Name: Abegail T.

Infante BSED Math 1

Environmental Protection and Management

1
Perspective on the Environment

Perspective on the environment is the way man treats the environment depends on how he
perceives it. The following diagram (Figure 1) showing the evolution of environmental
perspectives is presented. It summarizes the five evolutionary paradigms of human-environment
interactions.

At the bottom of the diagram

lies two opposing ideologies on how man should treat the environment. These are frontier
economics and deep ecology thinking.

 Frontier economics thinking is an environmental perspective that prevailed in industrial

economies of developed countries until the rise of environmentalism around the 1960s.
This environmental perspective is founded on the belief that nature is an infinite supply
of physical resources including raw materials, energy, water, soil, and air. These
resources are present mainly for human benefit. Nature is treated as an infinite sink (!) of
resource consumption by-products in the form of pollution and ecological degradation.
Adherents of this environmental perspective do not recognize a biophysical
“environment” to be managed because it is considered irrelevant to the economy.

 Deep ecology thinking, on the other hand, promotes symbiosis or mutually beneficial
relationship between nature and man. Nature, in this instance, is given more emphasis in
this environmental perspective. Deep ecologists expect the world to return to pre-
 industrial, rural lifestyles and simple standards of living to meet human physical needs.
This environmental perspective recognizes that the earth’s “supplies” is limited, so it
must be protected at all costs. Return to traditional ways that advocate preservation of
nature is given prime importance.

In the hope of integrating human needs or harmonizing these needs with the environment which
serves as resource supplier, three other dominant paradigms arose through the years. These are
environmental protection, resource management, and eco-development.

 The environmental protection perspective came into focus with Rachel Carson’s (1962)
Silent Spring book that revolutionized the environmental movement. The book was
instrumental in the creation of the now well-known US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist
whose book Silent Spring and other writings are credited with advancing the global
environmental movement. Her work along with other scientists linked synthetic
pesticides like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) with near extinction of bird
species. Shell thinning of bird eggs due to DDT caused death of birds through
bioaccumulation; thus, silent spring ensued as there are no birds to sing their melodious
songs.

To address problems of environmental pollution, the environment must be protected. The

perspective focuses on repairing and setting limits to harmful economic activities and uses the
“end of pipe” or “business-as-usual”, plus a treatment plant” approach.

 The resource management environmental perspective appears to be the ideal approach

to environmental management nowadays. It promotes wise use of resources through
regulation of human behavior and activities. Natural resources, both tangible and
intangible, are used in an organized and efficient manner. Resources referred to include
land, water, labor, capital, organization, skills, as well as people’s belief systems. It is
believed that traditional ways are compatible uses of the environment because these
practices have evolved through time and are desirable for continued survival. Greater
emphasis is given on long-term sustainability of resource use and development activity.
This environmental perspective encourages energy efficiency, resource conservation,
pollution prevention, ecological restoration, ecosystem and social health monitoring, and
“polluter pays” principle. The economy is embedded within the ecosystem.

 Eco-development environmental perspective champions restructuring of the relationship

between society and nature into a “positive sum game” through sophisticated symbiosis.
Economic restructuring incorporates ecological principles. It integrates all the concerns
of other perspectives. Man and nature should co-evolve. It advocates “green development
“where land use planning includes consideration of community-wide or regional
environmental implications of development, as well as site-specific concerns.
 2
Contemporary Environmental Issues

The effect that humanity is having on the

environment is becoming ever-more important.
Through our actions we are destroying habitats
and endangering the lives of future generations.

At this point there is no denying the fact that our

environment is changing. Hundreds of studies
have been conducted to demonstrate that this is
happening and it is having an effect on life
around us.

However, many may be unaware of the specific

issues that have led to these changes. Terms like “climate change” and “genetic modification”
are commonplace, but without additional information it is difficult to see why they actually
matter.

To complicate the matter, many of these issues are linked to one another. The key is that they are
all important challenges that need to be confronted.

