TrailWatch與 Adventure Clean Up Challenge (ACUC) 合辦首屆山徑版ACUC，活動將挑戰自然愛好者、熱愛行山及戶外活動人士參加一連兩日的周末清理山徑活動。隨著越來越多人到訪郊野，山野垃圾亦同時增加，我們希望藉此提高大眾對垃圾問題的關注。
你在行山時，看到了什麼？
不論是口罩或酒精搓手液，都加入了常見山野垃圾的行列。連同其他垃圾，如膠樽、紙巾、食物包裝及煙頭等，經常出現在路旁、草叢及樹上。
In partnership with the Adventure Clean Up Challenge, we are excited to bring to you the inaugural 2021 ACUC Trails Edition! Applications close on Sunday 29 March 2021 at 11pm. This event challenges nature lovers, and outdoor and hiking enthusiasts to participate in a two day weekend to clean the trails and raise awareness about pollution. With more people visiting nature and trails in Hong Kong, comes an increase of trash and waste.
Have you been out to the trails and noticed what you see?
These days, sights of face masks, and bottles of sanitizer are not uncommon along the sides of the trail path, in the bushes or around and on trees as you walk along. This is in addition to the other types that were common before the pandemic: plastic bottles, leftover food and beverage containers, candy wrappers, tissue paper, cigarette butts, and single use utensils.
山野垃圾是一個嚴重問題。除了影響郊野觀感外，野生動物有機會誤食人為垃圾。垃圾產生的污染物，如微塑膠更會流入生態，而水道中堆積的垃圾亦會被沖入河流和大海。山野垃圾影響深遠，可能超乎我們想像。
我們相信每個人在保護環境中都擔任着重要的一角，特別是經常會使用郊野的我們。郊野公園不單是我們的玩樂的地方，更提供了寶貴空間供大家維持身心健康。
2021山徑版ACUC 鼓勵行山人士好好運用對戶外運動的熱情來清潔山徑，同時提高公眾的減廢意識。參賽團隊將要決定清潔路線，並於活動後提交記錄。參加活動時，緊記實踐「山野無痕」及注意安全。團隊可進一步參於其後兩周的社區活動 (Community Engagement Actions) 以加強影響力。
Waste along the trails is a huge issue; it is not simply an eyesore and influences your perception of how clean and beautiful (or dirty and polluted) a location is. Trash can cause harm to animals if they ingest it. Trash creates pollutants such as microplastics that can leak into the earth. Trash that accumulates in waterways can end up flowing downstream into the sea and ocean. Trash may even get blown away! The footprint of trash on the trails can extend far beyond the mountains.
We believe that everyone can play a role to protect our environment in Hong Kong. And for those of us who hike, trail run and visit country parks, it is even more important to do so. The parks are our playground and provide precious space that sustains our health and wellbeing.
The 2021 ACUC Trails Edition takes a friendly competitive approach to encourage hikers to use our passion for sports and the outdoors to clean the trails and raise awareness to eliminate trails pollution. Teams are required to choose the trail they want to clean, and during the clean-up, to document their activity and afterwards, to submit evidence of the clean up. We encourage participating teams to practice Leave No Trace principles while emphasizing safety and teamwork. Teams can further their impact in the two weeks of community engagement after the clean up!
記得於3月29日晚上11點之前報名，Eco-Matcher 另會為每位成功參加者種植一棵樹。
立即報名: https://forms.gle/3LnhMMYuVNHdgNpd9（活動將以英文進行）
如果未能參加是次活動，記得密切留意 TrailWatch Facebook 專頁，我們隨時需要你的參與。
你亦可自發清潔山徑，就算最微小的一步都能帶來影響。下次行山時，不妨帶齊執垃圾四寶，利用十至十五分鐘收集垃圾並把垃圾帶離郊野，妥善處理。
Remember to sign up before Sunday 29 March 2021 at 11pm! What’s more is that for every successful participant, Eco-Matcher will plant 1 tree!
Apply now: https://forms.gle/3LnhMMYuVNHdgNpd9
If you aren’t able to join us this time, stay tuned for the possibility of a next time. And, follow our event via our social media!
Cleaning the trails can be done whenever, and every small bit helps: the next time you hike, spend as little as ten to fifteen minutes collecting trash on your way out and dispose of it away from the trails! All you need are four items to bring with you.