Let's Give Back to Public Lands
It’s hard to recall a time when public lands were more in demand.
State and national parks are shattering attendance records. Trails are packed, even on weekdays. The shelves of outdoor stores are bare, picked over by customers eager to hike, bike and camp — many for the first time.
The increase in visitation and the associated impacts mean parks, forests, trails and natural areas are or will be in need of TLC.
That’s the reason behind National Public Lands Day, held on Saturday, Sept. 24 this year. Established in 1994, it is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event for public lands.
As part of the celebration, Virginia State Parks will offer free parking and dozens of special programs and volunteer events. Help clean the shoreline at York River State park, pull invasive species at Bear Creek Lake State Park or celebrate Kiptopeke State Park’s 30th anniversary.
In a nutshell: Public lands give us space for outdoor recreation, but they’re also vital for conservation, floodplain management, clean air and water, mitigating the effects of climate change and more.
We all need public lands for the services they provide. Here are ways we can be good stewards and help ensure they remain in everyone’s future.
Recreate responsibly.
Get familiar with, and follow, the seven pillars of responsible recreation. Encourage others to do the same. Use the hashtag #RecreateResponsibly.
Volunteer.
Rather than waiting for an organized cleanup at your local park — take a trash bag on your next visit and host your own self-directed cleanup. Virginia State Parks offers lots of ways to get involved. Joining a local chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists is another option.
Reduce waste.
Litter, especially single-use plastic, is a big problem for the environment and can ultimately end up polluting public lands and waters. No one wants to hike a trashy trail. What’s worse, litter can be lethal to wildlife. Stop using single-use plastic wherever you can. Learn more.
Make a donation.
The primary purpose of Virginia’s natural area preserves is the conservation of biodiversity. There are limited state funds to provide public access to these special places. You can help make them accessible by making a tax-deductible donation to the Virginia Natural Area Preservation Fund. Checks can be mailed to Natural Area Preservation Fund, c/o Virginia Natural Heritage Program, 600 E. Main St., 24th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219.
Original source can be found here
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