Top 17 Environmental Problems

17. Genetic Modification of Crops

- Environmental issues caused by man-made chemicals are becoming clearer. For example,
there has been a 90% reduction in the Monarch butterfly population in the United States
that can be linked to weed killers that contain glyphosate.
- There is also some speculation that genetically-modified plants may leak chemical
compounds into soil through their roots, possibly affecting communities of
microorganisms.

16. Waste Production

- The average person produces 4.3 pounds of waste per day, with the United States alone
accounting for 220 million tons per year. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, which
generate enormous amounts of methane.
- Not only does this create explosion hazards, but methane also ranks as one of the worst of
the greenhouse gases because of its high global warming potential.

15. Population Growth

- Many of the issues listed here result from the massive population growth that Earth has
experienced in the last century. The planet’s population grows by 1.13% per year, which
works out to 80 million people.
 - This results in a number of issues, such as a lack of fresh water, habitat loss for wild
animals, overuse of natural resources and even species extinction. The latter is
particularly damaging, as the planet is now losing 30,000 species per year.

14. Water Pollution

- Fresh water is crucial to life on Earth, yet more sources are being polluted through human
activities each year. On a global scale, 2 million tons of sewage, agricultural and
industrial waste enters the world’s water every day.
- Water pollution can have harmful effects outside of contamination of the water we drink.
It also disrupts marine life, sometimes altering reproductive cycles and increasing
mortality rates.

13. Deforestation
- The demands of an increasing population have resulted in increasing levels of
deforestation. Current estimates state that the planet is losing 80,000 acres of tropical
forests per day.
- This results in loss of habitat for many species, placing many at risk and leading to large-
scale extinction. Furthermore, deforestation is estimated to produce 15% of the world’s
greenhouse gas emissions.

12. Urban Sprawl

- The continued expansion of urban areas into traditionally rural regions is not without its
problems. Urban sprawl has been linked to environmental issues like air and water
pollution increases, in addition to the creation of heat-islands.
- Satellite images produced by NASA have also shown how urban sprawl contributes to
forest fragmentation, which often leads to larger deforestation.

11. Overfishing
- It is estimated that 63% of global fish stocks are now considered overfished. This has led
to many fishing fleets heading to new waters, which will only serve to deplete fish stocks
further.
- Overfishing leads to a misbalance of ocean life, severely affecting natural ecosystems in
the process. Furthermore, it also has negative effects on coastal communities that rely on
fishing to support their economies.

10. Acid Rain

- Acid rain comes as a result of air pollution, mostly through chemicals released into the
environment when fuel is burned. Its effects are most clearly seen in aquatic ecosystems,
where increasing acidity in the water can lead to animal deaths.
- It also causes various issues for trees. Though it doesn’t kill trees directly, acid rain
does weaken them by damaging leaves, poisoning the trees and limiting their available
nutrients.

9. Ozone Layer Depletion

 - Ozone depletion is caused by the release of chemicals, primarily chlorine and bromide,
into the atmosphere. A single atom of either has the potential to destroy thousands of
ozone molecules before leaving the stratosphere.
- Ozone depletion results in more UVB radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. UVB has
been linked to skin cancer and eye disease, plus it affects plant life and has been linked to
a reduction of plankton in marine environments.

8. Ocean Acidification
- Ocean acidification is the term used to describe the continued lowering of the pH levels
of the Earth’s oceans as a result of carbon dioxide emissions. It is estimated that ocean
acidity will increase by 150% by 2100 if efforts aren’t made to halt it.
- This increase in acidification can have dire effect on calcifying species, such as shellfish.
This causes issues throughout the food chain and may lead to reductions in aquatic life
that would otherwise not be affected by acidification.

