Outdoor sport apps: wrong routes are shared unintentionally

The popularity of outdoor recreation and the rise of digital planning platforms (often called “outdoor apps”) featuring user-generated content have introduced new challenges for nature conservation. Given that user-shared route descriptions often conflict with protected area regulations, this study examines whether these non-compliance results from intentional behavior or information deficits, and if compliance differs between voluntarily protected areas and those regulated by law. Descriptions of 142 winter tours in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, that did not comply with two types of protected areas, Wald-Wild-Schongebiete (voluntary agreements) and Wildschutzgebiete (legal restrictions), were identified. Users who had shared non-complying content (n = 18) and a control group (n = 50) were surveyed and subsequently compared. Indicate that both groups display positive attitudes toward nature conservation but possess limited knowledge of protected area regulations; only 54 % of the respondents recalled relevant rules mostly correctly (seasonal aspects were often not mentioned). Analysis revealed that non-compliance was notable less frequent in areas governed by voluntary agreements (0.30 problematic routes/km 2 ) compared to those regulated by law (0.42 problematic routes/km 2 ). These findings suggest that most non-compliance arises from information deficits rather than intentional non-compliance. Presenting conservation rules at critical touchpoints along the digital visitor journey may therefore improve compliance considerably. Furthermore, the greater effectiveness of voluntary agreements highlights the potential benefits of collaborative management strategies. Future research should investigate how targeted digital communication strategies, including real-time feedback to authors when sharing problematic routes, may contribute to reducing non-compliance.