In this section:
The Outdoor Council of Australia is a partner with Leave No Trace Australia
Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage.
Since 2003 Leave No Trace Australia Limited has been teaching minimal impact principles through skills programs and developing materials for different bioregions and activities in Australia. The Australian Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) funded the development of the nationally accredited Leave No Trace Master and the Leave No Trace Trainer courses, and the production of the first edition of the Australia, Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics Handbook. Draft Skills and Ethics editions for the Australian Alps, Tropical Savannah, Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Southwest Australia, and Wet Tropics are in development.
The OCA has been a proud supporter of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace since partnering in 2010.
For more information on each of the principles, see the booklet Skills and Ethics – Australian edition.
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travelling and camping on firm ground
- Dispose of waste correctly
- Leave what you find
- Minimise the impact of the campfire
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of hosts and other visitors
The information under these seven principles is recommended as a guide to minimise the impact of your visits to Australia’s natural and cultural areas. “Leave no trace” depends more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations.
Minimal impact travel and outdoor recreation practices need to be flexible and backed up by judgement and experience. Techniques are constantly evolving and improving. A general rule of thumb is to consider the variables of each area in terms of culture, wildlife, vegetation, soil, climate and the uses it receives. Then use this information to determine which recommended techniques to apply.
Resources:
The Skills and Ethics booklets series contains more detailed information on Leave No Trace skills and practices.
The Australia-wide edition is sent to all our members and is supplemented by a range of other titles in the Skills and Ethics series, each covering the major ecosystems and environments in Australia.
Australia_Skills and Ethics V3
LNT Blue Mountains Skills and Ethics
LNT_Kimberley Skills and Ethics
LNT Tropical Savannah Skills and Ethics
LNT Southwest Forests and Coastal Skills and Ethics
An example of the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace can be seen in this video from the Bibbulum Track Foundation in Western Australia.