‘Don’t Love It To Death’: Sea to Sky campaign targets litter, irresponsible human actions
Posted July 13, 2022 7:14 am.
Last Updated July 13, 2022 7:24 am.
Sea to Sky communities have had enough with what they call an “exponential” increase in litter, wildlife conflicts, environmental degradation, and illegal land use.
They’ve come together as part of the Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council to launch a new marketing campaign urging everyone who comes through or lives in their region to “tread lightly and minimize their social and environmental impact.”
“The ‘Don’t Love It To Death’ awareness campaign is designed to get people to think about their actions and the impact they’re having on the environment, wildlife and the people around them,” said Karen Goodwin, vice president, Destination & Market Development, Tourism Whistler.
“We want to change people’s behaviour by encouraging them to make better travel and recreational decisions that protect and preserve the places we all love.”
A new campaign is reminding locals and visitors to be aware of their impact and to respect the environment. Posters will be placed in visitor centres, in parks, on trailheads and along beaches throughout the region. (Courtesy Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council)
The council says it’s concerned with human negligence and poor behaviour that has led to negative impacts on some of the Sea to Sky’s outdoor spaces. People visiting or living in the area will start seeing signage as part of the campaign this month. The Sea to Sky region spans from North Vancouver and Bowen Island north through Lillooet.
It adds the corridor is “feeling the pressure of sustained population growth and a continuous visitor presence,” noting that traffic along the Sea to Sky Highway has increased every year since 2006, leading to more problems, including increased litter. This, in turn, affects the locals and visitors alike, but also has detrimental impacts on local wildlife and nature.
According to a release, hundreds of Sea to Sky residents and leaders have identified excessive litter and garbage as the top “pain points” in the region. Environmental and resource degradation, human waste in outdoor spaces like parks and trails, “illegal and disrespectful land use,” and damage to Indigenous cultural sites are just some of the other concerns raised by locals in recent surveys.
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As a result of some of these irresponsible actions, Sea to Sky communities say highway crews have had to increase the frequency of little clean-up to daily over the past 10 years, especially over the summer. Meanwhile, hundreds of kilograms of garbage have been removed off the shores of Bowen Island.
In addition, human actions have also contributed to interactions with wildlife which have, in some instances, forced officials to put the animals down. Last year, a bear was euthanized after it was seen getting into some food that was not secured in a tent. The communities note that this year, an aggressive bear that was actively looking for food at Cat Lake Recreation Sites forced the closure of that area for five weeks.
The signage will encourage people to “behave more responsibly when enjoying the outdoors and communities,” reminding them of best practices like leaving no trace behind when in the outdoors.
“Pack in the fun, but pack out your garbage,” reads one poster, which adds, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.”
“When nature calls, know how to go the right way,” another reads, talking about proper etiquette to relieve yourself in the great outdoors.
A new campaign will see signage and posters placed in visitor centres, parks, on trailheads, and along beaches throughout the the Sea to Sky region reminding residents and visitors to respect the environment and communities they’re in. (Courtesy Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council)
“People genuinely love the Sea to Sky region,” said Lesley Weeks, executive director, Tourism Squamish. “We all have a duty of care to protect our natural environment and cultural heritage for future generations. Ultimately, we want to instill an ethic of accountability and respect among locals, outdoor enthusiasts and the travelling public so that everyone can enjoy the many opportunities this majestic region has to offer.”
The Sea-to-Sky Destination Management Council, which was created in 2020, is made up of representatives of the various Sea to Sky planning areas. The council also includes organizations like the Indigenous Tourism Association of B.C., BC Parks, and various provincial ministries.
