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When you have the urge to relieve yourself or litter in a nature reserve or wilderness area in the Western Cape , consider that:

Cape Nature Conservation manages most of the protected areas representing the Cape Floristic Region, the smallest and most threatened of the world's six floral kingdoms. The Cape Floristic Region is one of the world's "hottest biodiversity hotspots": it contains 9 000 plant species, of which 6 000 are found nowhere else on earth. This plant kingdom is threatened by invasive plants, agriculture, urbanisation, pollution, poaching, soil erosion and unseasonal fires.

Large tracts of the Western Cape mountains, including privately-owned land, are proclaimed catchment areas. This means that they are managed as an important source of fresh water. Protected mountain catchments constitute only nine percent of the surface area of the Western Cape, yet they provide 60 percent of the water generated in the province.

Four areas in the Western Cape are also proclaimed wilderness areas. These are the Boosmansbos, Cederberg, Doringrivier and Groot Winterhoek wilderness areas. In South Africa, wilderness areas and special nature reserves have the highest conservation status of all protected areas. A wilderness area is defined as a natural place of exceptional scenic beauty or ecological importance that deserves the highest possible protection.

In international terms, our wilderness areas fall into the highest class of protected areas, IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Category 1.

Wilderness areas may eventually be included in the core conservation zones of biosphere reserves endorsed by the United Nations.

Our nature reserves, mountain catchments and wilderness areas demand our greatest care and highest standards of outdoors behaviour.

At all times, take a precautionary approach - your cue is that virtually everything you do has a detrimental effect on the environment. Act in such a way as to avoid this. Of squats, streams and the squits.

Human sewage is rich in organic matter and nutrients. It may also frequently harbour disease organisms. It is therefore extremely important to make sure that your faeces and urine do not contaminate water.

Keep at least 50 m away from water when relieving yourself.

Fynbos environments are mostly acidic and rely on a delicate chemical balance to survive. Human waste upsets this balance. Mountain streams, vlei areas and seepages are poorly buffered against this type of pollution.

Waterborne diseases have ravaged many poor countries. At least 10 percent of the total burden of human diseases in developing countries can be attributed to diarrhoea and infestations by intestinal worms.

Poor sanitation and inadequate water supplies are the chief culprits. Mass outbreaks of infectious disease in wild places such as our nature reserves and wilderness areas are unlikely. This does not mean, however, that individual hikers or even whole parties are immune from infection by waterborne diseases in the mountains.

Downstream users such as other hikers or farming communities are also at risk from contamination in the catchment. Gastro-enteritis, typhoid and the giardias are just some of the viral or bacterial infections that can be picked up from contaminated drinking water. Side-effects can include severe diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration and acutely painful stomach cramps. Stomach upsets are unpleasant. They can also lead to serious medical emergencies.

The fact is, they are avoidable:

By keeping faeces and urine well away from water;

Maintaining basic hygiene; and

Sterilising water by means of boiling or using chemicals such as chlorine or iodine. Some impacts are less private than others

It is a worrying admission, but human excreta and discarded toilet paper are turning parts of our nature reserves and wilderness areas into foul-smelling, unsightly wastes. Areas around huts and popular caves are particularly vulnerable to faecal pollution. This is unhealthy, bad for the environment and unpleasant for visitors like you. Meanwhile, these simple guidelines will help you keep a clean act in a world-class natural environment.

If you haven't eaten or drunk it, don't leave it behind.

All waste except that produced or soiled by your bodily functions must leave the mountains with you. That means everything you did not eat or drink.

When you plan your trip, remember the following:

A sturdy, spacious plastic or nylon bag that can be securely closed. This is for rubbish. Rubbish includes spent matches, sweet wrappers and discarded sticking plasters. Cigarette stubs can be kept in one or more film canisters.

Put non-perishable foodstuffs in reusable plastic or aluminium containers. This cuts down on paper and plastic waste.

Crush empty cans and tins with the heel of your boot or with a stone. They weigh next to nothing and, flattened, take up hardly any space in your rucksack.

Peels should be treated as non-disposable rubbish.

If it smells, bury it.

If there is no lavatory available, all excreta and toilet paper must be buried. This means:

Having at least one small garden spade or trowel for each hiking or climbing party. The implement can be kept sealed inside a plastic bag when not in use. If soiled, scrape off the excess by stabbing the tool into the earth a couple of times. Take turns carrying this essential device. Perhaps the instrument-bearer can be exempted from brewing coffee in the morning, or cooking supper after a long day.

Choose the right spot to relieve yourself. Your mastery of this technique is a measure of your mountaineering skill. Rustic shelter, a stupendous view and a unique sense of place are essential components of a meaningful nature experience. Don't just rush into it. Be a connoisseur. Hunt around until you find your dream squat. Just don't forget your digging tool. It's vital for sustainable ambience.

Dig a decent hole without damaging plants or ant nests. Aim for about 15cm and roomy enough to contain your deposit and toilet paper. Avoid being excessively ambitious - or petty - in your excavations. Ecology is about balance. When finished, carefully scoop the loosened soil back into the hole and tamp it down with a boot. A patch of ruffled soil and some disappointed flies will be the only reminder of your communion with nature. Now isn't that satisfying?

Stony ground can be a problem. Try to avoid relieving yourself on terrain where holes cannot be dug. If squatting is unavoidable, use a wide, flat rock to cover your deposit.

Avoid squatting in paths, near camping spots and huts, in caves or next to summit beacons. Doing so (unless it's an absolute emergency) is disgusting, selfish and grossly anti-social. Physical circumstances and your sense of decency should tell you how far to move from these sensitive areas.

You're usually off the mark if you pick up a stone and find someone's been there before you.

No headaches, please

You, as a nature lover and environmentally-minded visitor, are the most important element in keeping our protected areas in pristine shape. It is an unhappy fact, though, that unless these highly valued areas can be managed in terms of defensible, ecologically sound principles, remedial measures become necessary. Often, this implies repercussions for users like you.

Possible adverse changes to your outdoors experience may include:

Installing composting (non-chemical) toilets in huts.

Reducing the number of access permits to provincial nature reserves and wilderness areas.

Declaring certain huts out-of-bounds.

Imposing heavy spot penalties.

These are interventions of last recourse.

Your behaviour can make all the difference!

Summary: going to the loo in the Western Cape mountains

Carry a small spade or trowel in your party

Keep at least 50 m from water when relieving yourself

Bury all excreta and toilet paper - 15 cm is a good depth

Avoid defecating on paths, near camping spots or huts, in caves or at summit beacons

All other waste must leave the area with you

Thanks for your co-operation in managing our protected areas!