What you can do

Living Sustainably

Recreation

Did you know?

The main threat to the health, abundance and diversity of plant, animal and marine life in NSW is the destruction of their habitat.

If we take care to tread softly and minimise our impact when we are out and about – enjoying a walk, camping, boating, fishing or enjoying other recreational pursuits – then our environment's beauty can be enjoyed by future generations.

What can I do?

When you're out and about, tread softly and take only memories away with you.

Bushwalking and camping

Easy ways to make a difference:

Leave pets at home if you are planning to walk in a national park, forest or bushland
When walking or driving through the bush, stay on the tracks to avoid sensitive bush areas
Keep group sizes small to lessen the environmental impact
Locate your campsite in a designated area
Use designated fire places or fuel stoves
Avoid using soaps, detergents and toothpaste – or if you use them, keep them away from a watercourse
Protect plants and animals – do not feed native animals
Use existing toilet facilities – where there are none, bury waste at least 100 metres away from a watercourse at a depth of at least 15 centimetres
Take all rubbish with you – leave the area as you would like to find it
Respect culturally sensitive areas

Fishing and boating

Easy ways to make a difference:

Ensure your boat and engine is in good working order to minimise water, noise and air pollution
Travel at speeds that avoid excessive wash and minimise noise
Use onboard holding tanks for human waste and stow all loose items
Keep your rubbish onboard and dispose of it properly ashore
Keep your bilges clean to prevent pollutants being discharged overboard
Reduce your use of toxic cleaning and painting products
Fish responsibly and abide by NSW Fisheries licence conditions, observing fish sizes and bag limits
Avoid injuring wildlife – follow the basic rules