Pressures on natural areas In recent years the popularity of environment specific recreational activities has increased and therefore so have the amount of Victorians visiting these specific environments. In your books list 4 recreational activities you know that are reliant on specific locations or environments in Victoria List 4 pressures (significantly impacts) facing natural areas with high visitor numbers. What effect do these pressures have on participation and that specific environment?

What is the solution?? Banning activities? Closures of areas (permanent/seasonal)? Introducing a code of conduct?

Rationales for codes of conduct relating to recreational activities

What is a Code of Conduct?? A code of conduct is a document that has been designed to reduce our impact when undertaking pursuits in the outdoors and to reduce conflict between different user groups with varying values. Put simply it is a guideline that gives us an idea of what to do and what not to do in a certain environment or whilst participating in a certain activity

Who creates them? Government bodies such as Parks Victoria and the Department of Sustainability and Environment work with commercial and community groups to create the documents for a specific area or activity.

So why do we need them? The need arises from recognition that unregulated use is leading to significant impact on an area. Guidelines then get put in place to hopefully give users an idea of ‘best practice’ and what must be done to protect themselves as users and the areas being used.

Rockclimbing Example In Tasmania the introduction of the Cataract Gorge rock-climbing code of conduct was caused by an influx of visitors impacting the rock faces and surrounding areas. The impacts included: A rapid increase in unplanned walking tracks Overcrowding of campsites Sanitation issues in popular areas Impact on flora (7 species of birds found only at the Gorge) Cracking and erosion due to incorrect procedures on climbs

Rock Climbing Code of Conduct Cataract Gorge List what you think may have been put in this code of conduct to limit or eliminate these impacts?

Rock Climbing Code of Conduct Cataract Gorge

Alpine Ski Code Collaboration between: Planning your ski tour Keep your party small - Large parties (more than eight) have more environmental impact, affect the experience of others and are harder to manage. Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days - Protect your skin and eyes. Always wear a peaked cap, good sunglasses and sunscreen. Be able to read weather charts - Plan your trip with the forecast in mind. Also plan for delays so you are not forced to travel in white-out and blizzard conditions. Carry several extra days' food. Let someone know before you go ski touring - Tell them about your party, your route, when you plan to return and the equipment the party is carrying. Remember to contact then when you get back. Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails and outside alpine resorts. This will ensure security for your camping equipment and have the least impact on other skiers. Ensure your site is well protected from prevailing winds and likely storms. Be especially careful of slopes which are prone to avalanches. Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible so that wastes can properly disposed of. When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have ‘quarried' snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping - If you carry warm clothes and use a fuel stove, fires will not be needed for warmth or cooking. Compared with fires, fuel stoves are faster, cleaner and a lot easier to use in winter. Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided - A fire built on the snow or a log raft will burn down and damage sensitive alpine vegetation. Such fires are illegal in the Alps national parks. Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter - Stored supplies of firewood may be needed by other groups in an emergency. It is also difficult to replace firewood in winter. Cooking outside in winter can be a highly enjoyable and social activity - Use a snow-shovel to construct a kitchen area near the tent site. Dig a trench for your feet and build a wall of snow blocks to deflect any cold winds. Sit on insulating mats for comfort and warmth. Combining meals is a friendly activity and saves fuel. Remember to dismantle snow walls - fill in your kitchen area prior to moving camp. Stoves should not be used in tents - due to the danger of the tent catching fire, hot liquids and food spilling, carbon monoxide poisoning and the depletion of oxygen in confined spaces

