The Dark Environmental Side of Camping

Camping is the reserve of the eco-conscious among us. Instead of booking into hotels which use masses of electricity, we head to campsites when we go away. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that sleeping under the stars is better for the environment.

But, it would be naive to assume camping is without worry altogether. In truth, this issue stands to do a fair amount of damage to our environment as well. What’s worse, fewer people realize it. Hence why we’re going to take a closer look at the dark environmental side of camping:

A load of rubbish

Perhaps the main issue is that of rubbish disposal. You’re going to produce rubbish during your stay. Most food has plastic wrappers. And, there’s every chance you’ll take a few plastic drinking bottles along, too. This can all do considerable damage if you leave it behind.

Yet, an astonishing amount of campers do just that. Sadly, this can result in harm to wildlife on the ground and in the water. Yet, the solution is simple. All you need to do is take some large plastic bags and make sure to focus on trash clearance before you leave. Check and double check that you aren’t leaving any nasty surprises!

The menace of campfires

We may not realize it, but sleeping under the stars releases a fair few gaseous emissions of its own. While less than those of hotels, these are still worth attention. For one, your campfire can do a fair amount of damage. Fires release toxic fumes, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Many of us also take along gas fuelled stoves, or electricity generators to keep us going. Both of which burn fossil fuels.

So, do what you can to reduce damage, here. Aim to minimize fires in the campsite. If someone has a fire nearby, ask to sit with them instead of making your own. It’s also worth investing in something like a portable inverter generator. These make use of your car’s fuel, instead of burning from a separate source.

What’s more, this option covers everything, from cooking, to fuelling heaters. Bear in mind though that you should still keep use to a minimum.

Damage to the natural environments

You also stand to damage natural environments. This is especially a risk with green camping outside of a predetermined site. You don’t know what animals you’re disturbing when you set up. It could even be that your tent is on top of a nest.

Camping can be detrimental to fragile ecologies. Even being in proximity to a creature’s home could lead it to flee from the nest, and possibly leave babies behind. Without even knowing it, you could do untold damage to wildlife.

What’s more, there’s no real way to avoid this, other than to stay in campsites you know to be safe. If you do desire a wild camping experience, make sure to do a thorough and non-invasive check before you get set up.