What does it mean to the love the outdoors? Many of us would probably describe ourselves as nature lovers. We have many different reasons to be out in our beautiful and wild places – exercise, competition, fresh air, feeling part of a community or carving out some alone time, adrenalin thrills or stress relief. But does that love for the outdoors also convert into caring for and protecting those places? Actions that help care for nature can also be great exercise, enjoyable, satisfying, community building and improve our mental wellbeing.
Wild Restoration non-profit has produced a short video exploring how we can shift from “users” of nature to being in a more two-way relationship that acknowledges that we need nature and nature needs us.
The video was made possible through support from the European Outdoor Conservation Association, which has many of the world’s leading outdoor brands as members. The “Be wild and rewild the mountains in the Cape Floral Kingdom” project is involving outdoor enthusiasts in clearing invasive trees from areas that are vital for water and biodiversity. Through this project (and many others around the Western Cape) trail runners, climbers, hikers, botanists, campers and 4X4 enthusiasts are already getting involved in supporting biodiversity restoration. There is vast potential for more people to get involved, and we encourage you to try it out.