SDG Spotlight: Leave No Trace & the Global Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out an ambitious global blueprint for a better future—one that balances environmental protection, social equity, and economic prosperity. To drive awareness and inspire action
The SDG Champions Programme led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), highlights organizations that exemplify sustainability in practice, demonstrating that every sector of society can contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As SDG Champion 2024-25, Leave No Trace Ireland promotes responsible outdoor practices that help protect the environment in three key ways: supporting climate action by reducing human impact on natural areas, conserving biodiversity by minimizing disturbance to wildlife and ecosystems, and advancing sustainable tourism by encouraging low-impact recreation and responsible visitor behaviour.
Here are some of our key initiatives making an impact.
School Programme
Leave No Trace Ireland offers engaging educational programmes for schools, inspiring students to explore, respect, and protect the natural environment through responsible outdoor practices and environmental stewardship, aligning with 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12. (Responsible Consumption and Production) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land),
- Leave No Trace Primary School Programme – Our Schools Programme provides interactive educational experiences for schools across Ireland and is currently available in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, and Clare. The programme encourages students to explore, respect, and protect the natural environment through responsible outdoor practices and environmental stewardship. It includes two workshops: an introduction to the Leave No Trace Principles and hands-on projects designed to deepen students’ environmental engagement
- The Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme, funded by the Marine Institute, is a dynamic initiative designed to engage primary school students and educators in marine education and conservation. Through hands-on learning experiences, the programme fosters a deeper understanding of Ireland’s unique marine environment, inspiring the next generation of ocean champions. As a proud partner, Leave No Trace Ireland runs the programme across multiple counties, including Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, Wexford, and Louth. Our dedicated team of six Marine Explorers trainers works closely with schools to deliver engaging workshops, outdoor activities, and marine-themed projects:
- Picker Pals – is a dynamic, school-based programme designed to inspire children to become environmental champions in their communities. The initiative provides schools with engaging resources and litter-picking equipment, empowering young students to lead family litter-picking adventures in their neighborhoods. Through our collaboration with Picker Pals, Leave No Trace is fostering environmental stewardship among schoolchildren in Northern Ireland, addressing litter pollution and promoting outdoor engagement.
Hot Spot Project
IIn 2024, Leave No Trace Ireland teamed up with Deloitte to launch a new Hot Spot project at Killaranny Bog, located near Lough Boora Discovery Park in County Offaly. Working in collaboration with
Bord na Móna, on peatland restoration. The Hot Spot Programme identifies areas suffering from human-related impacts that can thrive again with Leave No Trace solutions. We work with communities, landowners, and stakeholders to create innovative, site-specific remedies to meet environmental objectives .
This vital initiative enhances carbon capture, supports biodiversity, and helps combat climate change. A team of 135 Deloitte volunteers played a vital role in restoration efforts, planting 12,000 sphagnum plugs to help retain moisture and rejuvenate the natural peat-forming process. By protecting these critical ecosystems, the project contributes to long-term environmental resilience and aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Love This Place Campaign
The Love This Place campaign is a national, interagency public awareness initiative led by Leave No Trace Ireland, focused on promoting the responsible enjoyment of Ireland’s outdoor spaces. The campaign encourages the public to engage with nature in a way that respects and protects wildlife, while preserving fragile ecosystems. Ireland is experiencing growing pressures from tourism, urbanization, and climate change, all of which are impacting our landscapes. Research shows that some 2.7 million visitors to Ireland from overseas markets took part in outdoor activities, and 64% of Irish people participated in land-based recreation activities whilst on holiday in Ireland. (Source: National Outdoor Recreation Strategy). In addition research conducted for Leave No Trace Ireland by Behaviour and Attitudes Ireland (Ireland’s largest independent research and insight consultancy) revealed that, while there is a strong appreciation for the value of the outdoors, many people—particularly young people under the age of 35 are unclear on what constitutes appropriate behaviour or how to adopt habits that benefit nature.
For the 2024 campaign we used digital media (Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok) as well as influencers (Roz Purcell and Tadhg O’Brien) to target the younger cohort. The Campaign
not only reached over 5.5 million people but also helped inspire a shift in how people engage with the outdoors in ways that reduce biodiversity impacts and improve the natural environment. Through extensive collaboration and strategic outreach, the campaign worked to foster responsible outdoor behaviours, directly contributing to efforts that protect and enhance biodiversity.
