Sport Northern Ireland has long been an advocate of developing both man-made and natural resources as sites for sustainable sport and physical recreation. There is no greater exciting & dynamic facility than the natural environment in which to participate in sport and physical recreation. While actively encouraging and promoting increasing levels of participation in the countryside and adventure activities, Sport NI recognises the need for participants to have a sensitive and responsible attitude towards the natural environment. As a policy Sport NI has adopted “Leave No Trace” as an important programme of education and responsible usage, rather than just a code of conduct. It will therefore promote and advocate the “Leave No Trace” Programme to and among countryside recreation users and landowners.
In addition it will be making the endorsement and adoption of the “Leave No Trace” Programme as a future condition of award for investment in countryside recreation and adventure activities. Therefore, Governing Bodies of Sport and organisations who use the natural environment will be expected to sign up to “Leave no Trace” to avail of the funding. Tollymore Mountain Centre, which is run by Sport NI as the National Centre for leadership training in the outdoors, will also be incorporating Leave No Trace principles into its courses and will be running a number of “Leave No Trace” courses.