Tackle the Forestry & Wildlife EOPA Challenge 2026 – Unleash Your Inner Explorer!

Nonconsumptive use means a recreational activity that doesn't remove wildlife or degrade the ecosystem. Hiking fits this because you’re moving through a habitat for enjoyment without harvesting or harming animals, so wildlife populations aren’t diminished by the activity. It helps people appreciate nature and can support conservation when done responsibly.

The other activities involve taking or capturing wildlife, which reduces the animal population or alters its availability, so they are consumptive uses. To keep hiking truly nonconsumptive, follow best practices like staying on marked trails, keeping noise to a minimum, packing out trash, keeping pets leashed, and avoiding disturbance to wildlife.