The Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) are one of the most spectacular underground systems on the planet and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a place that has been down there for millions of years, intact, and suddenly it was at risk not because of a collapse or an earthquake, but because of something as absurd as a forgotten bag of Cheetos in the Big Room, the largest underground chamber in North America. Why are people so filthy?!!!
By the time they realized, the inside of the bag of chips had decomposed. The National Park Service (NPS) explained that the processed corn, once damp, became the perfect place for microbes, fungi and cave insects to begin to appear.
In a matter of days an artificial food chain formed that began to unbalance the entire cave ecosystem, the mold not only spread through the area but also left an unpleasant smell… Is it carelessness or an attack against heritage?
Trash in places where it should not exist
“Human beings are the greatest threat to their own species and to Pachamama, we attack her, we need to take eco-consciousness and change the philosophy towards nature” commented one user. And it is true, we are not talking about an isolated case (well, here specifically yes), but millions of years isolated from the outside faltered because of a bag of chips.
Humans have no awareness of our environment, of ecosystems, nothing… We arrive and destroy everything in our path, even things that were there long before we arrived.
Trash tourism
Remember the U.S. national parks receive more than 300 million visitors a year, which translates into 70 million tons of trash. In most places it is already a challenge to manage it, but in caves like Carlsbad it gets more complicated, there live very sensitive endemic species, and any alteration can be irreversible…
In this case, the rangers had to set up a detailed operation to remove the bag and eliminate all traces of mold. A maneuver that prevented permanent damage, but that makes clear the vulnerability of the place…
It is not the first time it has happened
This also happened with the Lascaux Cave, in France. There, the 17,000-year-old cave paintings began to deteriorate shortly after opening to tourism in 1948. The humidity, the carbon dioxide and the temperature that visitors brought caused the appearance of fungi and algae. In 1963 they had to close the cave to preserve that unique heritage…
Responsible tourism or nothing
The NPS summed it up in one sentence: “big or small, we all leave an impact wherever we go.” And in Carlsbad this is evident. It is not enough to admire stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years, it is also necessary to be aware that a simple bag of Cheetos can alter the entire ecosystem.
Responsible tourism is the only way future generations can enjoy these places. That means following the rangers’ instructions, not leaving trash and respecting the designated areas.
Plastic and its footprint
Plastic is everywhere, it is one of the main problems society has today. A bag takes centuries to degrade and releases microplastics that contaminate soil and water. In caves, where natural processes are extremely slow, the damage multiplies even more.
In addition, trash can attract animals, alter their habits and break ecological chains that have been functioning for millennia. What seems like an innocent oversight becomes a long-term threat.
An uncomfortable but necessary reminder
If we want places like Carlsbad to still be there for those who come after, it is time to take individual responsibility seriously. Tourism and conservation must go hand in hand. And yes, even a forgotten snack package can put at risk an ecosystem that has been surviving in silence for millions of years.