7. Air Pollution
- Air pollution is becoming an increasingly dangerous problem, particularly in heavily-
populated cities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that 80% of people
living in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels deemed unfit by the organization.
- It is also directly linked to other environmental issues, such as acid rain and
eutrophication. Animals and humans are also at risk of developing a number of health
problems due to air pollution.

6. Lowered Biodiversity
- Continued human activities and expansion has led to lowered biodiversity. A lack of
biodiversity means that future generations will have to deal with increasing vulnerability
of plants to pests and fewer sources of fresh water.
- Some studies have found that lowered biodiversity has as pronounced an impact as
climate change and pollution on ecosystems, particularly in areas with higher amounts of
species extinction.

5. The Nitrogen Cycle

- With most of the focus being placed on the carbon cycle, the effects of human use of
nitrogen often slip under the radar. It is estimated that agriculture may be responsible for
half of the nitrogen fixation on earth, primarily through the use and production of man-
made fertilizers.
- Excess levels of nitrogen in water can cause issues in marine ecosystems, primarily
through overstimulation of plant and algae growth. This can result in blocked intakes and
less light getting to deeper waters, damaging the rest of the marine population.

4. Natural Resource Use

- Recent studies have shown that humanity uses so many natural resources that we would
need almost 1.5 Earths to cover our needs. This is only set to increase as industrialization
continues in nations like China and India.
- Increased resource use is linked to a number of other environmental issues, such as air
pollution and population growth. Over time, the depletion of these resources will lead to
 an energy crisis, plus the chemicals emitted by many natural resources are strong
contributors to climate change.

3. Transportation
- An ever-growing population needs transportation, much of which is fueled by the natural
resources that emit greenhouse gases, such as petroleum. In 2014, transportation
accounted for 26% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
- Transportation also contributes to a range of other environmental issues, such as the
destruction of natural habitats and increase in air pollution.

2. Polar Ice Caps

- The issue of the melting of polar ice caps is a contentious one. While NASA studies have
shown that the amount of ice in Antarctica is actually increasing, these rises only amount
to a third of what is being lost in the Arctic.
- There is strong evidence to suggest that sea levels are rising, with the Arctic ice caps
melting being a major contributor. Over time, this could lead to extensive flooding,
contamination of drinking water and major changes in ecosystems.

1. Climate Change
- The majority of the issues previously listed contributes or are linked to climate change.
Statistics created by NASA state that global temperatures have risen by 1.7 degrees
Fahrenheit since 1880, which is directly linked to a reduction in Arctic ice of 13.3% per
decade.
- The effects of climate change are widespread, as it will cause issues with deforestation,
water supplies, oceans and ecosystems. Each of these has widespread implications of
their own, marking climate change as the major environmental issue the planet faces
today.

Global Environmental Situation

Climate threats top chart of global concerns for 2020

The World Economic Forum says politicians must work to avoid economic and political
polarization and instead encourage collective efforts to tackle environmental issues.

For the first time in the World Economic

Forum’s Global Risks Report’s decade-long
history, climate threats have universally
topped a chart of global concerns for the
coming year.

The report annually surveys more than 750

global experts and decision-makers, who
are asked to rank their biggest worries
regarding the year ahead.
The top five global risks in terms of likelihood for 2020 are all environmental – they include
extreme weather events, failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation, environmental
damage and disasters such as oil spills and radioactive contamination, major biodiversity loss
and natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and geomagnetic
storms.

The World Economic Forum says politicians must work to avoid economic and political
polarization and instead encourage collective efforts to tackle environmental issues – it suggests
collaboration between world leaders, businesses and policy-makers is needed “more than ever”
to stop severe threats developing.

Despite this, 78% of those surveyed said they expect “economic confrontations” to rise this year,
making it “much harder” to tackle the climate crisis, protect the planet and avoid record species
decline.

The report emphasizes policy makers must hold climate targets to the same regard as economic
goals and advises companies to avoid the risks of “potentially disastrous future losses” by setting
and sticking to science-based targets.

