We were in Kahurangi National Park on a family tramp around Flora Saddle. National Park regulations prohibit taking of items from the park. But for me, more importantly it is about outdoor ethics. Given what I know, what should I, or in this case Fiona do?
Ecologically, it would have almost no effect to remove the shell. One less place for an insect to spend the night (or day) perhaps, a few grams of minerals that won't return to the soil - removing it wouldn't cause the extinction of a species you know.
The shell could remind us of a great moment. It could be something beautiful to catch the eye on Fiona's shelf in the city. Something to start a conversation...
But taking something beautiful does have an effect. Others lose the chance to see the gloriously gleaming shell.
Natures souvenirs also lose their shine at home. They gather dust, become clutter and somehow that magic leaves them. I have found that with shells and polished rocks of intense colours I’ve gathered from wild beaches. They lose the magic. That indefinable thing which caught my eye in the outdoors. The magic is strong when items are found in their place, but at my place they become simply dull, lifeless objects.
Should we treat the outdoors like a shopping mall, where we can browse and pick up items at will, or is it somewhere we need to consider with respect. I think that respect is a good word for how we have chosen to preserve areas where humans have less impact. Respect that acknowledges we don’t know everything and there are some things that still have magic beyond the dollars we have in our bank account.
So between depriving others of the chance to see something precious, knowing that it will lose its value at home and having other ways to remember, we should leave it there and that is what Fiona chose to do.
Good on you Fiona and thanks for a great trip.
Chris North
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