Alpine Ski Code Planning your ski tour Keep your party small Be Sunsmart - Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days Be able to read weather charts Let someone know before you go ski touring www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/learn/pubs/recreation.pdf Planning your ski tour Keep your party small - Large parties (more than eight) have more environmental impact, affect the experience of others and are harder to manage. Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days - Protect your skin and eyes. Always wear a peaked cap, good sunglasses and sunscreen. Be able to read weather charts - Plan your trip with the forecast in mind. Also plan for delays so you are not forced to travel in white-out and blizzard conditions. Carry several extra days' food. Let someone know before you go ski touring - Tell them about your party, your route, when you plan to return and the equipment the party is carrying. Remember to contact then when you get back. Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails and outside alpine resorts. This will ensure security for your camping equipment and have the least impact on other skiers. Ensure your site is well protected from prevailing winds and likely storms. Be especially careful of slopes which are prone to avalanches. Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible so that wastes can properly disposed of. When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have ‘quarried' snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping - If you carry warm clothes and use a fuel stove, fires will not be needed for warmth or cooking. Compared with fires, fuel stoves are faster, cleaner and a lot easier to use in winter. Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided - A fire built on the snow or a log raft will burn down and damage sensitive alpine vegetation. Such fires are illegal in the Alps national parks. Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter - Stored supplies of firewood may be needed by other groups in an emergency. It is also difficult to replace firewood in winter. Cooking outside in winter can be a highly enjoyable and social activity - Use a snow-shovel to construct a kitchen area near the tent site. Dig a trench for your feet and build a wall of snow blocks to deflect any cold winds. Sit on insulating mats for comfort and warmth. Combining meals is a friendly activity and saves fuel. Remember to dismantle snow walls - fill in your kitchen area prior to moving camp. Stoves should not be used in tents - due to the danger of the tent catching fire, hot liquids and food spilling, carbon monoxide poisoning and the depletion of oxygen in confined spaces

Alpine Ski Code Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails Ensure your site is well protected Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have quarried snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. www.australianalps.environment.gov.au Planning your ski tour Keep your party small - Large parties (more than eight) have more environmental impact, affect the experience of others and are harder to manage. Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days - Protect your skin and eyes. Always wear a peaked cap, good sunglasses and sunscreen. Be able to read weather charts - Plan your trip with the forecast in mind. Also plan for delays so you are not forced to travel in white-out and blizzard conditions. Carry several extra days' food. Let someone know before you go ski touring - Tell them about your party, your route, when you plan to return and the equipment the party is carrying. Remember to contact then when you get back. Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails and outside alpine resorts. This will ensure security for your camping equipment and have the least impact on other skiers. Ensure your site is well protected from prevailing winds and likely storms. Be especially careful of slopes which are prone to avalanches. Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible so that wastes can properly disposed of. When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have ‘quarried' snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping - If you carry warm clothes and use a fuel stove, fires will not be needed for warmth or cooking. Compared with fires, fuel stoves are faster, cleaner and a lot easier to use in winter. Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided - A fire built on the snow or a log raft will burn down and damage sensitive alpine vegetation. Such fires are illegal in the Alps national parks. Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter - Stored supplies of firewood may be needed by other groups in an emergency. It is also difficult to replace firewood in winter. Cooking outside in winter can be a highly enjoyable and social activity - Use a snow-shovel to construct a kitchen area near the tent site. Dig a trench for your feet and build a wall of snow blocks to deflect any cold winds. Sit on insulating mats for comfort and warmth. Combining meals is a friendly activity and saves fuel. Remember to dismantle snow walls - fill in your kitchen area prior to moving camp. Stoves should not be used in tents - due to the danger of the tent catching fire, hot liquids and food spilling, carbon monoxide poisoning and the depletion of oxygen in confined spaces

