We present to you a new blog post by Katarína Pšenáková, which arose from a deep inner conviction and intuitive relationship with nature. In it, Katarína talks about the consciousness that she feels most intensely outdoors in nature, which keeps us all alive. In this blog, Katarína also introduces and approaches the theory of Leave No Trace, which originated in the 1960s . From conscious planning, through respect for animals and plants, to the ethics of non-interference, non-claiming. In the article, you will learn how to transfer these principles into everyday reality and how they can help us live in a deeper connection with the environment that keeps us alive.

In nature, I feel the most awareness that I would like to convey to every human being, that we are a part of it. We live in a system that perceives the world through human needs, comfort and economic profit. This view that puts people at the center has taught us to perceive nature as the backdrop of our being, as a resource that exists to serve people. However, balance does not arise from taking, but from exchange. We are just one element of an intricate ecosystem where everything is connected to everything else. We are nature. We exist because of it, not above it. And none of it belongs to us.

The Leave No Trace theory originated in the 1960s as a code of ethics for people who spend time in nature. It's not about perfection, but about small, everyday choices that change the way we perceive the world around us.

But leaving no trace doesn't mean disappearing without impact. It means moving through the world with the knowledge that every step changes something, and that how we enter and leave a space speaks volumes about who we are.

The original Leave No Trace theory began as a simple code of ethics with a clear goal - to minimize our impact on nature. Its seven principles were practical and straightforward: plan ahead, move on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave only what belongs in nature, limit the impact of fire, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others.

Today's interpretation of these principles is in the spirit of climate responsibility, ecofeminism, and criticism of human-centrism - it preserves the original framework, but shifts the focus from individual "purity" to a broader awareness of connections and the relationship we create with the world.

Seven principles for a world we cannot take for granted.

1. Plan with context in mind
   Every decision has consequences. Travel, equipment, food, water – everything we choose leaves a mark on the ecosystem and society. Responsibility does not begin in nature, but at home.
2. Move with respect, not entitlement.
   The Earth is not our playground. It is a space we share with other species. Every step, every fire, every view is not a right, but an opportunity.
3. Don't leave anything that will upset the balance.
   Waste is not just a plastic bottle. It is also noise, light, dominance. What we bring into the space should be easy on nature and on others.
4. Don't take what doesn't belong to you.
   A stone, a plant, a seed, a photo of an animal, everything we "take" changes the ecosystem. Observe, learn, be present, but don't appropriate.
5. Leave a mark that heals
   Leaving no trace doesn't mean disappearing without impact. It means acting so that life can continue to grow after us. Regeneration is a new form of ethics.
6. Respect more than just a person
   Animals, plants, water, land - everything has a value that goes beyond our need. Criticizing human-centrism means seeing the world not just as "for us" but with us.
7. Be an ally, not a consumer
   Nature is not just a product, an experience or a therapy. It is mainly a system that keeps us alive. Let us let it breathe, renew itself and be. Let us leave it as we would like it to leave us.