Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is an Outdoor Ethics Education Programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.

As increasing numbers of people seek the beauty and exhilaration of outdoor travel and recreation, our collective mark on the environment and its natural processes increases. Litter, water pollution, disturbance of vegetation, wildlife, livestock and other people are all indicators of the need to develop a national ethic that protects both natural and cultural heritage.

The programme strives to build awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage and is dedicated to creating a nationally recognised and accepted outdoor ethic that promotes personal responsibility. It encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to play their part to maintain lands used by the public for the benefit of fragile ecosystems and future generations. Public education and awareness of minimal impact skills through the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics programme could prevent considerable damage in the future. Educated local communities can minimise their day-to-day impacts. Visitors will learn to reduce their cumulative impacts so as not to diminish the integrity of the local cultural and natural heritage. At the heart of Leave No Trace are seven principles for reducing the damage caused by outdoor activities. However, Leave No Trace concepts can be applied anywhere — in our uplands and lowlands, in urban parks, or in our own backyards. Techniques designed to minimise the environmental and social impacts in these areas are incorporated in and promoted by the national Leave No Trace education programme as the following seven principles: Plan Ahead and Prepare. Be Considerate of Others. Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. Leave What You Find. Dispose of Waste Properly. Minimise the Effects of Fire.

Practising a Leave No Trace ethic is very simple – make it hard for others to see or hear you and LEAVE NO TRACE of your visit.