SANParks has called upon the public to refrain from stacking rock cairns.
Rock cairns: small piles of rocks stacked on top of each other.
They are often seen outdoors on hiking trails, wilderness areas, or rocky shores, and used for multiple purposes such as trail markers or artistic expression.
Although fun to build and admire, rock cairns can have adverse effects on the environment.
By building rock cairns, the natural habitats of small creatures, like crabs and mollusks, can be disturbed. Moving rocks may disrupt or destroy their homes and subsequently their populations.
Picture: Adla Da Silva/ Cape Town Etc
They can cause erosion and destabilise wilderness areas or the shoreline. Rocks serve an important purpose in protecting the shoreline against ocean forces and erosion. Moving those rocks destabilises the coastline which can lead to erosion and damage to ecosystems. Sedimentation caused by soil erosion can poorly impact water quality and aquatic habitats.
The rock cairns themselves can change the natural beauty of an area or even destroy cultural or natural heritage sites. They are also a potential safety hazard to small children.
Before you start stacking your own rock cairn, SANParks reminds us that ‘every small action counts towards protecting our planet.’
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