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A research team at the University of Bayreuth has experimentally investigated how the popular climbing discipline of bouldering affects vegetation and the surface structure of natural rock formations. In their recently published study in the scientific journal People and Nature, the researchers call for nuanced management strategies that reconcile recreational use with the conservation of rock habitats.
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Why it matters
Bouldering is booming – not only indoors but increasingly on natural rock faces. Over recent decades, the sport has seen a rapid rise in active participants and a growing development of outdoor climbing areas. As participation grows, so too does the importance of understanding the impacts of bouldering on natural rock environments. This is particularly relevant given that the ecological consequences of certain forms of disturbance are still not fully understood. The Bayreuth researchers’ study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of how this outdoor sport affects natural ecosystems.
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Upper Franconia offers ideal conditions for outdoor bouldering: limestone in the Frankenjura, granite in the Fichtelgebirge, and sandstone formations close to Bayreuth. Yet as popular as climbing in nature may be, the ecosystems involved are highly sensitive: rare and protected species of flora and fauna inhabit these rocks, which have so far remained largely untouched. To assess the impact of bouldering, researchers from the Sport Ecology research group at the University of Bayreuth conducted experimental investigations on three different types of rock for the first time.
For this purpose, the team repeatedly climbed previously untouched boulder blocks of limestone, granite, and sandstone – 500 ascents each. Comparisons before and after the climbs revealed a loss of moss and lichen cover of up to 15% on handholds and footholds. The greatest vegetation losses occurred during the initial ascents. Sandstone proved particularly vulnerable, as rock particles and vegetation are more easily removed than on limestone or granite. Recovery of vegetation cover on sandstone was only partial even after three years.
“Our study is the first to demonstrate that the impact of bouldering varies according to rock type and that ecosystem recovery is slow,” says Sofie Paulus, research associate at the Sport Ecology research group and initiator of the study. “Moreover, our experiments highlight an overlooked issue: microplastic pollution from climbing shoes.” Using spectroscopic methods, the researchers detected microplastic from the abrasion of climbing shoe soles on limestone – even after moderate use. “Bouldering therefore introduces microplastics directly into sensitive ecosystems, which could affect, among other things, microbial communities,” adds Prof. Dr. Manuel Steinbauer, Chair of Sport Ecology at the University of Bayreuth.
“Even without the use of climbing chalk or the common practice of cleaning rock surfaces before the first ascent, we were able to document the impact of bouldering on natural rock,” Paulus notes. The researchers strongly suspect that these practices, aimed at improving grip, would further amplify the negative effects. They therefore advocate for differentiated management strategies that balance recreational use with nature conservation. This could include zone-based regulation of climbing activities, where certain rocks are periodically or permanently closed to allow ecosystem recovery and protection.
Sofie Paulus
Sports Ecology
University of Bayreuth
Phone: +49 (0)921 / 55-3482
E-mail: sofie.paulus@uni-bayreuth.de
Isabell A. Österle, Sofie Paulus, Arne Schwietering, Volker Audorff, Manuel J. Steinbauer. Mechanical impacts of climbing on cliff vegetation: Contrasting management concepts. People and Nature (2025)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70207
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Biology, Environment / ecology, Sport science
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