Find out why people who love stacking stones need to stop doing it

The habit of stacking stones has been present in humanity since ancient times – people have already resorted to it to create funerary monuments and to mark places where they passed, avoiding the risk of getting lost. But today, the practice has taken on the air of a hobby, a form of self-expression and a stimulus to meditation. However, if on the one hand raising piles of rocks works as a way to relax, and in some cases the result even resembles works of art, wildlife experts have expressed concern about this trend. They claim that the seemingly harmless custom could end up harming nature, even though we don’t know it.

we, from awesome.club we were surprised to discover that one of the most common practices among tourists can actually be devastating for the environment. That’s why we rushed to share with you everything we know about it.

The stones are part of the habitat for many small creatures, from lizards to crabs, including insects. Therefore, when people remove them, they may be destroying the foundations of these animals’ homes, causing an intense and dangerous invasion of their environment. Some animals need rocks to retain water and shelter against the action of predators or the weather, not to mention that rocks are even important for the reproduction of certain species.

Stacking rocks can pose a significant threat to the ecosystem. For example, in streams, each stone is covered by plants and microorganisms and interfering with the habitat of such living beings can compromise the fragile balance of the Environment in that place. If a considerable number of stones are removed, it is possible that the result will translate in rapid erosion, or even changes in flow of water.

There are many natural parks that use piles of rocks as a way to guide adventurers on confusing trails. Among trekkers and mountaineers, these stone markings are known as totem poles. However, today there is no lack of confusion, as there are both mounds of small rocks that have been positioned to help guide people and those that have been left by visitors for no purpose. Therefore, whoever is taking a walk there may have difficulties when having to choose which way to goespecially in the case of those who forget to check the park’s rules before starting the trail.

It breaks the main rule of ethics for those who venture into nature: “leave no traces”

When we decide to venture into nature, we usually want to enjoy the power of the pristine landscape. However, seeing numerous piles made of stone makes a very different impression than expected. While practitioners of activities such as trekking and hiking want to take a break from everything associated with human presence, piles of stones are like graffiti left there only to mark the passage of any person in that territory. And when our purpose is to preserve nature, we don’t feel the need to use rocks simply to be present.

Can you name other human activities that have the potential to harm the Planet, even if we don’t always know it? Leave your comment!