Seasons of camping, hiking, cottaging, and enjoying nature from sun up to sun down come year around, and when the sun gets to be a little too warm, trees offer some much-needed shade. However, while trees offer loads of benefit to humans, we aren't always as kind.
The fact is, trees need to be treated with a little more kindness than we give them, and it's quite easy to find an alternative for our damaging behaviors. Here are five common ways we harm trees, and the simple solutions that can prevent the problems.
Collecting Deadfall for Campfires
Campers and cottagers love a good campfire, and when it comes to firewood, deadfall may seem like and simple source. But taking deadfall out of a forest can do a great deal of harm, especially in an established campground where a lot of campers are looking for wood. The fallen trees and limbs in the bush -- otherwise known as deadfall -- play an important part in nourishing the forest. As the wood decays, it provides nutrients for the soil, which helps living trees and other plants thrive. The bottom line: Don't burn deadfall -- bring firewood or buy it at the campground.
Tying Your Dog to a Tree
It seems like every camper who has a dog ties it to a tree to keep it secure on the campsite. There's no harm, right? Wrong. A rope tied around and then yanked on by an excited dog will wear away at the bark, often causing small and even large pieces of bark to flake off the tree. Once the outer layer of bark is compromised, the tree is more vulnerable to illness and insects. Instead of tying your dog to a tree, purchase a cork-screw stake that can be driven into the ground, and secure your dog to the stake.
Carving Your Initials in a Tree
You see it all the time along trails, bluffs, and cliffs: A tree with someone's initials carved in the bark. It may seem sweet to see "J + M" in a heart carved into a tree, but the fact is it's not so great for the tree. Just as bark flaked off by a rope exposes a tree to illness, so does carving into the bark. Rather than carving your initials in a tree, why not become a sponsor of the trail or a section of a state or national park? That way your contribution can live on without putting a tree at risk.
Hanging Tarps
It wouldn't be camping without a little rain, right? Most people who spend time in the outdoors string up tarps to keep their eating area dry. But even something as light as a tarp can do damage to a tree when you factor in the force of wind. As the wind pulls on the tarp, it will cause the ropes to abrade the surface of the tree, potentially damaging the bark. A stand-alone canopy that can be folded for easy transportation and storage is a greta solution. More and more camping outfitters are making portable canopies that stake into the ground, and many are affordable.
Breaking Off Thin Branches for Roasting Marshmallows
They're gooey and sweet and the perfect end to a day in the great outdoors. Roasted marshmallows are delicious, but if you're popping them on the end of a stick you snipped off a tree, you've just put the tree at risk. There's a reason people prune trees in the late fall or winter: the trees are dormant when it's cooler, and that means less stress on a tree. Summer is just about the worst time to remove branches of any size from a tree. Rather than foraging for a stick in the forest, bring long barbeque or grilling forks from home (and if they don't have a handle, be sure to remember an oven mitt!).
Next time you venture out into the bush, think about how your actions may be harming trees, and look for alternatives to avoid damage.
More on nature:
Glamping Makes Many Happy Campers
How Wetlands are Good For Your Health, Good For The Planet
Bird Watching: Not Just for Dorks Anymore