Human beings—the users of this guide—are part of the community of living things that we define as an ecosystem. In this environmental age, we have become conscious— belatedly—of our often-detrimental effect on the vitality of living systems and the fate of other species.
A guide that encourages people to explore nature more fully must remind readers that they have a special responsibility to protect our shared natural legacy. When you venture into the environment, on foot or wheels, or by boat, you are entering the home of a host of other creatures. Respect for their needs is mandatory if nature tourism is to be sustainable or even desirable. Obviously, you want to minimize your impact on the environment by traveling lightly and leaving nothing behind except your footsteps. In special circumstances, you will have an obligation to keep a respectful distance for the sake of your own and the animals’ welfare. Following a whale too closely or landing on a seabird island during breeding season can have stressful and sometimes fatal consequences for the animals. You should, where trails exist, stick to the beaten path. Venturing off the trail broadens the impact on the habitat that you are privileged to experience and diminishes its value to others who follow. More importantly, it may damage the community of living things who stay behind. These are simply the rules of good conduct followed by any environmentally conscious nature tourist.
Provincial and federal regulations apply to a variety of sites, including wildlife areas, ecological reserves and parks. You have a responsibility to familiarize yourself with such regulations and to follow them conscientiously.
Following these rules of good conduct and stewardship will help to preserve the natural bounty to be enjoyed here. Despite the fact that this part of the New World has the longest history of European settlement, it remains a region unusually richly endowed with a diversity of plants, animals and scenic beauty. We have been privileged to live most of our lives here. The region has nurtured our curiosity about the natural world and tutored us in its intricacies. By sharing some of our experience and knowledge of the region, we hope that Pronto Trip will set you on the road to the discovery of its many natural wonders.
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