Minimum Impact Code

Minimum Impact Code

The aim of the code is to minimise your impact both on the environment and on other visitors to the area.

•  Plan your trip to minimise rubbish: avoid bottles and cans.
•  Pack out what you pack in: carry out all rubbish. Take a last look before you leave an area. Will other people be unaware of your presence?
•  Keep to formed tracks where provided: avoid taking short-cuts alongside the track, or trampling the vegetation.
•  Keep party sizes reasonable: large groups create degrading pressures on the environment, particularly at campsites.
•  Minimise campsite construction:
  • carry your own tent poles or use dead wood for poles,
  • never cut vegetation for bedding,
  • respect the privacy of others when choosing a campsite; if possible, locate campsite away from tracks and huts.
•  Toilet wastes: dig a hole just within the top soil layer and well away from open water. After use, cover with soil and tramp earth in.
•  Streams, lakes and tarns are everyone’s water supply. Avoid polluting them with soap, washing water, or food scraps.
•  Use portable stoves rather than wood fires if possible. Dead wood is an important part of the natural cycle and is scarce in many places, particularly in sub-alpine areas. If you do use wood fires:
  • keep them small to conserve wood,
  • use only dead wood,
  • completely extinguish and bury ashes,
  • dismantle the fireplace after use, returning rocks to their natural places.
•  Carry out your activities without undue noise or disturbance to others.
•  Never blaze trees.
•  Respect our cultural heritage. Many places have a spiritual and historical significance. Treat these places with respect.

Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.

Category

Tararua Footprints