Conservation Overview

Many club members have an active interest in their bushland surroundings. Bird-watching, tree, shrub and flower identification, geology and natural history are all very much encouraged. Protecting our bushland for future bushwalkers is also very important to us.

The Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc as a Club, and indeed many of our members in their own right, support the following conservation agencies:

• Australian Conservation Foundation 
• Victorian National Parks Association
• The Wilderness Society

Conservation Activities

Melbourne Bushwalkers supports the conservation projects of Bushwalking Victoria. We participate in fun and friendly track maintenance and conservation activities on a regular basis and assist park rangers in the Alpine National Park, Grampians National Park, Wilson’s Promontory National Park, and other locations.

Interested members can register to receive updates from BTAC (Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation). BTAC is a standing committee of Bushwalking Victoria that concentrates on tracks and trails strategy and organises volunteer fieldwork opportunities. More information at www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au

Guidance for Bushwalkers - Minimum Impact

Melbourne Bushwalkers members practice minimum impact bushwalking in all their activities and encourage all walkers and visitors to follow these important guidelines.

The Minimum Impact Bushwalking motto states:

"Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints."

This means all walkers must:

• carry out all litter including vegetable peels and cores,
• bury human waste at least 150mm deep and 100 metres from a water source,
• use unbleached toilet paper,
• tampons, sanitary pads and nappies to be carried out in plastic bags,
• do not use soap or detergent near water,
• minimise trampling of vegetation,
• use a fuel stove wherever possible, and
• leave your campsites in better condition than you found them.

Particular attention should be given to the minimisation of the spread of phytophthora fungus. Boot soles should be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with methylated spirits solution.

For further information and guidance walkers should also refer to Bushwalking Victoria's Conservation Policy and their "Tread Softly - minimum impact" leaflet.

Guidance for Bushwalkers - Camp Fire Policy

Melbourne Bushwalkers recognises that campfires are part of the outdoor experience. Used responsibly they can be useful for cooking, for keeping warm and for socialising. However the need to minimise the impact of bushwalking activities, particularly in sensitive or heavily used areas, means that campfires must be treated as a privilege rather than as a right. The purpose of this policy is to enable all of us to enjoy a campfire, where it is appropriate, while maintaining respect for the bush.

Our Policy is:

• Walkers must be aware of regulations in force, particularly total fire bans. To assist this the Club endeavours to have up to date copies of regulations available in the clubrooms.
• The Club follows the guidelines set out in the Minimal Impact Bushwalking Code.
• Fuel stoves are encouraged.
• Any fires to be kept to a minimum size in designated fireplaces where possible.
• No rubbish to be burnt on fires.
• Fires to be completely extinguished before retiring or leaving camp.

'Fuel stove only' walking areas have been designated to minimise the potential impact of fire and these include:- Mt Bogong, Mt Feathertop, the Baw Baw plateau, within one kilometre of Lake Tali Karng, Wilsons Promontory National Park and above 1700 metres in the Kosciuszko National Park (NSW).