Author: Kate Crang-Semadeni
April 08, 2024
With warmer weather quickly approaching, many of us nature-lovers are eager to hit the hiking trails this summer. It’s finally time to escape from the city and explore the abundance of natural wonders throughout Vancouver Island, from rugged coastal cliffs to lush temperate rainforests. Whether we decide to take on one of the iconic routes like the West Coast Trail or venture all the way up to the Tip of Cape Scott, Vancouver Island offers something for every outdoor enthusiast. All it takes is a quick Google search to plan our next adventure, or perhaps we can tap into our collection of “saved” Instagram posts that we’ve been stockpiling for way too long. With all this inspiration available at our fingertips, it can be tempting to jump into the wilderness full throttle. However, as we prepare our summer bucket lists, we should think a little bit deeper about the implications of our plans. This feature explores the ongoing challenges around sustainable outdoor recreation and investigates the multifaceted strategies that are needed to safeguard Vancouver Island’s natural treasures. Since we are unable to assess the cumulative impact of our activities on our own, we hope to lean on our local governments and other organizations to develop a collective understanding of the effects of our recreational activities. As individuals, we should be mindful about sharing our experiences on social media, and encourage initiatives that are aimed at educating the public about the sacred and natural world that we all share.
The tension between human recreational activities and environmental conservation is not new, but that tension is increasing. Over the past decade, BC’s provincial park use has grown over 75%, bringing a corresponding increase in both positive and negative effects. According to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, a surge in visitation is challenging BC Parks’ mission to balance safe outdoor recreation with the protection of natural environments. BC Parks staff are seeing ecological damage escalate due to improper waste disposal, trail braiding, erosion, and habitat destruction. While outdoor engagement with natural areas is recognized as a vital part of people’s well-being, it has also been identified as one of the greatest threats to protected areas all over the world. If we aren’t mindful of our footprints, the cumulative effects of exploring our parks can cause irreversible damage to the fragile ecological biomes within and beyond the natural areas that we have explored. In fact, even if we are very mindful of our footprints, there is a limit on how much we can collectively interact with the natural world before we cause material environmental damage. So the question becomes, what is that limit, and what can we do to ensure that we do not exceed it?
This question has been traditionally addressed by government agencies and conservation groups who study human impacts on the environment and then attempt to fashion land use planning policies that protect the environment. The development of informed and sustainable land use policy is of course vital, but we should also be mindful of the impact that the growing use of social media can have on the environment. Let’s discuss the traditional policy approach first.
Many regional governments and First Nations on Vancouver Island fully appreciate that there is a need to develop and implement conservation measures to ensure that our cumulative impacts will not cause material damage to the environment. It is instructive to describe the approaches being taken by the Municipality of North Cowichan, by the Capital Regional District and by a collection of First Nations known as the Westcoast Stewardship Corridor.
In a recent forest-engagement survey, community members in North Cowichan voiced their concerns about the increasing popularity of trails throughout Maple Mountain, Mount Tzouhalem, and Mount Prevost. The community expressed a strong desire to emphasise conservation, biodiversity and ecological services in the future management of municipal forests. In response, Christopher Justice, a Councillor of the Municipality of North Cowichan, called for the Municipality to take action in addressing the growing numbers of people using the trails. The decision was made to commission a report that assesses the potential ecological risks and impacts of various local trails in order to develop general criteria and guidance for recreation, trail planning, and management in its forest areas. In Mr. Justice’s view, the Municipality requires a better understanding of the environmental and ecological impacts caused by the use of the trail network along with a better understanding of which trail usage and specific forms of recreation are inappropriate given ecological or cultural sensitivities. Councillor Justice emphasises that forest trails are a critical component of the quality of life for residents, and that they can lead to enhanced natural resource management and promote environmental preservation through raising awareness. However, he also emphasises the need for hikers to act responsibly on the trails. All hikers have an obligation to keep natural environments intact, which means they must stay on the trail, not disturb any flora or fauna, and take all refuse out with them when they leave.
