Leave No Trace is a concept originated from the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, when outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, trekking and camping gained popularity in the post-war period. The increased visits of countryside nevertheless led to growing disturbance to the natural environment – not just the ecology and habitats, but historic heritage and soils also experienced varying degree of damages.
In view of this, the US government, scholars, as well as conservation and hiking organisations launched a ‘Leave No Trace’ campaign in the 1980s to promote and educate the public the value of respecting nature, taking real actions to minimize negative impacts brought by leisure activities to natural habitats. To date, ‘Leave No Trace’ has developed into a global conservation education movement.