Principles of Leave No Trace
Of course when we travel the world we should leave everywhere a better place than it was when we arrived - we are really only passing through this world and we have a finite time in which to make a difference!
So the Leave No Trace Australia mantra of:
- take only pictures and
- leave only footprints
makes a great deal of sense to us. That has application to many things and we make the comments and suggestions below to help you with this concept as you DriveWA.
Of course a lot of it is about good planning and having rubbish bags with you in sufficient number and sufficient quality to be able to clean up properly etc.
The seven main principles of the Leave No Trace message are as follows and they are well worth your time reading and following:
PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE
When visiting an area, there are a number of important factors to consider:
- Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies
- Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6
- Repackage food to minimise waste
- Use a map and a compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging
- Prepare for extreme weather, hazards and emergencies
- Visit in small groups. Split larger parties into groups of 4-6
- Repackage food to minimise waste
- Use a map and a compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging
TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES
- Durable surfaces include established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, and dry grasses
- Protect water sources by camping at least 100 metres from lakes and streams
- Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary
In Popular Areas:
- Always walk on the track (even when wet or muddy) and walk wide of the centre to stop compaction and erosion
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent
- Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent
In pristine areas:
- Spread out use to prevent the creation of campsites and tracks
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning
- Avoid places where impacts are just beginning
DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY!
- Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for rubbish or spilled foods.
- Deposit solid human waste in cat-holes dug 20-25cm deep; at least 100m from water, camp, and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished
- Pack toilet paper and hygiene products
- To wash yourself, or your dishes, carry water 100 metres away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater
- Deposit solid human waste in cat-holes dug 20-25cm deep; at least 100m from water, camp, and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished
- Pack toilet paper and hygiene products
- To wash yourself, or your dishes, carry water 100 metres away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater
LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
- Respect indigenous art and other sites of cultural significance. Always get appropriate permission
- Preserve the past. Examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artefacts
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches
- Preserve the past. Examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artefacts
- Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them
- Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches
MINIMISE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS
- Campfires can cause devastating impacts to the bush. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand
- Burn all wood and coals to ash. Put out fire completely
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans or mound fires
- Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand
- Burn all wood and coals to ash. Put out fire completely
RESPECT WILDLIFE
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviour, and exposes them to predators and other dangers
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and rubbish securely
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter
- Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviour, and exposes them to predators and other dangers
- Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and rubbish securely
- Control pets at all times, or leave them at home
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter
BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR HOSTS AND OTHER VISITORS
- Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience
- Be courteous. Give way to other users on the track
- Take breaks and camp away from tracks and other visitors
- Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises
Finally some comment of our own.
This may seem obvious to you but it has lots of application to many situations and in fact we always try to pick up other peoples rubbish as well as our own if that is possible at any place we camp or stop so that people dont come to the spots we used and find them unacceptable - It is their personal pride in their own performance on this earth that marks good people and separates them from the others in our opinion - that may sound a little intolerant and self- serving but we believe it and we believe that we can make a small difference every day - if you like that idea why not join us in that little quest and let's see what we can achieve.
Kindest regards
Chris Pye
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