What is Canyon Care?

Canyon Care is an initiative to make positive contributions to the canyoning environment whilst participating in canyoning activities. There are multiple facets to caring for canyons. Some include:

• developing and following a canyoning code of ethics. This means respecting the canyoning environment.
• promoting safe, ethical, and environmentally sustainable canyoning activities.
• monitoring the condition of canyons and reporting issues,
• coordinating the rectification of those issues in line with relevant authorities and organisations. Remember that approval is required for many canyon care activities.
• actively improving the canyoning environment. Some examples include:
  • removal of rubbish – both your own and that left by others. This can be done any time.
  • having the correct skills and equipment to undertake canyoning activities so that rescue and incident risk are minimized.
  • participating with appropriate group numbers.
  • improving signage in popular canyons.
  • the correct placement and maintenance of anchor systems.

The Australian Canyoning Association is working with a number of organisations and individuals to provide care for canyons in Australia. If you have any suggestions, please provide feedback. A database will be set up in the near future to assist with recording ideas and issues.

An example of a Canyon Care activity is below.

2019-05-25 – Great Uncle George Cleanup

NSWCA’s first CanyonCare event involved dismantling and removing a long abandoned camp at the exit to Great Uncle George Canyon. Upon arrival we found clothes draped across branches, a huge range of aluminum and cast iron cooking pots, utensils, buckets, mattresses, a sleeping bag, a suitcase, backpack, even a punching bag. An elaborate framework of branches had been erected, held together with rope and twine across which a massive tarpaulin had been tied. In the makeshift larder under a nearby overhang were old unopened tins of food and rubbish. We bagged everything and carried it all out. We estimate about 100kg was removed. The cake and cup of tea supplied by NPWS back at the cars were gratefully consumed. Thank you to those who attended: Julie Burton, Tom Brennan, Caro Ryan, Mike Patterson, Krzysztof Koziarz, Arthur Henry (NPWS).