Borge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum, said: “The political landscape is
polarized, sea levels are rising and climate fires are burning.

“This is the year when world leaders must work with all sectors of society to repair and
reinvigorate our systems of cooperation, not just for short-term benefit but for tackling our deep-
rooted risks.”

Environmental Situation in the Philippines

Major Environmental, Social and Economic Situations

A. Environmental Problems
- The Philippines are prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides,
volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in
the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” and in the geologically
unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also
suffers major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual
population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air
and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs,
mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing.

B. Climate Change and the Philippines

- Recent scientific studies reveal that human activities have contributed significantly to the
increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that causes climate change.
- The Philippines is a hotspot for climate change disasters particularly the risk for
agriculture and food security due to extreme El Nino and severe tropical cyclones. The
spread of infectious diseases are influenced by fluctuations in climate variables,
temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Sever super typhoons like Reming that
pummeled the Bicol region in 2006 destroyed at least $90- million worth of agricultural
products and infrastructure.
- Diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, cholera have increased throughout the years.
Climate change impacts on coastal zones and marine ecosystems caused massive coral
bleaching especially in 1998 due to elevated sea temperature and fish kills and red tides
like the one that occurred in 1992 which was an El Nino period.
- Scientists warned the Philippines could experience famine by 2020, as the adverse
impact of global warming takes its toll on natural resources. Thousands will be
displaced from their homes especially in low-lying coastal communities.

C. Decline of Natural Resources and Biodiversity

- The Philippines is suffering from degradation of the natural environment. It has fifty
major rivers now polluted due to abuse and neglect. Approximately two-thirds of the
country's original mangroves have been lost. A hundred years ago, the Philippines had
close to 22 million hectares of old growth forest. At the start of 2000, we had less than
600,000 hectares of old-growth forest left. In one century, we had cut down close to 97
percent of our original forest. A study by the Environmental Scientists for Social Change
(ESSC) reveals that we have systematically cut this forest down and that we have not
stopped its destruction and that of its core biodiversity.
- The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) estimates that it takes over 4,000 liters
of water to produce one kilo of rice. Because of the loss of forests, we have less water
since most of our freshwater comes from watersheds found in forests. Therefore, loss of
forests means loss of food.
- More than 400 plant and animal species found in the Philippines are currently threatened
with extinction, including the Philippine eagle, the tamaraw, and the dugong. In 2001, 49
of the nation's mammal species, 86 bird species, and 320 plant species were threatened
with extinction. Endangered species in the Philippines include the monkey-eating eagle,
Philippine tarsier, tamaraw, four species of turtle (green sea, hawksbill, olive ridley, and
leatherback), Philippines crocodile, sinarapan, and two species of butterflies. The Cebu
warty pig, Panay flying fox, and Chapman's fruit bat have become extinct.

