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Many of the areas where we love to spend time outdoors are impacted by recreational use, some more severely than others. Generally, it is a result of a lack of awareness or skills that lead to these impacts, the most common being:
Litter, dog waste, invasive species, habituated wildlife, trail and campsite erosion, contamination of water sources, names carved in trees, cigarette butts along a trail, damaged cultural and historic sites, toilet paper “flowers” around campsites and pets chasing wildlife.
These impacted areas, or Leave No Trace Hot Spots, can benefit from increased awareness about how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. If we know the consequences of our actions and the ways to minimize our individual and cumulative impacts, we can all go a long way towards protecting the places we cherish for future generations.
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics actively seeks to make a difference across the country for the Leave No Trace Hot Spots program. Through outreach, education, training, signage, educational materials, consulting and local collaboration, the Center aims to work with motivated individuals, groups, non-profits and governmental agencies to effectively use the Leave No Trace program to reduce impacts on lands used by the public for recreation.
Paradise Area, Mt. Rainier National Park, WA
The Center has been working with staff from the National Park Service (NPS) on strategies for minimizing recreation-related impact in the Paradise area of the Park. In consultation with NPS staff, the Center will provide the following services for the Park (some of this work is already underway):
1) Host three Backyard Sessions in the Seattle area to generate awareness, interest and support for Mt. Rainier. These sessions (one was already held in Seattle in May) are designed to engage local communities around Leave No Trace, and in particular, the issues that the NPS is dealing with at Paradise.
2) Generate significant media coverage. The Center has distributed two national press releases about Mt. Rainier’s Hot Spot designation, which have been run by over a dozen newspapers in western Washington and other print media outlets. Additionally, the Center will leverage its social media network of over 75,000 individuals to further raise awareness about Paradise.
3) Provide expert review of the situation at Paradise. Center staff enlisted the expertise of leading recreation ecologists and protected area managers to provide input and advise for strategies on
minimizing the recreation-related impacts at Paradise. These experts reviewed the situation at the Park and provided consultation on both direct and indirect management actions that could minimize and/or mitigate the damage from off-trail hiking.
4) Draft recommendations and language for signage to be placed in the Paradise area to help keep visitors on trails and off the fragile meadows found in the area. Center staff drafted a comprehensive suite of recommendations for Park managers, from which managers can make better-informed decisions based on new research for dealing with the impacts at Paradise.
5) The Center will provide funding for the production of signage for use in the Paradise area in order to keep visitors on designated trails.
6) Provide training for key park staff and volunteers. Center staff will provide Leave No Trace training for both existing and new volunteers, known as Meadow Rovers, at the Park in late June. The training is aimed at better integrating Leave No Trace into the work of the Meadow Rovers, and also to give them tools for effectively disseminating Leave No Trace information to park visitors.
Stay tuned for more information about efforts at Mt. Rainier or sign up for our Enews to receive regular updates.
Photos: (1) The iconic image of Mt. Rainier, as seen from the Seattle Metro Area. (2) Social trails and erosion in the subalpine meadows of Mt. Rainier National Park.
Red River Gorge, Daniel Boone National Forest, KY
In order to put Leave No Trace into action, the Center undertook and completed the following initiatives aimed at teaching visitors how to enjoy the Gorge responsibly:
1) The Center generated significant media coverage (traditional and social media) for the Gorge and the impacts it receives from recreation. The Hot Spot designation was featured in many print-media outlets as well as numerous social media sites.
2) Center staff attended two large Gorge-specific events to promote Leave No Trace and responsible enjoyment of the Gorge – The Living Archeological Weekend and the Rocktoberfest climbing event. Both of these large events draw over 1000 attendees. Most attendees were exposed to Leave No Trace in both formal and informal settings.
3) Center staff developed Gorge-specific Leave No Trace information for use throughout the Red River Gorge. This included informationspecific to general hiking and camping, rock climbing and cultural, archeological and heritage sites.
4) Center staff developed and administered a survey for college and university groups who use the Gorge, and provided a report detailing how an outreach system to these groups could be set up and facilitated to ensure groups have the most current information about theGorge and Leave No Trace.
Photos: (1) A trashed campfire ring in the Red River Gorge. (2) Traveling Trainers Jason and Agata facilitate a Leave No Trace activity for youth at the Living Archaelogy Weekend in the Red River Gorge.
1. Accept nominations from individuals, groups, non-profits, partners, members and governmental agencies for areas – Leave No Trace Hot Spots – that have recreation-related impacts that could be successfully mitigated through effective Leave No Trace programming.
2. Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis.
3. For chosen Hot Spots, the Center will work with the nominator to determine the scope of the impact, the relevant partners for collaboration, and effective and creative solutions for reducing the impacts occurring in the area.
4. Chosen Hot Spots will receive some or all of the following: expert consultation on solutions and program implementation, training, educational materials, visits from the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, creation of locally-tailored programs to meet site-specific needs, volunteer support and overall assistance in putting the Leave No Trace program into action.
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The Center requires the following Hot Spots Application be completed with the following information included:
If your area is not chosen as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot, the Center can still provide information and ideas on mitigating recreational impact in your area.
