Monday, 30 April, 2018 - 00:00
Category:
Activities
Australia’s national parks are a living showcase of natural beauty and heritage.
From temperate rainforests to rugged coastal vistas and desert lands, our diverse wilderness provides a sanctuary for native flora, fauna and many endangered wildlife species. It also is home to many important cultural heritage sites.
Each year, thousands of Australian school children, teachers and parents visit national parks and wilderness to take part in school camps and school excursions. In return for their efforts they receive a breathtaking backdrop to a wide range of recreational activities and nature experiences.
But some wilderness areas run the risk of being ‘loved to death’. Overuse of fragile environments can lead to ecosystems becoming damaged or destroyed.
The challenge for environmental authorities is to make our parks accessible to today’s generation of school children, while keeping the parks healthy and sustainable for future generations of children.
While on school excursions and school camps students and teachers can help park rangers care for the environment by ‘treading lightly’ and respecting local culture. By fostering positive attitudes and behaviours today, our parks will have a long-term healthy outlook.
Protecting our wilderness areas not only helps to maintain a natural diversity of plants and animals, but also lets species continue to flourish and evolve undisturbed. It also ensures valuable ecological, evolutionary and climatic reference and research areas for the future.
So what role can you and your students play to ensure we can all enjoy our natural surrounds while protecting it for future generations?
The following advice is sourced from the Minimum Impact Code for Wilderness Use in South Australia brochure.
Flora, fauna and natural features
• Wildlife and habitats should not be disturbed. Observe and enjoy them quietly. Take particular care near breeding birds and other wildlife colonies.
• Don’t pick flowers or take or disturb other specimens, including rocks and fossils.
• Don’t pick flowers or take or disturb other specimens, including rocks and fossils.
Cultural heritage
Sites and objects of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural significance are protected by law.
• Do not remove objects or disturb or deface anything. Access to some sites may require permission from Aboriginal custodians.
• Recognised places are likely to have defined access. Stay on the tracks and trails. Do not create new ones.
• Recognised places are likely to have defined access. Stay on the tracks and trails. Do not create new ones.
Washing and hygiene
• Only wash in container-collected water, and make sure you wash at least 50 metres away from rivers, creeks, springs and lakes. Remember that detergents, toothpaste and soap (even biodegradable types) pollute and harm fish and other water life.
• Only swim where permitted.
• Bury all faecal waste and paper. Choose a spot at least 100 metres from camp sites and watercourses.
• If fires are permitted, use extreme care, and burn and then bury paper.
• Carry out sanitary items. They don’t burn well because of plastic liners.
• Only swim where permitted.
• Bury all faecal waste and paper. Choose a spot at least 100 metres from camp sites and watercourses.
• If fires are permitted, use extreme care, and burn and then bury paper.
• Carry out sanitary items. They don’t burn well because of plastic liners.
Camp fires
Trees are precious. Trees and vegetation litter provide homes for many animals, birds and insects. Collection of dead wood and the cutting of live timber for firewood has had a serious impact on woodland and individual trees in some popular outback areas.
• Areas which are ecologically fragile or depleted of timber may be designated Fuel Stove Only Areas.
• Check on camp fire restrictions before leaving and always carry the appropriate equipment and fuel. Fuel stoves are faster and cleaner than camp fires and do not cause visual scarring and debris.
• Where camp fires are permitted, only one small camp fire should be made. Wood should be obtained from designated sites or supply depots.
• Camp fire remains should be as unobtrusive as possible.
• Constructing camp fires in a hole or from piled stones creates a visual scar. A fire that has burnt to ashes is less obtrusive than one put out with water or dirt. Remove any non-combustible material from the ashes and take it with you.
• Be absolutely sure that the fire is out. A fire is not really out until the soil is cool.
• Do not light a fire if in doubt about the safety of lighting it. Always carry a fuel stove just in case.
• Observe all fire bans.
• Check on camp fire restrictions before leaving and always carry the appropriate equipment and fuel. Fuel stoves are faster and cleaner than camp fires and do not cause visual scarring and debris.
• Where camp fires are permitted, only one small camp fire should be made. Wood should be obtained from designated sites or supply depots.
• Camp fire remains should be as unobtrusive as possible.
• Constructing camp fires in a hole or from piled stones creates a visual scar. A fire that has burnt to ashes is less obtrusive than one put out with water or dirt. Remove any non-combustible material from the ashes and take it with you.
• Be absolutely sure that the fire is out. A fire is not really out until the soil is cool.
• Do not light a fire if in doubt about the safety of lighting it. Always carry a fuel stove just in case.
• Observe all fire bans.
Walking tracks and trails
• Stay on tracks and trails to confine impacts to a planned route.
• Don’t create new tracks or trails by cutting corners or skirting around obstacles such as fallen trees or dead animals. Creating new tracks increases environmental impacts, creates visual scars and causes confusion.
• Leave gates open or closed as found. Do not force or go around locked gates.
• Don’t create new tracks or trails by cutting corners or skirting around obstacles such as fallen trees or dead animals. Creating new tracks increases environmental impacts, creates visual scars and causes confusion.
• Leave gates open or closed as found. Do not force or go around locked gates.
Where there is no walking trail:
• Avoid sensitive vegetation as it is easily destroyed by trampling.
• Follow an animal track.
• Spread out walking parties. A plant has more chance of survival if only one walker steps on it.
• Follow an animal track.
• Spread out walking parties. A plant has more chance of survival if only one walker steps on it.
Consideration of environmental impact is essential when planning visits to state and national parks, especially conservation parks, which require an understanding of the purposes of the parks and constraining activities to respect these values.
During the planning phase of your camp or excursion make contact with the appropriate state authorities to establish if any permits are required, or procedures need to be followed, for your visit.
Protecting our parks and wilderness is not hard. It just takes a little planning and a commitment to ‘think before you act’. By following a few simple rules, our parks and wilderness areas can flourish and grow for generations to come.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Leave No Trace Australia is a national non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage.
Leave No Trace’s 7 Principles is an international code of ethics that has been adopted by national parks and agencies around the world. It encourages visitors to parks and wilderness areas to ‘responsibly enjoy’ and actively care for their natural surrounds.
By following the 7 principles set out under the code, visitors can minimise the impact of their visit.
7 PRINCIPLES OF LEAVE NO TRACE
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimise campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of your host and other visitors
• Travel and camp on durable surfaces
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimise campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of your host and other visitors
For more information about the 7 Principles visit Leave No Trace Australia
Students and teachers can help park rangers care for the environment by ‘treading lightly’ and respecting local culture.