The Environmental Impact of Cairn Making
The word”cairn” is derived from the Scottish Gaelic meaning stone man. It can invoke images of purpose, faith, and the spiritual journey. In the backcountry, cairn-making is a trend, and it’s easy to understand why people feel attracted by these sweet little stacks of flat rocks that are balanced as child’s building blocks. A hiker who is suffering from aching shoulders and black flies buzzing around her ears will attempt to choose a rock with the perfect blend of flatness as well as tilt, width and depth. After a few close misses (one that’s too large and another that’s too small) the shrewd will select one that is perfectly set in place, and the second layer of the cairn becomes complete.
Many people are unaware that cairn construction can have a negative environmental impact particularly when it is done near water sources. When rocks are removed from the edge an ocean, a lake or pond, they can disrupt the ecosystem and degrade the habitat for microorganisms which are the backbone of the food chain. These rocks may be removed from the edge of a pond, river or lake through erosion and end up in places where they could inflict harm on wildlife or humans.
For these reasons, the practice of building cairns should be discouraged in areas where there are rare or endangered reptiles, amphibians or mammals or plants and flowers that need moisture that is held in http://cairnspotter.com/generated-post-3 the rocks. If you construct an cairn on private property the land could be in violation of the laws of the state and federal government that protect the land’s natural resources and could result in fines, or even arrest.