1. Keep an eye on the fire
To start a fire, choose a spot away from trees and clear the area of ​​forest debris and dead branches. If there is already an old fire pit at the picnic site, use it even when you are going to put up a barbecue or barbecue.
Enclose the fire pit so that the fire does not “run away”. To do this, you can dig it in, overlay it with stones or bricks.
Fire and even coals should always be supervised. After use, the fire must be extinguished with water.
2. Do not leave or burn garbage
Do not burn packing boxes, plastic bags, cans, repellent cans and other items made of synthetic materials: when burned, they release hazardous substances.
Also, don’t throw trash into the water. Fish and other river inhabitants take it for food and, if swallowed, may die.
Everything left after your arrival must be removed. This also applies to cigarette butts and hygiene products, which are shamefully hidden in the bushes. On the way out of the forest and on the way to the city, you will surely come across at least one garbage can. And in the village, throwing out the unnecessary is not at all difficult.
3. Make a pit for food waste
Choose a spot 50–60 meters from the shore and dig a hole. Here it will be possible to put the remnants of food, cleaning, cores. Here – wash dishes and hands so that grease and soap do not fall into the pond. Before leaving, the hole must be filled up.
If you’re staying outdoors for more than a day, dig holes to serve as a toilet and cover them as needed.
4. Use reusable utensils
Disposable paper plates and plastic cups tend to get lost, fly away with gusts of wind and litter the forest. Use special hiking kits: they are durable, comfortable and usually very compact. Also, do not use plastic disposable bedding. Best to take a groundsheet with you.
5. Don’t cut trees
Only fallen branches and dry dead trees can be used for a fire. It is forbidden to cut down living strong plants, especially near the banks and ravines: there their roots prevent the earth from shedding, and the crown prevents the shallowing of rivers. Better take a bag of ready-made coal from the store with you.
6. Do not wash your car in nature
Doing so is prohibited. While you rub the hood with a cleaner and rinse the foam, particles of oil products, gasoline and household chemicals get into the soil. Better go to the car wash when you’re in town.
7. Do not disturb animals, birds and insects
Do not touch eggs in nests and chicks, even if they are on the ground. Young individuals may leave the nest before they begin to look strong – this is a normal process. And your presence near the bird family can attract predators.
If you see a baby animal, do not touch or feed him, no matter how cute or defenseless he may seem to you. So you change his natural behavior. Imagine what would happen if all animals stopped being afraid of people. In addition, his mother may be somewhere nearby, and she will probably not like your presence.
Don’t destroy anthills. Ants are an important part of the forest fauna responsible for its conservation.
8. Don’t leave groceries
It seems that putting a half-eaten sausage under a tree or a piece of barbecue that has fallen from a skewer is very noble in relation to animals. But it’s not. Seasonings, stabilizers and other additives that are familiar to humans can do them more harm than good.
