Best Practices: Protecting Animals — The Global Climbing Initiative

“Climbing, in particular, allows us to get in close contact with wild animal species that are normally found at a distance. Not only is it important to limit the impacts we leave on climbing area ecosystems, it is highly important to realize that the potential negative effects we have on the environment begin during the approach. Recognizing these potential impacts and learning how to minimize the traces we leave behind will allow us to protect the ecosystems we love and the wildlife that lives within.”

This chapter of GCI’s Best Practices Project shares important recommendations for how every climber can reduce their impact on animals when climbing outside. Even taking small steps can dramatically reduce human impact on the feeding, sleeping, and mating patterns of animals, while also ensuring that we don’t directly put them in harm’s way. Author Katya Ortíz shares her key lessons drawn from years in environmental education, wildlife management, and climbing leadership.