D. Alarming Waste Problem in the Philippines

- The Philippines is looming with garbage problems despite the passage of the Ecological
Solid Waste Management Act or the Republic Act (RA) 9003.
- 2007 first quarter data from the National Solid Waste Management Commission shows
that there are 677 open dumpsites, 343 controlled dumps, and 21 landfills in the country.
An additional 307 dump sites are subject for closure or rehabilitation plans but without
 definite schedules for enforcement. About 215 additional landfills are being proposed to
be set up nationwide.
- About 1,000 open and controlled dump sites exist in the country. Prominent dumps all
over the country can be found in Antipolo and Montalban in Rizal; Baguio City; Calapan,
Mindoro Oriental; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Mandurriao, Iloilo City; Obando, Bulacan;
and San Pedro, Laguna.
- Environmentalists stress that Republic Act 9003 calls for the adoption of the best
environmental practices in ecological waste management and explicitly excludes waste
incineration as an ecological option. These polluting disposal facilities are major sources
of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere which adds to global warming. Landfills
and open dumps, according to studies, account for 34 percent of human related methane
emissions to the atmosphere, a global warming gas that has 23 times more heat-trapping
power than carbon dioxide. These landfills and open dumps are illegal under RA 9003.
- Incinerators, on the other hand, have significantly higher levels of greenhouse gas
emissions (per kilowatt) than a coal-fired power plant when all of the carbon coming out
of an incinerator stacks is measured. Such emissions are banned by the country’s Clean
Air Act.
- Inaction on garbage contributes to the death of at least two persons every minute due to
complications from environmental problems, which could be prevented if the country
only developed a more efficient environmental management program.
- Mismanagement of waste has serious environmental consequences: ground and surface
water contamination, local flooding, air pollution, exposure to toxins, and spread of
disease. Many of the disposal sites contain infectious material, thus threatening sanitation
workers and waste-pickers.
- Annual waste generation in the Philippines is expected to grow 40 percent by 2010.
Improvements in recycling, collection, and disposal will become even more critical as
garbage production continues to increase with population growth and economic
development.
- Past efforts to promote waste segregation at source have minimal impact despite the
presence of Republic Act 9003. Most of these were barangay, city, and municipal
ordinances providing for sanctions and penalties for non-compliance. Campaigns,
seminars, trainings and other different community activities were implemented with the
help of various private groups or NGO’s to pursue the objective of solving the garbage
problem.
- RA 9003 further calls for the establishment of materials recovery facilities, or ecology
centers, in every barangay or cluster of a barangay. To date, only 1,923 ecology centers
exist, serving 2,133 barangays of a total 41,975 nationwide. In Quezon City alone, only
52 barangays have established Materials Recovery Facilities out of a total of 142.
 3
Our Role in Environmental Protection

There are actions everyday people can take to protect the environment:

A. Recycle, reuse, and compost.

- Recycling involves cutting down on waste and energy consumption by turning used
items such as plastic bottles into new items.
- Reusing involves cutting down on waste by reusing items such as grocery bags.
- Composting involves using food waste to help create nutrient-rich soil rather than
landfill waste. Much of that waste ends up in landfills, where it produces greenhouse
gases that make climate change worse. Some of it ends up in the ocean, where it kills
marine life; and creating new products uses up a lot of energy. Yet, almost all of our
waste can be recycled, reused, or composted.

B. Transport conservation
- Another thing we can do since one of the biggest sources of greenhouses gases is
transportation. Make better transport choices by choosing the least damaging option.
Generally speaking, driving is more efficient than flying. Riding a bike is always better
than driving. Take a train, tram, or bus whenever one is available. Choose housing near to
where you go to school or work, and choose an efficient car. All of these things can
reduce your impact on the environment.

C. Conserve energy
- Switch things off when you're not using them, use less air conditioning (or use fans), dry
clothes on a clothesline, switch to energy saving light bulbs (LED bulbs are the best!),
turn your refrigerator down, close air conditioning vents when you're not in the room,
wear more layers instead of setting the heating too high, and turn everything off when not
at home. You can make the biggest difference by turning off your a/c and turning down
your heat. All these things help protect the environment though, and they save you
money!

D. Choose to buy local

- Local food is better for the environment because of transportation pollution. The fewer
miles the food has to travel, the smaller the pollution toll. You can buy local food at
specialty stores, go to a local farmer's market, or even grow your own food in a garden!
Also, it helps to make as much as possible from scratch, instead of buying packaged
 goods. You can also cut down on meat: vegetables take far less energy to produce than
meat.

E. Donate to rainforest conservation charities

- There are many charities working hard to both buy rainforest for local groups to protect,
and to pressure governments to take action. These charities can only operate thanks to the
donations.

F. Avoid toxic chemicals

- The issue of toxic chemicals can be complex. The simplest thing an individual can to
avoid supporting any organization that uses toxic chemical.

Ecological Footprint and Lifestyle Choices Contributing to Environment

Preservation

Ecological Footprint

An ecological footprint measures humans' consumption of natural resources against the Earth’s
ecological capacity (bio capacity) to regenerate them.

