About / Otter Grail of Trail
The Otter Green principle is to ensure that the near-pristine environment is better for you having participated.
Otter environmental principles
Awareness campaign
- Environmental awareness promoted in all event competitor and media communication.
- Institution of environmental race rules.
- Banning of non-biodegradable detergents for ablutions.
- Use and promotion of environmentally friendly products.
- Utilisation of water efficient mobile ablution units.
- Quantification of water use for future reduction plans.
Management of hydro footprint
- Waste management unit for separation of recyclables.
- Quantification of waste generation for future reduction plans.
Green Charities
- Nature’s Valley Trust. The mission of the Nature’s Valley Trust is “To maintain the long-term environmental integrity of Nature’s Valley and surrounds by becoming proactively involved in issues that impact on the future of the area”.
www.naturesvalleytrust.co.za
The environmental impact of trail running
Trail runners do not have a significant difference in impact on the environment than hikers. Because trail runners move considerably faster through an area, the impact per person per unit of time on a particular area is possibly less than that of hikers. The actual erosive impact of running on a trail does not differ significantly from hiking on the trail. Littering is strictly forbidden and against trail running ethos and rules.
An environmental officer will oversee the camp sites to ensure proper recycling.
Alien invasive plant control station
South African National Parks and Otter have taken a precautionary and proactive approach by implementing an alien-invasive plant control station. This station is (as far as could be established) a first in South Africa. It provides the opportunity to reduce the possibility of alien invasive plant seeds being dispersed by competitors. As part of the registration process, all competitors must bring their running shoes to have them vacuumed, and the soles sponged with a biodegradable, environmentally friendly disinfectant. At the end of the race, the plan is to assess whether the control station did have a positive impact.
Although introducing alien invasive species into South Africa was often intentional for various reasons - from commercial exploitation to ornamental display - the dispersal of alien invasive species can also be unintentional. There is a growing recognition that recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, cycling and trail running may have negative ecological impacts on ecosystems, plants and wildlife through increased erosion, disturbance (noise and motion), pollution, trampling and, more recently, the spread of alien invasive plants species.
There are an estimated 27,000 indigenous and 9,000 foreign plant species in South Africa. Of these 9,000 exotic or alien introductions, some 348 have been identified as ecologically damaging invader plants.
Due to their adaptability and generally vigorous growth rates, invasive alien species can easily invade a wide range of ecological niches, thereby threatening our rich biodiversity by replacing indigenous and endemic vegetation. Unfortunately, as the invaders start to out-compete the Indigenous plants, a ripple effect begins with knock-on impacts for those insect species dependent on the Indigenous plants and the ultimate loss of birds, reptiles and mammals that feed on those insects.
Checking shoes for plant seeds before a run may seem trivial, but who would want to be an unintentional means for alien species dispersal? As guests within the environment, especially protected areas, all recreational users are encouraged to minimise their impacts as much as possible.
For more information on alien invasive plants in South Africa, go to the following websites:
http://www.sana.co.za/Alien-Invasive-Plants/
http://www.agis.agric.za/wip/
http://www.sanbi.org/information/infobases/invasive-alien-plant-alert