In March 2021, the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado officially banned all forms of chalk and chalk substitutes from the park. The national park in Colorado Springs has been a hotspot for climbers given the diverse routes it offers along its towering rock formations, promising a good challenge for beginners to advanced climbers alike.
The ban came as a necessary move to protect this national monument from chalk graffiti caused by rock climbers. Other than the chemical pollution arising from chalk use, park managers and conservationists have been increasingly concerned with the visual pollution brought about by white chalk use in outdoor rock climbing. The porous nature of the Garden of the Gods sandstone formations causes it to absorb the white chalk deposited by climbers’ hands, making it nearly impossible to wash off even with rainfall. Traces of white chalk stain the surface of the orange rocks, marring the landmark’s natural appearance (hence the term chalk graffiti).
What is visual pollution?
Prior to learning about this chalk ban, I had not given much thought to visual pollution and its links to environmental pollution. Visual pollution is caused by “any element in the landscape, both indoor and outdoor, that is a misfit for the place and results in an unpleasant, offensive sight” (Nagle, 2009 in Ahmed et al., 2019). Unlike mainstream pollution (i.e. water, chemical, air, soil), visual pollution presents itself as a secondary form of pollution. It is a symptom of underlying primary environmental pollution issues that plague the urban environment, brought about by anthropogenic activities that result in the transport of materials into environments where they would otherwise not be organically found.
Given its concerns with aesthetics, visual pollution is difficult to define due to its highly subjective nature. What’s considered displeasing to someone could be an inspiring sight for another. Hence, while some people may feel that chalk marks contribute to the place-making of the park, others may view it as an unacceptable form of pollution.
Blanket bans on chalk usage and the promotion of “clean aid” climbing are likely to be effective ways in eliminating visual pollution caused by the sport. For less extreme measures, some parks such as Arches National Park have mandated the use of coloured chalk to match the colour of the rock being climbed. Ultimately, climbers should still aim to reduce chalk usage and always remember to check the park regulations on chalk usage before a climb. It’s always best to leave no trace behind!
References
Ahmed, N., Islam, M. N., Tuba, A. S., Mahdy, M. R. C., & Sujauddin, M. (2019). Solving visual pollution with deep learning: A new nexus in environmental management. Journal of environmental management, 248, 109253.
