The Buffalo National River has been declared a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site.
This designation recognizes parks that have met specific criteria laid out by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The criteria include implementing Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics into the park’s management, programming and education; training staff and community partners in Leave No Trace outdoor ethics; including Leave No Trace language on trailhead signs, visitor centers, pamphlets and other materials; and facilitating Leave No Trace interpretative programs.
To Date, 12 parks across the nation have received the designation. There have been six National Park Service sites that have been named Leave NO Trace Gold Standard sites.
“Leave No Trace is thrilled to announce Buffalo National River as a designated Gold Standard Site,” Dana Watts, Leave No Trace executive director, said in a statement. “The hard work of staff and local community stakeholders means that Buffalo National River is a leading force in the Leave No Trace movement nationally and an example of how effective the role of education is in protecting our public lands.”
The other Gold Standard sites include Castlewood Canyon State Park in Colorado, Roxborough State Park in Colorado, Cheaha State Park in Alabama, New River Gorge National River in West Virginia, Shenandoah National Park in West Virigina, Acadia National Park in Maine, Coconino in Arizona, Knob Noster in Missouri, Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, Olympic National Park in Washington state, and San Juan Island in Washington state.
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