The leave no trace seven principles

The leave no trace seven principles

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  THE LEAVE NOTRACE SEVEN PRINCIPLES SHS PE and Health 4
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  1. Plan Aheadand Prepare • Before going to a place, check if your planned activity is permitted. Make sure to know the rules, guidelines and safety procedures they have set. • Make sure you have the needed equipment for your activity and the skills needed to undertake the activity • Plan how to cope in case emergency arises. • Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing weather conditions. • Learn when areas are most crowded and try to avoid those times • To minimize environmental impact and for safety reasons, keep group numbers small. • Repack food to minimize waste.
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  2. Travel andCamp on Durable Surfaces • Walk , run, bike or camp on durable surfaces like established tracks, rocks, gravel, and dry grasses. • Avoid walking on soft surfaces like soft plants. You might be trampling on a young tree or pasture and this will cause vegetation damage. • Use existing trails or campsites, no need to build a new campsite that will alter the environment. • To avoid erosion, walk in single file in the middle of the trail. • Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show. • When camping, keep the campsite small and discreet • Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and rivers to protect the waters.
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  3. Dispose ofWaste Properly • “Pack it in, pack it out” means everything you brought should be brought back with you including left – over food or fruit peel. Nothing should be left. • When camping, cat holes are dug 6 – 8 inches deep for human waste and covered just the same with soil and weeds or leaves on top. • Dishes should be washed 200 feet away from lakes or rivers and use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dish water
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  4. Leave WhatYou Find • Examine archeological structures, old walls, and other heritage artifacts but do not touch nor leave marks on them. • Leave nature as you found them. Do not take any plants, rocks or marine animal with you. • Avoid introducing non – native plants and animals. • Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
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  5. Minimize CampfireImpacts • Use lightweight stove for cooking; campfires can cause lasting impacts. • If fires are permitted, use fire rings or mound fires that are already set up. • Keep fires small and use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. • No burning of plastics or other substances that emit toxic fumes. • Burn all wood to ash and make sure fires are completely out. Scatter the cool ash.
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  6. Respect Wildlife •Observe wild animals from a distance and they should be avoided during sensitive times such as mating, nesting or raising the young. • Do not feed wild animals or birds as it is not their natural food. The food might damage their health or alter their natural behaviours and even expose them to predators. • Protect wildlife and protect your food as well by storing and securing trash well. • In case you decide to bring your pets along, make sure it is allowed and you can control them.
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  7. Be Considerateof Other Visitors • Respect people who live and work in the country side • Respect other visitors and let them have a momentous experience as well • Allow the sound of nature to prevail, not your noise or the radio • Be courteous; yield to others on trail • Camp away from trails and other visitors.