Tread Lightly! On The World

Tread Lightly! Australia Ltd will host an international conference called, Tread Lightly! On the World at Coffs Harbour, Australia in April 1997. The conference will address man's responsibility to respect and care for natural resources and to self manage use of those lands to insure access for future generations. A major focus of the conference will be the unveiling of Tread Lightly! Australia's Minimal Impact Strategy.

Jan Scudamore, Executive Director of Tread Lightly! Australia, explains the core idea of the strategy. "It promotes self management and combines land stewardship programs of protection, conservation and restoration with empowerment of individuals, to maximise recreation opportunities and minimise impacts." Conference topics include: trends in recreational use and public education about responsible recreation; land management issues such as use limitation, and monitoring visitor impact; effects of current international advertising practices; getting the minimal impact message to the media; funding for low impact outdoor recreation education programs.

The conference is already attracting international and Australia interest from land management agencies eco-tourism organisations, government agencies, environmental groups and companies who supply equipment to the growing population of outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Says, Scudamore, "It is not out intention to replace programs in use by land managers, corporation or environmental organisations, but to provide a common theme for cooperative efforts between all groups." "The program will assist in developing a base of attitude from which we can all work towards a common goal Treading Lightly! On the World".

For further information contact:

Jan Scudamore

Tread Lightly! Australia Ltd.

P.O. Box 123 Coorparoo Brisbane Queensland 4151

Barry Dixon

CMP Services

P.O. Box 705 Toowoomba Queensland

Phone: 07 3379 9129, Fax: 07 3379 1679, Mobile: 0419 301 063, Phone: 076 39 3250, Fax: 076 39 1531