|
Minimize Impact: Leave No Trace
Armed with the MITA Guidebook and a tide table, kayakers could now easily plan a trip along the coast. As the popularity of kayaking boomed during the 1990's, many new faces visited and fell in love with Maine's islands.
Unfortunately, this heavy pressure from recreation is harming the Trail. Paddlers must be willing and prepared to protect the islands by minimizing their impact, to allow future generations to enjoy them.
First, all paddlers should understand and follow the tenets of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. This code requires a respect for nature and an understanding that humans can easily affect our natural surroundings.
Second, campers should attempt to minimize crowding by keeping group sizes small (six or fewer) and avoiding heavily used islands on summer weekends. Instead, try to visit on a weekday or during the off-season, or rely on private islands.
MITA's goal is to establish a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship for the Maine islands that will assure their conservation in a natural state while providing an exceptional recreational asset that is maintained and cared for by the people who use it.
"Our mission and our organization is dedicated to not letting the island environments be harmed and destroyed and usage be taken away," Director Stimpson says, "but it's a tall order in the face of more and more people."
In the end, kayakers must take the initiative to protect our coast and set an example for responsible recreational use.
Stewardship
MITA's mission is hardly limited to providing recreational opportunities. The organization also strongly advocates stewardship of the places we visit, and encourages visitors to leave these special places in better condition than when they arrived.
|
|
To this end, MITA organizes a variety of clean-up and monitoring efforts. During the spring and fall, volunteer work crews travel to trail sites to remove trash, replace signs, and perform maintenance.
Then, throughout the season, monitor skippers and island adopters regularly visit the islands to clean, speak with visitors, and check on any problems.
MITA also organizes social events throughout the year. There is an annual gathering (alternately a conference or campout), a Holiday Party, and a Stewardship Banquet that rewards hardworking volunteers.
Membership
To become a member of MITA, simply visit their web site. Annual dues are $45 for an individual and $65 for a family. Members receive the Guidebook (mailed in late May or early June), a bi-annual newsletter, a membership card, and information about island cleanups and stewardship opportunities.
Members should be prepared to uphold the tenets of Leave-No-Trace: carry out all trash and human solid waste, kindle no fires (campstoves only!), and keep in mind that we are visitors on these islands. Always walk on trails and camp in established sites, and never cut trees, limbs, or other vegetation.
By working together and respecting our environment, we can protect these wild places for our children to enjoy. We at NESK hope to see you on the Maine Island Trail this year.
The author is an instructor and guide at Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton, Mass,
and is the editor of NESK. He has been a MITA member for two years and adopts a private island in Casco Bay.
|