Leave No Trace: The Importance of Environmental Stewardship While Backpacking
As Boy Scouts, we have a responsibility to protect and preserve the environment we explore. Leave No Trace is a set of principles designed to minimize our impact on the natural world while out in the wilderness. Here we'll explore the importance of Leave No Trace and how we can practice environmental stewardship on your next backpacking trip.
Why Leave No Trace is Important
Littering, leaving food scraps, and disrupting wildlife habitats can have a significant impact on the local ecosystem. Leave No Trace helps protect the flora, fauna, and wildlife that call the wilderness home.
Overuse of natural resources, such as water and firewood, can deplete them and impact the environment. For those of us that live near larger metropolitan cities, it can be easy for trails to see tens of thousands of visitors a year. Now imagine if just 1/3 of those visitors were to walk off the trail or 10% were to cut down a tree for firewood. Leave No Trace principles help ensure that these resources are available for future generations to enjoy.
Part of being a good environmental steward is respecting other hikers' experiences. Loud noises, offensive language, and destructive behavior can negatively impact the enjoyment of others. This doesn’t mean you can’t sing songs or listen to music while on the trail, but be thoughtful when others are around.
Leave No Trace Principles
Plan ahead and prepare: Proper planning is essential for minimizing environmental impact. Before heading out on a backpacking trip, research the area, plan your route, no the weather, and prepare for emergencies.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Stick to established trails and campsites whenever possible. If the trail is muddy, walk in the mud verses walking off trail. Avoid creating new trails or campsites, and respect the natural environment around you.
Dispose of waste properly: Pack out all trash and litter. Use established toilet facilities whenever possible, or dig a small hole at least 200 feet away from water sources and campgrounds to bury human or dog waste.
Leave what you find: Do not disturb natural features such as rocks, plants, and wildlife. Building rock structures may be fun, but you never know the impact you’ll make on your surroundings. Leave the wilderness as you found it.
Minimize campfire impact: Use established fire rings and only burn small sticks and twigs. Do not cut down live trees or use green wood for fires. Only build a fire where allowed.
Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance, and do not approach or feed them. Store food and garbage securely to prevent animals from becoming habituated to human food.
Be considerate of other visitors: Keep noise levels down and avoid behavior that could disturb other hikers. If you are going to listen to music have headphones.
By following these Leave No Trace principles, we can minimize our impact on the environment and ensure that future generations can enjoy the wilderness as we do. Remember, it's up to us to be responsible environmental stewards, and practicing Leave No Trace is one way we can do our part.
