Have you ever been for a hike and seen litter scattered around, or disturbed wildlife?
Unfortunately, not all hikers are aware of the impact they have on the environment. That's why Leave No Trace principles are so important for preserving the outdoors.
Here's why you should practice Leave No Trace principles on your next hiking trip:
Minimize your impact. The first principle of Leave No Trace is to minimize your impact on the environment. This means being mindful of where you step, staying on designated paths, and avoiding trampling on vegetation, where you can. It also means taking all rubbish home with you, including food scraps (yep even banana skins) and toilet paper, to avoid littering and attracting wildlife.
Respect wildlife. Wildlife is an essential part of the natural environment, and we should do our best to respect and protect them. This means keeping a safe distance from animals, not feeding them, and avoiding disturbing their habitat. This can be as simple as keeping dogs on a lead to avoid disturbing ground nesting birds too.
Be considerate of other visitors. Hiking is a popular activity, and we are likely to encounter other visitors on the trails. To be considerate of others, we should keep noise levels down (including music playing on speakers.) Letting others pass when walking on the path, and avoid cutting in line or taking up too much space.
Leave what you find. Many hikers are tempted to take a souvenir from the outdoors, such as a rock or plant. However, this can have a significant impact on the environment and disrupt the natural ecosystem. Instead, we should leave natural features and artifacts as we found them for others to enjoy. A common phrase used is "Take only photos and leave only footprints."
By practicing Leave No Trace principles, we can ensure that our beautiful outdoors remain preserved and accessible for future generations. So next time get out, remember to pack out what you take, respect wildlife and other visitors, and leave what you find. Together, we can make a difference in preserving the outdoors. Maybe even pack out other peoples rubbish? Leave it even better than how we found it.
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