Strategies for Minimizing One's Impact on the Environment: Erasing All Evidence of Presence
In an effort to promote a more sustainable approach to outdoor recreation, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has been a long-standing advocate for the Leave No Trace program for nearly 150 years. Since 1999, the AMC has been a provider of Leave No Trace education programs, which are designed to minimize the impact of outdoor activities on the environment.
The Leave No Trace program, created by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in Boulder, Colo., consists of seven principles that guide outdoor ethics to minimize human impact on nature. These principles include planning ahead and preparing, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impact, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
By adhering to these principles, outdoor enthusiasts can help protect delicate plant life and wildlife habitats from overuse and improper management. For instance, improperly stored food in campsites can result in aggressive wildlife that have come to rely on human trash as a food source. Overuse of popular trails can lead to erosion and the destruction of delicate plant life. Failing to carry out your trash can disturb an area's ecosystem.
The AMC integrates the Leave No Trace principles into every facet of its programming. By doing so, they aim to encourage safe and responsible enjoyment of the outdoors. The organization believes that every outdoor trip, out of the thirteen billion annual outdoors trips in the United States, should leave minimal marks on the environment.
The Leave No Trace program targets everything related to enjoying the outdoors in a more environmentally friendly manner. It encourages the use of camp stoves instead of fires when possible, the proper disposal of waste, and the preservation of natural and cultural features by leaving rocks, plants, and artifacts as you find them. It also advises observing animals from a distance, not feeding them, and storing food securely to avoid attracting wildlife.
AMC encourages everyone to practice the Leave No Trace principles to protect and preserve the environment. By doing so, we can help ensure responsible and safe enjoyment of the outdoors, and preserve wilderness areas for future generations.
Adhering to the Leave No Trace principles, as taught by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, can help promote environmental-science in outdoor-living by minimizing human impact on the natural environment. This includes choosing home-and-garden alternatives such as camp stoves over fires, properly disposing of waste, and leaving plants, rocks, and artifacts untouched to protect wildlife habitats and delicate plant life.
