Minimal Impact Minimal Impact Views of the Environment

Minimal Impact

Minimal Impact § § § Views of the Environment The impact Can we justify the impact? Minimal impact guidelines Teaching strategies Scenarios

Views of Environment § Anthropocentric (human centred view) Western Culture promotes a belief that the environment is a resource to be controlled, used and exploited. We need to challenge this belief and to develop more environmentally sympathetic living styles

Views… § Ecocentric (earth centred view) A philosophy that claims moral values and rights for both organisms and ecological systems and processes. (highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/0070294267/student_view 0/glossary_e-l. html)

Human Weakness What do we have to contend with? ? § Ignorance – not knowing any better § Indifference – knowing but not caring § For minimal impact strategies to be effected by participants, the strategies need to be appreciated and personalised. – Promotion and modeling of appropriate behaviour can help to overcome these.

Minimal Impact Issues & Solutions Discuss the different aspects of each of the issues with the person next to you and come up with solutions: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Rubbish Fires Campsite Selection Toileting Off-track/On-track walking Wildlife

The Impact § Read the Minimal Impact Handout § How did your list compare? § Compile the lists to create one master list for yourself. CAN WE JUSTIFY THE IMPACT WE HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN WE GO ON CAMPS IN THE OUTDOORS?

Principles of Minimal Impact § Read the principals in the Minimal Impact Handout § Some things to note: – Avoid enlarging the area and the degree of disturbance. – If a site is used once, try to make it unlikely that it will be used again until it has completely regenerated, stay only one night, leave nothing to encourage a second group to use the area. – If use continues, deterioration is usually rapid and substantial. – Deterioration impacts on others wilderness experience. – If waste cannot be packed out waste, bury it at least 15 cm deep. – Personal convenience should not take precedence over a natural environment. – The condition of the wilderness depends on who is using it. – No amount of policing and maintenance can prevent or replace, irreparable damage.

Linking minimum impact practices with environmental ethics § The actions serve as a tool to develop an attitude § Minimal impact is progressive – At its basic level - a set of rules – At its advanced - a value system that effects every action a person makes

Sustainability strategies § Think of strategies you have witnessed or experienced on other school camps – jot them down. § Examples: – – – – – Waste weigh-ins & competitions Rubbish tickets to meals Point system for energy use Rubbish treasure hunts Recycling campaigns Re-use water activities Tree planting Weeding Technology free camp

Scenarios § Read the Minimal Impact Scenarios sheet § Think about/discuss each problem and jot down your answers § Be sure to justify your answers!

VIDEOS Watch the You. Tube videos on that are on our class website relating to minimal impact in the outdoors • What were the individuals or groups doing in the video clip to help protect and preserve outdoor environments?

Some Brain Fodder… § Environmental consciousness… – I have used the metaphor of a car heading for a brick wall while all the occupants are preoccupied with seating arrangements. In such a situation, every minute lost without turning the wheel or applying the brakes means that avoiding a collision will be more difficult. Once threshold has been breached and the car doomed to strike the barrier, we have no choice but to respond heroically after the crash, but survival is far less assured. David Suzuki (Earth Time pp 259) What does this mean?

Where are we heading?