Leave No Trace for Van Lifers: Importance of Preserving Natural Areas While Living on the Road
Leave No Trace (LNT) principles are particularly important for van lifers because they often live and travel in remote and natural areas for extended periods of time. Van lifers have the potential to impact the environment through their daily activities, such as cooking, washing, driving down dirt roads, and waste disposal. Without proper care and consideration, van lifers can unintentionally harm the environment, and contribute to the degradation of natural areas. Furthermore, as a van conversion company and lovers of public outdoor areas we feel responsible to help in the education of LNT as van life popularity continues to grow.
Van lifers also have the opportunity to serve as role models for others, by demonstrating responsible outdoor behavior and promoting LNT to others. This can help to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage others to take responsibility for their impact on the natural world.
Leave No Trace consists of seven basic principles:
Plan Ahead and Prepare: Proper planning and preparation can help minimize impact on the environment.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Use established trails and campsites to prevent damage to fragile vegetation and soil.
Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter and dispose of it properly in designated waste areas.
Leave What You Find: Do not disturb or remove plants, rocks, artifacts, or other natural and cultural features.
Minimize Campfire Impact: Use a camp stove instead of a campfire when possible, and when campfires are allowed, use established fire rings and only burn small sticks and twigs.
Respect Wildlife: Observe wildlife from a distance and do not feed them or disturb their habitats.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Respect other visitors' privacy, and keep noise levels down.
Even things that seem inconsequential can end up having a large impact in natural areas. A potato chip or small food scrap left at a previously pristine campsite will attract animals and train them to get food in that location, thereby slowly making them feel comfortable in the presence of humans. A few steps off trail, a tent on that wonderfully soft grass for the night, parking your van under the perfect shade tree - all of these things can crush and kill plant life that in some cases may take years, or never grow back.
Overall, LNT is essential for van lifers who wish to live sustainably and responsibly while enjoying the natural beauty of the world around them. With the growing popularity of vanlife and increasing crowds in formerly remote areas, we at AW believe that now more than ever it is important to educate ourselves and others on how to properly minimize our impact in the natural world that we love.
