Environment

 

 

Only after the last tree has been cut down,

Only after the last river has been poisoned,

Only after the last fish has been caught,

Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.

 

- Here is a link to our new future - http://www.ecosustainable.com.au

 

We all have a choice whether to just accept what has become or to make a change for the better.

 

We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors....We borrow it from our children....

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Leave No Trace (LNT) is the practice of "pack it in pack it out" that requires a complete sensitivity to the earth. It is a technique based on personal responsibility of one's actions relating to and resulting in generating refuse and impacting the land. It is a conscious approach to realizing the impact man has on our planet and adjusting his/her actions accordingly. If you are not aware of the details of this concept.

 

PLEASE take the time to educate yourself and respect our earth.

 

Principles.

 

Understanding what is refuse.

The concept of Leave No Trace means just that; leave the land in such a way so that no impact is identifiable. This means, not only minimizing the alterations of land during one's use, but leaving absolutely NO refuse whatsoever. Refuse then should be understood as ANY material, not naturally occurring, discarded by man.

 

This includes (some items not always perceived as trash):

 

Timeline of Biodegradation (examples):

 

Taking responsibility for your own trash.

Taking responsibility means making sure ALL unnatural items leave with you. This means carefully collecting all of your refuse into proper disposal/recycling bags and visually combing the land of any smaller items that may potentially be overlooked and left behind. Furthermore, one should take steps to reduce the amount of refuse generated prior to visiting nature by eliminating extra, unnecessary packaging, and combining items when possible.

 

Taking responsibility for other's trash.

This practice is crucial in the Leave No Trace ethic. We must get past the idea that someone else's trash is their responsibility only. In a place where communities gather, the responsibility should be seen as that of the collective. One must realize that cleaning up someone else's trash along with their own DOES make a difference. Not only does it eliminate the trash of irresponsible individuals, but it promotes the collective awareness among and beyond those working to make a difference.

 

Leave the land as you found it - low impact and no removal.

 

This is the idea of minimizing the impact on the land you are using.

 

Take care when using a vehicle on sensitive land and be aware of the heightened sensitivity when the earth is soft and muddy.

 

If the land contains fragile vegetation, take extra care to avoid disturbing the ecosystem and use pre-existing trails--ALWAYS--when available.

 

Enforcing and spreading LNT awareness.

Aside from actually following the LNT ethic, this is the most important aspect of practice. Educating others about these concepts spreads the awareness of what is refuse, and reinforces the idea that everyone working together does make a difference. Along with educating others, is it extremely important to enforce these practices to those who fail to take responsibility. When one is confronted on their actions, or lack of, they will be forced to face the reality of their carelessness. They will then, hopefully, realize that the accepted 'norm' is, in fact, to be responsible and ecologically aware.

 

One person can make a difference and many can change the world.