Minimal Impact

Minimal Impact (MI) is a code of practice for users of natural areas designed to maintain the ecological and intrinsic values (ie. scenic amenity, cultural heritage and water catchment) of natural settings for outdoor recreation. Our Trips place great emphasis on where and how we camp, and how we deal with our waste, ensuring that we leave the river valley in better condition than that upon our arrival.

For many people the outdoors and campfires are a valued part of camping. Whilst the warm outer glow of a campfire is quite tempting, the impacts that they cause are not readily apparent as site degradation accumulates over time. Campfires cause the depletion of available homes and nutrients for wildlife, scarring and death of plants, sterilisation of the soil surface and structural damage, and the visual scarring of sites through the accumulation of charred and incombustible rubbish (eg. food scraps, tins, aluminium foil, plastic, cigarette butts, etc.). For this reason Rafting Tasmania, uses portable fuel stoves.

Rafting Tasmania uses portable toilet systems and ensures that what we carry in, we carry out. ethic in natural areas. Food scraps can attract and support excessive numbers of scavenging animals. Human diseases may also be spread to native wildlife that scavenge and feed on scraps left behind, as well as an affect in the nutrient balances of the soil, or introduce weeds if the scraps contain seeds.

Dishes are washed using environmentally friendly detergents away from the river. Bathing and/or doing the dishes in or close to watercourses may contaminate the water source. In most instances these activities may increase nutrient levels, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous, or introduce coliform bacteria which may directly effect human health. Maintaining a pure and clean water supply is a priority for us.

CONTRAST

Minimal Impact