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When the snow disappears, the flora takes over.
The first flowers appear...
Unfortunately, this idyllic picture is often ruined by the reappearance of litter that has been dumped and buried under snow during the winter. Here's how to hike clean!
Every spring, towns and associations (such as the Mountain Riders) organise clean-ups.
Decathlon stores have joined the movement and organised the eco-hike day!
The idea is simple: you have a clearly defined geographical area, motivated individuals with gloves and bin bags and off you go! It's a fun event for family or friends working for a cause that concerns us all : respect for nature.
In 2012, 7,200 volunteers took part in clean-up operations in 100 locations in France and abroad. A total of 50 tons of rubbish was collected.
Every piece of rubbish dumped in the countryside pollutes the ground and water, incredibly precious mountain resources. It takes, for example, 6 months for fruit peelings to disintegrate, 5 years for chewing gum and 15 years for a cigarette butt. It takes 450 years for packaging material, 500 years for a can, 1,000 years for a plastic bottle and, finally, 4,000 years for a glass bottle! Every bit of rubbish will have a direct impact on the mountain's flora and fauna.
In the mountains, you can find all types of rubbish left by hikers and skiers : cigarette butts, cereal bar wrappers, cans and bottles - a huge amount of rubbish that is best kept in your bag and then disposed of when back home.
When hiking in the countryside, keep your rubbish in your rucksack. Small preventative actions are the most effective. Once you're at home, sort out your rubbish - it may even enjoy a second life!
In addition to rubbish, the flora and fauna can also be adversely affected by human presence. Keep to the signposted paths and slopes, ensure your dogs are on a lead and keep your distance when you meet any animals.
Click on this link to find out more about Quechua eco-hikes.
Also find out about Mountain Days clean-up days. Open to all, young people, families, groups of friends, free spirits... Anyone can organize their own clean-up! A new website has been published where you can list the clean-up you are organizing, or even more simply, participate in one of the already existing events, sharing photos, videos, etc. Check out www.mountain-days.org and enjoy your spring-clean!