Image : Les chercheurs de Leave No Trace étudieront l’efficacité des panneaux et des messages dans plusieurs parcs nationaux cet été.
Science-based investigation provides the core for Leave No Trace’s recommendations on responsible recreation. Working in partnership with leading researchers and universities, we continually refine our understanding of how human activities affect natural areas. Drawing on this body of knowledge allows Leave No Trace to provide the public with thoroughly vetted, evidence-based advice for reducing impacts to natural areas.
In 2025, we will draw on a team of 28 affiliated researchers working individually and in teams to study, assess, and better understand how to best protect natural values. Several of the upcoming 2025 projects are described below.
Achieving Goals for Sustainable Waste Management
Locations: National Mall (Washington DC) and Mount Rushmore (South Dakota) National Park Units
Research Question: What are the barriers and potential influencers of human behavior regarding proper waste and recycling behavior in national parks?
Description: Researchers will survey visitors to these popular national park locations and pair the survey results with observed behaviors. Various messaging strategies will be evaluated for effectiveness to help establish best practices that can be used at the National Mall, Mount Rushmore, and other settings.
Improving Our Understanding of Behaviors Associated with Wildlife Viewing
Location: Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
Research Question: What are visitor attitudes and behaviors toward different species in the park, and how do guiding groups influence visitor behaviors?
Description: Investigation of how suggested best practices for viewing wildlife are understood and adhered to based on observations and visitor surveys. Results will inform future visitor management and Commercial Use Authorization guidelines for operators in Yellowstone and other national park units.
Evaluating Camper Perceptions of Campground Lighting Guidelines and Related Impacts on Wildlife
Location: Great Smoky National Park (Tennessee and North Carolina)
Research Question: What are camper’s perceptions of current, lower, and no light conditions for campground bathrooms, and how do these conditions change wildlife behaviors?
Description: Results of this research will inform and refine guidance for the Leave No Trace-NPS Dark Sky and Artificial Lighting Guidelines, and lighting infrastructure in Great Smoky Mountain National Park and other national park units.
Waste Management in New Zealand’s Alpine Environment
Location: Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park (New Zealand)
Research Question: How can we better understand and integrate Māori and Mountaineer’s perceptions and behaviors for managing waste? How can waste carry-out strategies mitigate cultural and natural resource impacts in high-alpine mountain environments?
Description: Work will include consultation and collaboration between Leave No Trace-affiliated researchers at the University of Canterbury and New Zealand’s Dept. of Conservation to develop mitigation strategies and, ultimately, a monitoring matrix to manage waste (including human waste) in recreation areas.
Norway Northern Lights and Fire Impacts
Location: Various natural areas in northern Norway
Research Question: What solutions are in use, and what new solutions can be developed to effectively promote regenerative tourism for Northern Lights’ observers while maintaining culturally important practices such as fire-building while observing Northern Lights.
Description: This research project features an expansive team of Norwegian researchers, citizen scientists, and tourism operators working together to collect data and develop best practices for visitors and tour operators.
Outre les projets décrits ci-dessus, des projets en cours seront menés dans le parc national des Rocheuses du Colorado (« Combiner l'art et la science pour ne laisser aucune trace dans la toundra : une approche descriptive et évaluative combinée pour une conformité durable des randonnées en surface ») et dans le parc national de Grand Teton, dans le Wyoming (« Examen du rôle des directives « Ne laisser aucune trace » du NPS sur les paysages sonores dans le changement de comportement des visiteurs et de la faune »). La subvention annuelle de recherche de Leave No Trace soutient ces deux projets .
