Transcript Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace
for the Boy Scouts of America
A National Education Program Designed to Teach
Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills
The Need for Leave No Trace
Outdoor Skills & Ethics
Presentation Objectives
 Review the resource impacts that can result from
outdoor recreational activities.
 Describe the level of BSA outdoor use and our
reputation among land managers.
 Describe WHY a national Leave No Trace
educational program is needed.
Overview of Visitor Impacts
Leave No Trace “Virtual” Campfire
Vegetation Impacts
Vegetation loss
Spread of non-native species
Tree damage
Soil Impacts
Loss of organic litter
Soil compaction
Soil erosion
Water Resource Impacts
Turbidity, sedimentation
Soap & fecal wastes
Wildlife Impacts
Disturbance of wildlife
Altered behavior
Reduced health & reproduction
Social Impacts
Crowding
Conflicts
Cultural Resource
Impacts
Theft of artifacts
Damage to historic structures
Damage to cultural features
Are recreation impacts really a problem?
Improving the Reputation of Scouts
Troop 375
Loving Our Public Lands To Death?
BSA: > 5 million members, 308 Councils, 138,000 units
50,000+ Troops & 17,000+ Crews =
300,000+ weekend trips
10,000+ weekend multi-group trips
5,000+ week-long trips
1,000+ week-long multi-group trips
Estimated annual outdoor BSA use
on public/private recreation lands:
Over 15 million user days!
Increasing visitation
= Increasing impacts?
 Leave No Trace might seem
unimportant until you consider
the combined effects of millions
of outdoor visitors.
 One poorly located campsite or
campfire may have little
significance, but thousands of
such instances seriously
degrade our natural resources.
 To protect our resources we
must assume the responsibility
to educate ourselves and
practice the skills and ethics
necessary to Leave No Trace.
Why Leave No Trace ?
The LNT Challenge
 Prevent avoidable resource
and social impacts
 Minimize unavoidable
impacts
 Preserve the quality of
resources and recreation
experiences
The Seven LNT Principles
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Benefits of Applying LNT
 Better planning leads to safer
trips and lighter packs
 Prevents avoidable impacts,
minimizes unavoidable
impacts
 Protects the quality of natural
environments and recreation
experiences
 Avoids or minimizes the need
for restrictive management
regulations or use limitations
The End
Happy trails and remember to . . .
Leave No Trace !