Leave No Trace Australia promaotes and inspires responsible travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace is Australia's national minimal impact program
LEAVE NO TRACE
Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage.
Leave No Trace Australia is a national non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships.
We are dedicated to promoting attitudinal change and the empowerment of individuals, companies and communities to accept responsibility for the conservation of their natural environment. This is achieved by forming partnerships to foster the development of Leave No Trace minimal impact skills and ethics.
While we enjoy the natural world, Leave No Trace teaches us how to minimize our impacts. As part of that work, the organization is taking on these and other challenges.
THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF LEAVING NO TRACE
For more information on each of the principles, see the booklet Skills and Ethics – Australian edition.
The following information under these seven principles is recommended as a guide to minimise the impact of your visits to Australia’s natural and cultural areas. “Leave no trace” depends more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations.
Minimal impact travel and outdoor recreation practices need to be flexible and backed up by judgement and experience. Techniques are constantly evolving and improving. A general rule of thumb is to consider the variables of each area in terms of culture, wildlife, vegetation, soil, climate and the uses it receives. Then use this information to determine which recommended techniques to apply.
Problems We Solve

Trashed Natural Areas
A cumulative impact from every discarded wrapper can devastate a natural area—removing trash is a simple but important and effective act of stewardship.
Polluted Water
Water is precious to all life. Simple, easy-to-follow advice helps ensure that rivers, lakes and oceans receive high levels of protection.


Misinformation in the Outdoors
Simply checking the forecast can save your life. From camping skills to safety measures, there is no such thing as too much information for an enjoyable outdoor adventure.
Wildlife at Risk
Wildlife should be just that—wild. Providing access to human food, or even just approaching too closely, is more harmful than most people imagine.


Damaged Trails
Trail erosion can permanently alter the landscape and is preventable when people adopt Leave No Trace principles.
Destructive Fires
Careless actions, such as leaving campfires unattended or casually discarding cigarettes, are among the most common causes of destructive wildfires, leading to billion-dollar losses and the death of people and wildlife.


Crowded Parks
Overcrowding can cause disruption to wildlife, harm to the natural landscape and even lead to social conflicts.
We need nature. Nature needs us. Let's get to work!
Using the power of science, education and stewardship of people and partners, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet.
Latest news

The Larapinta Trail is filled with human waste and toilet paper as the popularity of the trails reaches new peaks
The Larapinta Trail near Alice Springs is known for its spectacular views and scenery, but its growing popularity among bushwalkers this year is causing a

Corals and koalas: in Australia, a shocking report describes the collapse
Climate disasters are legion in Australia. A government report details the extent of environmental damage and denounces political inaction. The document was expected, and it

In Australia, Labor victory gives hope to environmentalists
In a country ravaged by megafires, Labor’s new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives hope to eco-conscious Australians. The Liberal Party (conservative right) has been in

New Zealand: Residents urge tourists to “proceed with caution and leave no trace”
After two years, the first foreign tourists and travellers are returning to New Zealand. But the tiny island nation, world-famous for its unspoilt natural landscape,

You Can’t Do This: Revelations of tourists, confessions of their worst sins in the open air.
Leave no traces on the confession: we decided to publish some of the stories that tourists told us. And they ask for forgiveness. All stories

Cruise ships are returning to the Great Lakes with expeditions starting in May and ending in October.
After a two-year hiatus, Great Lakes cruisers are back and the industry is trying to get ready. “There is a huge unmet demand for cruises,”

AGA Parts Co. offers reliable spare parts for heavy machinery produced by 90 international manufacturers
AGA Parts (Brooklyn, NY) supplies genuine and aftermarket spare parts for special-purpose machinery produced by leading manufacturers: Caterpillar, Cummins, Komatsu, Hitachi, CNH, Atlas Copco, John

How to plan an outdoor date
Planning an outdoor date with someone special? These tips will help you leave no trace and impress your partner with your responsible outdoor skills. Plan