A. Use Cleaner Transportation

- Don't drive when there is an alternative. Walk, bike, or take public transport whenever
possible. If you don't own and drive a car on average you can reduce your total ecological
footprint by as much as 20 per cent. Using it less will reduce your footprint, helps to
avoid traffic jam and keeps your cities air cleaner.
- If you need a car make it a small as possible one and reduce the mileage. Smaller, and
mainly smaller-engine, cars are usually much more energy efficient than larger ones.
- Check your car regularly. Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission
control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter monthly, and keep
the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage. If you sit idle for more than 30
seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic).
- Avoid short airplane trips - take a bus or train instead. Flights cause a large and growing
part of our collective footprint - it has two to four times the impact of CO2 emissions on
climate change because it releases water vapor and nitrous oxide at high altitude.

B. Add Energy-Saving Features to Your Home

- Install energy-saving lamps in your home - but be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely.
- Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows .
Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater
catchment or greywater recycling system, and recycled materials.
- Choose energy efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and
toilets.
- Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
- Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products - for your health and environment.

C. Cultivate Energy-Saving Habits

- Keep the thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in
summer. Keep your A/C filters clean to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency. Take a
look at our tips for keeping cool without A/C.
- Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when
turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.
- Dry your clothes naturally whenever possible rather than using power-guzzling tumble
dryers.
- Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.

D. Reduce your Foods and Goods Footprint

- Shop at your local farmer's market. Look for local, in-season foods that haven't travelled
long distances to reach you. Organic and other forms of low-input farming that use
minimal or no pesticides and fertilizers – which are energy intensive in their manufacture
– consume up to 40 per cent less energy, and support higher levels of wildlife on farms.
- Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
- Plant a garden. Growing our own fruit and vegetables reduces all the energy and waste
which normally goes into getting food from the field to our plates – such as transport,
refrigeration and packaging. In your garden you can compost food waste as well.
Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily
recycled and sorted.
- Going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference - more often is even
better. The livestock industry contributes more greenhouse gas emissions globally than
the transport sector and the ecological footprint of vegetarians is estimated to be around
half that of meat eaters.
- Buy less. Try to get your things repaired - this supports local business and avoids waste.
Replace items only when you really need to and try to buy quality products that will have
a longer life-span.
- Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don't forget electronics. Do an
online search to find the recycling options in your area.

E. Try Out Easy Ways to Save Water

- Take shorter, less frequent showers - this saves water and the energy necessary to heat it.
- Run the dishwasher and the washing machine only when full.
- Wash your car less often. Take it to a carwash; usually commercial carwashes use less
water per wash than you would need at home.
 - Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway. Regularly look
for and fix leaks.
- Plant drought-tolerant plants in your garden and yard.

Simple Ways to Help the Environment

A. Use Reusable Bags

 Plastic grocery-type bags that get thrown out end up in landfills or in other parts
of the environment. These can suffocate animals who get stuck in them or may
mistake them for food. Also, it takes a while for the bags to decompose.

B. Recycle
 Recycling is such a simple thing to do, but so many people don’t do it. Many
garbage disposal companies offer recycling services. It is as simple as getting a
bin and putting it out with your trash cans for free.

C. Use a Reusable Beverage Containers

 Instead of buying individually-packaged drinks, consider buying a bulk container
of the beverage you want and buying a reusable water bottle. Not only will this
help the environment, but it will also help you save money since you are buying a
bulk container.

The Importance of Social Movements in Environmental Protection

Social movements in environmental protection or environmentalism is important because

they seek to protect and conserve the elements of earth's ecosystem, including water, air, land,
animals, and plants, along with entire habitats such as rainforests, deserts and oceans.
Environmentalism works to correct the damage as well as prevent future destruction of the
environment.