This campaign directly supports Sustainable Development Goals 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12. (Responsible Consumption and Production) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Corporate Responsibility Days (CSR Days)
In 2024, Leave No Trace facilitated 25 Corporate Responsibility Days (CSR) with a number of leading businesses across Ireland, including Aviva, Gas Networks Ireland and Deloitte. Leave No Trace Ireland’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Days provide an immersive, hands-on experience for teams to engage in environmental stewardship while strengthening relationships and learning about conservation.
These tailored days offer meaningful opportunities to contribute to biodiversity, sustainability, and habitat protection through expert-led activities. Teams can participate in biodiversity surveying, helping to document and safeguard local ecosystems; clean-up initiatives, removing litter to restore natural beauty and protect wildlife; and invasive species management, supporting habitat restoration by controlling harmful species. These activities not only foster teamwork and purpose-driven engagement but also leave a lasting, positive environmental impact. By taking part, companies demonstrate their commitment to sustainability while empowering employees to take action for a healthier planet. Locations included Bull Island, Phoenix Park, and Sandymount Strand and contributed to 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water) 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Advocacy and Outreach
Each year, Leave No Trace Ireland works to strengthen collaboration across sectors to protect and enhance Ireland’s outdoor spaces. By staying connected with key stakeholders, the organization not only showcases its work but also learns from others, ensuring a collective approach to environmental stewardship. Maura Keily, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland, was appointed to the National Steering Group of Comhairle na Tuaithe and plays a key role in shaping the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, contributing to working groups on Responsible Behaviour Policy, Visitor Management, and Outdoor Infrastructure Development.
Through this involvement, Leave No Trace Ireland has influenced major national initiatives, including the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, the Love This Place campaign, responsible dog ownership campaigns, County Outdoor Recreation Plans, and the Mountain Access Project (MAP). She was also appointed to the County Outdoor Recreation Committees to support county-specific recreation plans. These committees contribute to the development of local outdoor recreation strategies, ensuring that sustainable practices are embedded in county-level policies and projects.
Representatives from Leave No Trace attended a wide range of events and conferences across Ireland. These included the National Social Enterprise Conference (10th October), the Environment Ireland Conference (17th October), the Irish Environmental Network Annual Gathering (23rd November), and the Ireland Association for Adventure Tourism Conference (27th–28th November). These gatherings provide invaluable opportunities to share ideas, build partnerships, and gain insights into sustainable practices, environmental policies, and community engagement. Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
International Collaboration
In 2024, Leave No Trace Ireland took its mission to the global stage, making a meaningful impact at key international events and conferences. This included the final event of the Go Green project a three-year collaboration involving six partner organizations across five countries. This initiative aims to empower local communities to develop sustainable green projects in line with the EU Green Deal. Its key outputs included training courses, funding opportunities, and support networks, which encouraged innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The initiative also produced valuable resources, such as a policy paper and an accessible report, showcasing the knowledge gained and highlighting how local actions can have a global impact.
In October, we took part in the inaugural Leave No Trace Global Summit in Boulder, Colorado. The three-day Global Summit drew more than 300 attendees for presentations, networking, and discussions about protecting natural resources through responsible outdoor recreation. The summit marked 30 years since the international organization, headquartered in Boulder, was first formed as an educational non-profit.
Leave No Trace Ireland CEO, Maura Kiely, shared her PhD research on ‘Stakeholder Engagement in Nature Conservation and Outdoor Recreation in Ireland’ as part of a global panel discussion.
Additionally, we participated in the EUROPARC Federation XIII European Charter for Sustainable Tourism Network Meeting, where we showcased the work of the Croagh Patrick Ambassadors. This event brought together over 100 delegates from 22 countries and event focused on visitor management in Protected Areas
These engagements support Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
reinforcing our commitment to global sustainability and responsible outdoor recreation.
Digital Engagement
In 2024, Leave No Trace Ireland used the power of storytelling to inspire action and raise awareness about sustainability. Through compelling video projects shared on social media, we highlighted environmental initiatives, responsible recreation, and community-led conservation efforts.
- Croagh Patrick Ambassador Programme: This project has been funded by the Heritage Council and highlights the Croagh Patrick Ambassador Programme and responsible recreation. Watch here. –
- EU Projects Showcase: Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs this series spotlights EU-backed environmental projects like SEE. Watch here.
- From Roots to Canopy: A philanthropy-funded video series showcasing the power of environmental stewardship in protecting and enhancing Ireland’s natural heritage. This series is an inspirational exploration of how individuals, communities, and organizations can take small, thoughtful actions to create a lasting positive impact on biodiversity and the environment.
We continue to amplify our impact by using #SDGsIRL across social media, project updates, and success stories on Instagram, LinkedIn, our newsletter, and our website.
These efforts align with Sustainable Development Goals SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
