Wild camping and outdoor gatherings are having an impact on national parks and forests.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a growing number of people visiting beauty spots in Ireland's countryside. The rise in people using natural amenities has seen an increase in litter being left behind. A new campaign aims to tackle the damage being caused by illegal wild camping and outdoor drinking. Coillte, the organisation that manages forests and woodlands in Ireland, is informing people that camping is restricted by law and fires are not permitted in forests.
With many pubs and nightclubs closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, there has been an increase in drinking sessions accompanied by campfires. Ellie Berry of the 'Leave No Trace' campaign explains how fires damage the root system of trees and scar the ground. There is also a risk that fires will spread if not extinguished fully.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service say that people visiting the countryside need to understand the rules on wild camping. Wesley Atkinson explains that these rules can vary from national park to national park. In Wicklow Mountains National Park, wild camping is permitted anywhere which is over 400 metres from a vehicle road or a forest track.
An information campaign urging people to Leave No Trace is currently underway.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 6 August 2020. The reporter is John Kilraine.