Best practices in Environmental Protection

A. Plan ahead and prepare. Leave as much garbage and food packaging as possible at
home. The less garbage you take with you, the less garbage you will have to carry out.
- Plan your menu in detail ahead of time
- Purchase the quantities you need
- Repack food and equipment to eliminate plastic wrap and cardboard boxes – these items
just become garbage that you have to carry out of the wilderness
- Plan ahead how you will store garbage and what toilet system you will use

B. Dispose of waste properly. It is illegal to leave garbage in the wilderness. Pack out all
garbage and throw it away in town. Do not bury it or throw it in the river. Animals can
smell buried garbage and are attracted to campsites where garbage has been left behind:
this is very dangerous for the next person. If you burn anything, do it in a hot fire. When
the fire is out, pick out any remaining garbage and take it with you.

- Crush your garbage and put it in a bag, then seal it in a container (river barrel for
example). Pack it out and properly dispose of it in town. Don't forget to recycle.
- Soap, even biodegradable soap, harms fish! Wash your dishes and yourself far from
lakes, rivers and streams (min. 70 meters/66 yards)
- Pour waste water in sandy soil or gravel, not on plants, away from camp
- Have your washing and toilet areas in places where other people will not put their tents

C. Minimize the impact of campfires. Campfires are one of the greatest joys of river travel,
but they are also the biggest problem. Scars left from fires and cutting firewood last
longer than your lifetime. Do not use an axe or saw to hack down trees and bushes around
your camp. It is most likely that you can find all the dead dry wood you need in sticks the
size of your arm or smaller. Green, live trees don’t burn in a campfire, they just smoke.

- It is illegal to leave a campfire burning when you leave your camp. Most forest fires in
the Yukon are started by people. A match or cigarette dropped on the ground or an
unattended or improperly doused campfire can easily start a forest fire.
- Bring a stove for cooking
- Use existing fire pits or a fire pan or firebox
- Small campfires are safer and better for cooking
- Make your fire on sand or gravel, below the high water mark
- Use only small sticks that you find on the ground or “standing dead wood”
- Use wood that is dead and dry
- Burn your wood completely until it is ash
- Before you leave your campsite, drench your fire with water until it is cold enough to
hold in your hand!
- Take all garbage out of the fire pit and put in your garbage
- Dispose ashes/coals in the river

D. Camp and walk on durable surfaces. The growing season is very short in the north.
Vegetation that is trampled will die. Soil can easily become compacted then plants will
no longer grow in it.
 - Put tents and kitchen on sand or gravel whenever possible
- Avoid camping or building fires on plants
- Use existing trails or avoid trampling vegetation

E. Leave what you find. Structures along the river may belong to hunting and fishing camps
or to First Nation peoples. The area may look abandoned, but the owner will be there
later in another season. Please respect private property.

- Enjoy wildflowers without picking them

- Leave living trees and bushes standing
- It is illegal to disturb or remove historical artifacts
- Don’t build furniture

F. Be considerate of other people. Many other people use the same river you are travelling
on: canoeist, rafters, boaters, hunters, trappers, fishers. Remember that music or partying
that is too loud may bother other people.

- Keep noise levels down

- Leave a clean camp
- Respect private property

G. Respect wildlife
- Every animal species has its own ‘personal space’ requirements. It can be difficult to tell
when an animal is becoming stressed by your presence – some simply stand still to
appear less obvious. If an animal feels that you are a threat to itself, its young, or its food
source, it may charge at you or attack. Too much stress can even interfere with an
animal’s ability to reproduce, or cause it to be separated from or abandon its young. The
more human stress an animal experiences, the less likely it is to stay ‘wild’. Small
animals that become accustomed to people, like squirrels and whiskey jacks, become a
nuisance around camp. Large animals, like bears and wolves, become very dangerous.

- Use a spotting scope or binoculars to view animals from a safe distance

- Photograph with a telephoto lens
- Do not approach or feed any animal

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