One infected log can lead to the destruction of thousands of native trees which then endangers our parks and surrounding ecosystems.

I want to share a thoughtful quote from David Haskell’s book The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature. The quote illustrates our changing relationship with forests. It begins by looking at nineteenth century forestry practices and how these have changed as the demand for lumber has grown.

Leave No Trace principles are at the core of responsible outdoor recreation, emphasizing the importance of minimizing our impact on the environment. However, as outdoor enthusiasts increasingly adopt these principles, questions have arisen about their effectiveness and potential harms.