The Capital Regional District has recently approved a ten-year plan that addresses issues such as climate change, reconciliation, and conservation throughout 13 municipalities along with the Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Islands electoral areas. The 2022-2023 Regional Parks and Trails Strategic Plan is a broad and comprehensive document that provides measures to foster ecological resilience on the Island and plans action on climate change, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, conserving and protecting more natural land, making more spaces accessible to all, and providing enjoyable recreation.
The institutional responses to the need for ecological conservation includes organisations established by First Nations. Last year, Parks Canada announced $525,000 in funding to a pilot project being advanced by an Indigenous partnership that aims to conserve a stretch of coastal land between Victoria and Tofino. The group, called the West Coast Stewardship Corridor, was established in 2020 and is comprised of representatives of 13 First Nations. Chief Gordon Planes of the T’Sou-ke First Nation understands the benefit of sharing local Indigenous knowledge in order to conserve local ecological corridors. Chief Planes looks at the Island as a “living, breathing entity” and states that we need to “ask ourselves how we work with all living things to make sure the integrity (of the Island) stays intact.” Committee leader Nitya Chai Harris describes the initiative as a long-term, multigenerational project that will enable planning for greater ecological, cultural and economic connectivity. Harris says that the vision is eventually to cover the entire island, but that “at this stage, it’s all about getting the conversations and knowledge going.”
There have been a variety of institutional responses to environmental conservation and land use management on the Island. On the one hand is the very comprehensive Strategic Plan adopted by the Capital Regional District which sets forth a long-term framework for development, conservation and climate change. The Municipality of North Cowichan, meanwhile, is more focussed on the specific and immediate impacts on the accelerated use of their trail system. The West Coast Stewardship is just beginning its journey and is taking an intergenerational and holistic approach.
The study of recreational impacts on nature and the development of planning strategies is not new. In 2021, the journal Nature Conservation published a paper co-authored by Dr. Dertien of Clemson University, in which the authors conducted a review of the literature studying the effects of non-consumptive recreation on wildlife. After identifying the gaps in the literature, the authors argue that further studies must look not only at the individual impacts from a given activity, but at the threshold points at which the cumulative effects have material impacts on wildlife. Accordingly, before the Municipality of North Cowichan directs its land managers to design trails, manage visitors, and otherwise balance the use and protection of natural areas, they should first identify the manageable thresholds of the cumulative impacts on wildlife and the broader environment. Similarly, the Strategic Plan (aside from brief references on pages 43 and 47), would benefit from an increase in focus on understanding the limits of cumulative human activity. While the initiative being undertaken by the Westcoast Stewardship Corridor is in its infancy, it would ultimately benefit from a better understanding of the various thresholds where cumulative impacts would have a material impact on wildlife, plant life, cultural resources and other environmental resources.
The “threshold” approach recommended by the authors of the paper in Nature Conservation ought to be applied to all new and ongoing conservation initiatives. Maximising the efficiency of our conservation studies is especially important given the limited financial resources available.
While efficient governmental and other organisational studies and planning efforts are critical, we cannot forget that, as individuals, the buck stops with us. Limiting our direct environmental impact is straightforward, but what can we do indirectly to affect the environmental impact of others? One indirect impact that is often overlooked revolves around our use of social media.
It is no revelation that the rise of social media and geotagging has led to increased foot traffic in areas seldom visited by people only ten or twenty years ago. This traffic can amplify stress on sensitive habitats and wildlife populations, leaving avid hikers like Shane Johnson feeling uneasy. For over a decade, Johnson has been a member of an exclusive club that is dedicated to protecting a “Secret Trail” in some undisclosed area on Vancouver Island. Although the Secret Trail has remained on the down-low for decades, Johnson has witnessed some of his other favourite trails like 5040 Peak “blow up” on social media. With these new crowds, he wonders whether people are following proper hiking ethics like packing out trash and staying on dedicated trials. Johnson is especially concerned about the promotion of sensitive ecological areas like those surrounding Secret Trail, and worries that exposing the location on social media could attract people who might cause irreparable damage.
