dollars, or assigned areas of focus. Because of the collective nature of caring for the Appalachian Trail, responsibilities often shift among partners to take advantage of available capacity and meeting opportunities for a resilient resource. It is the dynamic adaptation of the cooperators that makes the Appalachian Trail unique, not just in the National Park and USDA Forest Service systems, but also among National Scenic Trails, very few of which have the engagement of distinct, individual partner organizations like A.T. Clubs.
Inherent to the work of collaboration is a great deal of trust, open communication, and some written agreements. In all fairness, there are a good number of meetings, too.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is the backbone organization to the collective impact work of all partners. ATC convenes and connects partners, serves as a conduit for information, often helps orient new people within partner organizations, and supplies resources throughout the network.
This fall, the National Park Service affirmed its partnership and the role of ATC with a renewal of the Cooperative Agreement which articulates how these entities share responsibility for the continued care of the A.T.
Discover More
By Benton MacKaye
“An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning”
Originally published in October 1921, Benton MacKaye's article establishing the idea for the A.T. still inspires and guides the ATC's efforts today.
What does Cooperative Management mean?
Cooperative Management
The A.T. is cared for by public and private partners working together to achieve common goals for the Trail. This unique partnership relies on civic engagement from people within A.T. Maintaining Clubs, the ATC, and local land managers to communicate, collaborate, and carry out the essential management of the A.T.
Local Management of the A.T.
Local Management Planning
The A.T. Comprehensive Plan describes the necessity of a local management plan to the decentralized partnership system for the Trail's management. A management plan for each section of Trail describes each partner's contributions to management, assigns responsibilities, and provides standard procedures for related trail, facility, and resource operations.