Are we ‘liking’, sharing and swiping the great outdoors to death?

And during the US government shutdown in January, national parks across the country were reportedly overflowing with trash and human waste, causing ‘years of damage’.

It’s hard to ignore the role that social media has played in catapulting locations into the spotlight. Take Horseshoe Bend National Park, for example. Whether you’ve been there or not, you probably recognize that iconic sandstone curve—and the feet dangling into it. And with an increase in visitors comes an increase in trash, resource damage, and emergency rescues.

RELATED: Three expeditions that prove zero-waste travel is possible

But with our desire to seek out the world’s most photogenic spots showing no signs of slowing down, what can be done to limit the damage?

According to Jonathan B. Jarvis, the 18th director of the US National Parks Service (2009-2017), the key to improving matters lies in park budgets, staffing and education. “Litter and vandalism draw more litter and more vandalism,” he says. “Adequate staff in the parks is the best deterrent as you can address the trash and any signs of graffiti immediately. If the park appears unmaintained or abandoned, it will get abused. This was clearly demonstrated when the US Government shut down.”

Ironically, as much as social media and technology is said to be responsible for a lot of the damage to the outdoors, it could also present solutions—particularly when it comes to education.

Rob Curnow, environmental psychologist and co-author of Litter-ology, a book that examines the psychology behind littering, agrees. The science, he says, suggests that if an area is already clean, then it’s more likely to stay that way. But there’s a catch. “If you ask someone who loves the outdoors if they think littering is OK, the answer will be ’no, it’s abhorrent’,” says Rob. “And they hold that view—until it gets too hard. Then their priorities change, and so do their beliefs.”

In the outdoors, says Curnow, people—even devout outdoor enthusiasts and nature-lovers—often say one thing and do another. He cites the situation at Everest Base Camp as an example. “It’s an extreme example, but it demonstrates this well. The travelers’ priority is to get to the top, and it takes over from everything.”

Curnow would like to see more education around the ‘carry in, carry out’ philosophy, and also for national parks across the globe to take more responsibility. “Don’t just promote the beauty of the place,” he says. “Show why you need to protect it.”

The good news is that there are some positive examples of this around the world, such as in Sydney, Australia, where the government has been making a concerted effort to crack down on littering. In 2018, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority rolled out a successful anti-littering advertising campaign. Simply titled ‘Don’t be a Tosser!’, the campaign is part of a broader initiative by the NSW government to reduce litter in the state by 40 per cent by 2020.

“The challenge was getting the public to realize that they were the perpetrators,” says Nick Hunter, CEO and executive creative director of Paper Moose, the advertising agency behind the campaign. “Self-confessed litterers didn’t consider themselves part of the problem—many didn’t even consider throwing an apple core on the ground as littering.”

The trick for encouraging long-lasting behavioral change, he says, is to avoid the finger-wagging sentiment that often accompanies campaigns of this nature. Instead of just accusing the public of wrongdoing, “you need to give the audience a way out from being a ‘tosser’,” says Hunter. 

“Originally, I was just picking up trash for my own accountability. I started sharing it and it grew from there. I realized that I could actually mobilize a lot of people, and do something valuable.”

- Jackson Groves

In the US, more signage and public-facing safety measures are being installed. Some parks have launched Preventative Search and Rescue Programs, also known as PSAR. These include roving park staff and volunteers available to talk about safe practices when exploring the outdoors—whether you’re chasing that perfect Instagram shot or escaping technology altogether.

Ironically, as much as social media and technology is said to be responsible for a lot of the damage to the outdoors, it could also present solutions—particularly when it comes to education.

RELATED: Has tourism ruined the Everest Base Camp hike? 

The US National Park Service, for one, has launched initiatives like its Ask the Ranger series. The worldwide Leave No Trace campaign has helped educate scores of outdoor enthusiasts on better trail and outdoor etiquette. And at the time of writing, the #trashtagchallenge hashtag—used by individuals to document their trash-collecting efforts—had gone viral.

Blogger and Instagrammer Jackson Groves certainly thinks social media could be the answer to what ails the outdoors. And with over 330,000 followers on Instagram, the 24-year-old Australian is well aware of his potential to be able help influence positive behavior.

Last year, he launched the Adventure Bag Project, an Instagram account that encourages people to pick up a bag of trash on every adventure. The account currently has nearly 90,000 followers. “Originally, I was just picking up trash for my own accountability,” he says. “I started sharing it and it grew from there. I realized that I could actually mobilize a lot of people, and do something valuable.”

Grove’s own rule when it comes to sharing locations—particularly geotagging—is to only do it if the place is ready for tourism, though he admits that’s not a scientific measurement. He’s also conscious of not making out like he’s a hero. “I sometimes get comments from people saying ‘I pick up litter and don’t feel the need to tell everyone about it,’”  he says. “But that’s the point. Picking up the litter is great, but the real impact comes from inspiring others to get out and do the same. One bag has the power to inspire thousands of others.”

Whatever the solution, we all have a role to play. And we could all learn a thing (or two, or three) from the Leave No Trace rules. Change might not happen overnight, but with a concerted effort, and enough people on board, it will happen.