Alpine Ski Code Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter Remember to dismantle snow walls Stoves should not be used in tents www.australianalps.environment.gov.au Planning your ski tour Keep your party small - Large parties (more than eight) have more environmental impact, affect the experience of others and are harder to manage. Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days - Protect your skin and eyes. Always wear a peaked cap, good sunglasses and sunscreen. Be able to read weather charts - Plan your trip with the forecast in mind. Also plan for delays so you are not forced to travel in white-out and blizzard conditions. Carry several extra days' food. Let someone know before you go ski touring - Tell them about your party, your route, when you plan to return and the equipment the party is carrying. Remember to contact then when you get back. Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails and outside alpine resorts. This will ensure security for your camping equipment and have the least impact on other skiers. Ensure your site is well protected from prevailing winds and likely storms. Be especially careful of slopes which are prone to avalanches. Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible so that wastes can properly disposed of. When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have ‘quarried' snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping - If you carry warm clothes and use a fuel stove, fires will not be needed for warmth or cooking. Compared with fires, fuel stoves are faster, cleaner and a lot easier to use in winter. Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided - A fire built on the snow or a log raft will burn down and damage sensitive alpine vegetation. Such fires are illegal in the Alps national parks. Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter - Stored supplies of firewood may be needed by other groups in an emergency. It is also difficult to replace firewood in winter. Cooking outside in winter can be a highly enjoyable and social activity - Use a snow-shovel to construct a kitchen area near the tent site. Dig a trench for your feet and build a wall of snow blocks to deflect any cold winds. Sit on insulating mats for comfort and warmth. Combining meals is a friendly activity and saves fuel. Remember to dismantle snow walls - fill in your kitchen area prior to moving camp. Stoves should not be used in tents - due to the danger of the tent catching fire, hot liquids and food spilling, carbon monoxide poisoning and the depletion of oxygen in confined spaces

Alpine Ski Code An effective code? Did you abide by it? Write down some thoughts on how you feel this code of conduct could be changed to make it more realistic or environmentally conscious. Planning your ski tour Keep your party small - Large parties (more than eight) have more environmental impact, affect the experience of others and are harder to manage. Sunlight in the mountains burns even on cold and cloudy days - Protect your skin and eyes. Always wear a peaked cap, good sunglasses and sunscreen. Be able to read weather charts - Plan your trip with the forecast in mind. Also plan for delays so you are not forced to travel in white-out and blizzard conditions. Carry several extra days' food. Let someone know before you go ski touring - Tell them about your party, your route, when you plan to return and the equipment the party is carrying. Remember to contact then when you get back. Choosing a camp site Fortunately a blanket of snow is excellent for protecting both alpine vegetation and alpine soils from the impacts usually associated with camping. This protective layer of snow means you can camp almost anywhere and if you follow some simple rules - leave no long-lasting signs of your visit. Choose a camp site well away from regular ski trails and outside alpine resorts. This will ensure security for your camping equipment and have the least impact on other skiers. Ensure your site is well protected from prevailing winds and likely storms. Be especially careful of slopes which are prone to avalanches. Camp within easy skiing distance of a toilet if possible so that wastes can properly disposed of. When you have finished at your camp site, demolish any snow walls or shelters you have built, fill in areas when you have ‘quarried' snow blocks, remove rubbish and minimise other signs of your visit. Cooking, heat and fire Always carry a fuel stove when snow camping - If you carry warm clothes and use a fuel stove, fires will not be needed for warmth or cooking. Compared with fires, fuel stoves are faster, cleaner and a lot easier to use in winter. Fires are only permitted in huts where pot-belly stoves or fireplaces are provided - A fire built on the snow or a log raft will burn down and damage sensitive alpine vegetation. Such fires are illegal in the Alps national parks. Minimise the use of fires in huts in winter - Stored supplies of firewood may be needed by other groups in an emergency. It is also difficult to replace firewood in winter. Cooking outside in winter can be a highly enjoyable and social activity - Use a snow-shovel to construct a kitchen area near the tent site. Dig a trench for your feet and build a wall of snow blocks to deflect any cold winds. Sit on insulating mats for comfort and warmth. Combining meals is a friendly activity and saves fuel. Remember to dismantle snow walls - fill in your kitchen area prior to moving camp. Stoves should not be used in tents - due to the danger of the tent catching fire, hot liquids and food spilling, carbon monoxide poisoning and the depletion of oxygen in confined spaces

Recreational Vehicle Code of conduct See pg 23 of PDF Produced by the Tasmanian Recreational Vehicle Association Inc. in the interests of promoting responsible recreational vehicle use

Surfers Code Usually an unspoke code between surfers but some organisations got together to design a code everybody can try to abide by

Is it good enough? This is a very appealing way to promote the code between surfers but does the code cater for the environmental impacts of surfing? Come up with two elements that could be added to this code to force participants to consider the environment as well as each other.