Leave No Trace
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Leave No Trace |
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Why Leave No Trace?1 Between 1965 and 1980, backcountry visits jumped from 4 million visitor days per year to 10 million per year. (A visitor day is a 12 hour stay by one person.) In 1984 the number grew to 15 million visitor days up 275 percent in less than 20 years. As cities grow and populations encroach upon wild lands and recreation areas, we must do more than just pick up litter and extinguish campfires; we must learn how to maintain the integrity and character of the outdoors for all living things. However, Leave No Trace is not simply a program for visiting the backcountry, it is a way of life, and learning Leave No Trace concepts begins at home.
The knowledge and concepts enabling visitors to Leave No Trace are easily taught both before and during outings. With a little preparation, you can teach people the value of our reviving natural areas and methods to preserve them for future generations.
Remember the Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics, not rules. The difference between rules and ethics is:
| Rules are what you follow when someone is watching.2 |
| Ethics are what you follow when no one is watching! |
Principles of Leave No Trace
(click on underlined
item for details)
Leave No Trace depends more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations. Many of the specific camping practices you chose to follow will be based upon your specific situation, which includes many variables for a given area, such as soil, vegetation, wildlife, moisture levels, season of visit, etc.
Useful Links:
1 - From the Bureau of Land Management Environmental Education
Homepage, located at:
http://www.blm.gov/education/lnt/teachinfo.htm
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(c) 2002-2008 Boy Scout Troop 680,
Valley Park Missouri
