• In order to be sustainable, doing a good planification is crucial.

• Nature isn’t a sportive playground made for us to do our activity.

• Our presence in the environment will always have an impact. However, we can choose whether it is negative, neutral or even positive.

• We share eight key points to plan a sustainable route.

To fully enjoy our natural reality, first we have to understand the high-ecological-value that they have, how fragile they are and how we impact them. And then we must reach in a sustainable and respectful way. For this purpose, it’s essential to do a meditated planification of the route we are willing to take and of all parameters that affect our interaction with the environment.

I want to share with you some key points to be aware of, although it all comes from understanding that nature isn’t a recreational stage that is there for our sportive and leisure activities. It’s ok that we make use of it: nevertheless, always from the conscience, the knowledge and the love that have to bring us to the want of taking care of it in the máximum way possible.Our presence in it will always have an impact, and we should make sure that this influence is the minimum, neutral, or even capable of bringing something positive.

There we go with the eight points:

1.- PLAN THE ROUTE CORRECTLY

Whether it is for security or sustainability, it’s trascendental to plan the route correctly before our activity. Understand the field, know where we can go through or we can’t, get informed about the natural special protected zones, among other things. Nowadays we have a wonderful technology that facilitates everything concerning this part, key to our relationship with the natural environment. I always plan my route with LAND, and then I download all the tracks to my GPS Twonav. Like that, I know I maximize my security, my respect for nature and my enjoyment of the activity.

2.- PLAN ZERO WASTE

Reached this point as humanity we should have it completely clear that in nature we simply can’t leave any type of waste. Attention: non-organic and organic. All both are trash, and thinking that eventually they will decompose isn’t allowed. Our organic waste can also pollute, harm some species, alter the landscape or just get everything dirty. What we take, we take it back. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to wear a tiny bag for your own waste and, already on it, try to grab some other that you may find during the route.

3.- PLAN DISCRETION

In nature, lots of sensible species live. Whether when planifying the route or already in it, we must know where protected species can be, and don’t get close; and in general know how to be in silence without bothering the animals that habit each environment.

4.- PLAN THE “NO PRINT”

When designing our route and going forward on it (running, by bike, or however): don’t step on virgin zones, don’t pull out anything, understand that everything is vulnerable in front of our actions… Especially in the most sensible environments or the protected ones (old trees, logs with big cavities, moss, lichen, etc.). They have a huge ecological value and often we don’t give them importance.

5.- PLAN THE “NO INVASION”

Avoid the introduction of any other invasive species from another zone. There are far more than we think. And we, with our slippers, bike wheels or transport methods can move them easily from one place to another. A small cleaning of the zones in contact with the soil or water from one place to another is a really necessary precaution.

6.- PLAN THE COEXISTENCE

In natural spots there are always persons that live and work there, and this is often a factor that we overpass. It’s important that we respect the stock and agricultural usages of each zone and the limits of property: close fences, don’t bother the cattle, have dogs tied, ask for permission in some places… among other actions.

7.- PLAN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE NORMATIVE

Get well informed about the regulations of each environment. Natural Parks limitations or protected zones. Know if camping is allowed or not. See which type of circulation or activity is permitted. Know the forbidings of starting a fire. And understand that access to nature also requires a collective agreement that we all have to follow.

8.- PLAN THE DISPLACEMENT

When preparing our route it’s also important how we reach the starting point. Try to always appeal for the more sustainable transports, optimize the vehicles getting together as possible, think in compensation measures when we use a plane and, all in all, maximize our compromise with the global sustainability of our activity.

Following these logical and simple steps we won’t only secure the wellbeing and the beauty of our amazing planet: we will also build a better level of self-consciousness, and reach a higher standard as a species. So let’s go for it!