While Johnson suggests that we should restrict posts on social media in order to conserve nature, some BC hikers would argue that social media should be encouraged and celebrated for its role in promoting outdoor activities. The trails are not an exclusive pastime of some private group, they are a natural treasure that belongs to everyone who chooses to live on Vancouver Island. In a blog post titled “The Trails Belong to Everyone” on a well-established BC hiker’s page, Kristine Perez de Leon addresses concerns around gatekeeping and secret trails. She argues that the point of social media should not be to discourage anyone from exploring nature or make trail users feel guilty, but rather quite the opposite. As a collective, we hold the power to inspire others and hold the responsibility to preserve the natural diversity that makes Vancouver Island so beautiful. Perez de Leon emphasises that having a connection to nature is the key to feeling a sense of responsibility to protect it, and that social media can leverage this type of connection. She points out that despite the countless peer-reviewed studies, many people are overlooking the importance of personal experiences with the outdoors and reiterates key points from a 2015 report, Building a Culture of Conservation: Research Findings and Research Priorities on Connecting People to Nature in Parks. As the authors say, “In an increasingly urbanized environment, parks provide a touchstone to the natural world; they are important spaces for developing social capital and for building a culture of conservation among citizens…Interacting with nature increases place attachment and willingness to engage in environmental behaviours.” The report further identifies that connection with nature begins with knowledge, specifically accessible knowledge such as geotags and other trail information that is shared on social media. Social media has the unique ability to break down knowledge barriers, and Perez de Leon thinks it is essential to spark interest in nature and the outdoors into interaction.
Rather than gatekeeping and criticizing people for posting beautiful photos, maybe it would be more productive to encourage social media users to include information about accessing the trail and important conservation trips alongside their pictures. “The Trails Belong to Everyone” shows us that perhaps all of us can funnel our love of outdoors into a source of inspiration and encouragement for all. By setting examples that come from a place of respect for both nature and each other, we can foster a social responsibility to promote environmental conservation as we engage in our outdoor activities.
In order to achieve the proper balance between outdoor recreation and environmental protection, we have spoken of the need for governmental and other organisations to efficiently develop land use policies. We have also spoken of the need to recognize that our use of social media can have negative and positive impacts on environmental conservation efforts. There is yet another tool in our toolbox that can be used to protect our environment: education.
Learning about the outdoors can inspire us to protect the outdoors, and there are many ways we can go about educating ourselves about the spiritual connection people hold with Vancouver Island. Indigenous-led tours throughout the Island offer some of the best ways to learn a unique perspective about the human relationship with the land. Many Indigenous nations believe that land is not merely a resource to be exploited, but rather a sacred entity, itself deserving of respect and reciprocity. For example, at the Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks in Clayoquot Sound, visitors can join guided hikes led by Indigenous knowledge keepers, who share their insights into the land’s ecological significance and cultural history. Along the way, hikers learn about traditional harvesting practices, medicinal plants, and the importance of stewardship in preserving the delicate balance between humans and nature. By respecting Indigenous land and embracing traditional teachings, we can all can cultivate a deeper appreciation for all living things and adopt practices that prioritize environmental sustainability.
So, what does all this mean for our summer bucket lists? There is no magic solution, as the points raised throughout this article speak to the complicated and multidimensional layers of balancing outdoor recreation with conservation. Over time, we need to ensure that we efficiently deploy our scarce public funds to study cumulative impacts, to identify the “thresholds” and to develop sound land use policies. In the shorter term, we also need to understand that it is our individual responsibility to take care of our environment by reducing our own impacts, by recognizing the positive and negative impacts of social media and geo-tagging, and by educating ourselves about the sanctity of nature.
Photo by Traveler stories photos
As we plan our summer escapades, let’s remember to pack a sense of intention alongside our gear, so that we can embark on adventures that not only nourish the soul but also contribute to the conservation of Vancouver Island’s wilderness. Embrace the unknown, tread softly, and leave only footprints behind as we explore Vancouver Island’s untamed wilderness.