Here’s an interesting opinion piece in the New York Times that details how even passive recreation can have an unexpectedly high impact on wildlife. These are all issues we as scientists have dealt with at one time or another, from how placement of trails in preserves is vital to protect certain species and the fact they create unsuitable edge habitat, how passive recreation activities like hiking can have negative impacts in the same way something like snowmobiling could (or more, as they can occur in all seasons and not just winter), and that a day at the beach disrupts birds like the Piping Plover, a species we work closely with in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds. Everything we do outdoors and every way we modify the natural world has an impact. No one is exempt. We must bear that in mind and work together to minimize negative effects while taking an active role in protecting the most significant habitat, species and regions. There are no easy or perfect answers.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
