Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association

C5 Forest Management Plan Brief

Summary:

The purpose of this brief is to provide the Alberta government and other interested parties with an understanding of the issues surrounding OHV use. Solutions to some of the issues will be offered.

We, at the AOHVA, strongly believe that the access management approach to the C5 Forest Management Unit must be a positive and cooperative approach between all users.

We also believe that: The responsible riding of an OHV on designated, well signed and mapped, shared trails helps the environment and community tourism."

Desired results we wish to be realized through this process are:

  • Continued access on traditional multi-use trails
  • Continued activities such as random camping
  • Have an educated public and user.
  • Encourage minimal impact OHV recreation
  • Provide access for the young and elderly
  • Establish recognized trail systems to enhance the tourism value of a region
  • Prevent the over-usage of existing trails and areas
  • Provide safe, well mapped, shared trails

Processes and mechanism we wish to bring forward as solutions to the access issues:

  • Enforce current legislation.
  • Remove squatters from the backcountry.
  • Provide designated corridors.
  • Enforce compliance
  • Establish the usage designation through trail inventory and engineering.
  • Create safe, mapped and well signed trails.
  • Community based forest management
  • Education programs for the general public.

In order to determine if the programs are a success, we propose the following measurements:

  • Recognition of the community as the Forest Management Monitoring Committee.
  • Continued traditional activities such as random camping
  • Continued use of traditional trails will depend on the meeting established maintenance and management objectives
  • Public perception is a strong indicator to acceptance and success

Conclusion:

We at the AOHVA value and respect the natural heritage that the backcountry holds. We believe that the vast majority of motorized recreationists hold those same values. With cooperative and positive communications, it is possible for all users to coexist. The management process put in place to manage access in the C5 FMU and other regions must be for the benefit of all Albertans and not the selected few. The creation of safe, well-signed and mapped trails will benefit the environment and provide economic well-being to the community.

Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association

C5 Forest Management Plan Brief

Nov 2002

Introduction:

The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association (AOHVA) was formed in 1987 to address the numerous initiatives throughout Alberta to restrict motorized access on public lands.

Our Mission is as follows:

The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association is dedicated to providing

safe individual and family oriented motorized recreational opportunities in

an environmentally responsible manner.

The purpose of this brief is to provide the Alberta government and other interested parties with an understanding of the issues surrounding OHV use. Solutions to some of the issues will be offered.

We, at the AOHVA, strongly believe that the access management approach to the C5 Forest Management Unit (FMU) must be a positive and cooperative approach between all users.

Our Values, Beliefs and Principles are represented in Appendix 1.

Desired Results:

Through the C5 Forest Management Plan (FMP) process, the AOHVA is striving to achieve the following results:

  • Continued access on traditional multi-use trails. A vast majority of trails in the C5 region have been in existence for decades and generations. They have been used over the years by various modes of transport. We believe that with proper management, this access should be maintained on designated corridors.
  • Continued activities such as random camping. Random camping is a backcountry experience that all Albertans cherish. Abuses of this privilege must be dealt with to ensure the future of this activity.
  • Have an educated public and user. An educated public and user can make better decisions about the long term motorized use and management of the backcountry.
  • Encourage minimal impact OHV recreation. OHV use that minimizes the impact on the eco-system will not only improve the quality of air, water and soil but also raise the image of motorized recreationists. This would include increasing awareness of environmental responsibility relating to ones presence in the backcountry.
  • Provide access for the young and elderly. For many, the use of OHV’s is a valued family activity. This includes the young right up to grand parents. Without the user-friendly capabilities of the OHV, many of these family pursuits would not be possible.
  • Establish recognized trail systems to enhance the tourism value of a region. The motorized recreationist spends a considerable amount of money to pursue this activity. Studies indicate that the snowmobile community in the 1994/95 season, spent an estimated $128.1 million on expenditures (machines, clothing etc.). These expenditures generated an economic impact (value added) of $162.6 million. Approximately $44.7 million in total taxation revenue accrued to all levels of government. (Source: Alberta Economic Development and Tourism, Expenditures by Snowmobilers in the 1994/95 season, September 1995) There is estimated to be approximately the same number of OHV’s in the province (and growing) and these numbers could easily double the amount of money being spent by motorized recreationists.
  • Prevent the over-usage of existing trails and areas. With the recent programs such as Special Places 2000 and the creation of numerous FLUZ’s and provincial parks, a significant number of kilometres of trails have been removed from the accessible land base. With ever increasing number of OHV sales and new riders, a strain is being put on the remaining areas. This is akin to ‘overgrazing’ in the agriculture industry.
  • Provide safe, well mapped, shared trails. People require these types of trails in order to enhance the experience of visiting the backcountry. There has to be a certain level of security and safety for those travelling in these regions. To quote Bill Steer- Executive Director of the Canadian Ecology Centre in Mattawa, Ontario:"The responsible riding of an ATV on designated, well signed and mapped, shared trails helps the environment and community tourism."

Processes and solutions:

In order to meet these results we wish to offer the following possible solutions.

  • Enforce current legislation. There already exists much of the legislation needed to manage some of the issues that arise from multi-use areas. Enforce the requirements for vehicle registrations and insurance. Noise issues can be addressed through the requirement to have proper spark arresters and muffler systems.
  • Remove squatters from the backcountry. Enforce regulations pertaining to RANDOM CAMPING. The acceptance of squatters in the backcountry has put pressure on the legitimate users. With motorized and equine users unable to utilize provincial campgrounds, random camping is the only alternative. Establish zones where random camping is an accepted activity or open provincial campgrounds to these users. Provincial policy has created this situation.
  • Provide designated corridors. Trails and areas that have been designated for a particular activity allow users to plan their travels and avoid conflicts. Management plans can be established to address the issues relating to the designation.
  • Enforce compliance. Where regions have been designated with access corridors, mechanisms must be in place to enforce the rules. Engineering being the first step to achieving compliance, education announcing the rules being the second, enforcement being the third. Users of the backcountry that are respecting the established rules must not be penalized for those who disregard them. This can be achieved through peer pressure, empowerment of trail stewards or conservation officer’s work with the cooperation OHV federations and local clubs.
  • Establish the usage designation through trail inventory and engineering. Identify and inventory the trails to establish the appropriate usage. Identify and categorize the impacts based on soil conditions, wildlife, weather, routing and features enhancing the trail experience.
  • Create safe, mapped and well signed trails. A trail that has a destination and clear route will provide users the opportunity enjoy the trail experience and comply with the intentions of the trail designation. A safe trail will prevent users from getting into situations requiring expensive rescue operations.
  • Community based forest management. Allow the community to make decisions on the management of the forest around them. Such a group already exists, The Crowsnest Forest Management Stewardship Society. The benefits allow the community to take charge and ownership of their backcountry. This Society has already proven them selves with highly successful ‘Volunteer Stewardship Days’ and mutual cooperation from all stakeholders
  • Education programs for the general public. Information and education needs to be provided to the general public on proper backcountry conduct. Utilize existing codes of conduct for OHV use and backcountry etiquette. Much of this information is already available. Proper riding skills training can be provided through Canadian Safety Council Certified ATV Instructors.

Measurement of Success:

As with all systems and process there must be mechanisms in place to measure progress.

  • Recognition of the community as the Forest Management Monitoring Committee. Such a groups is up and running. It should be recognized as the multi stakeholder group to provide balance to decision making.
  • Continued traditional activities such as random camping. This issue has impact on, hiking, equine, and motorized users, and has severe ramifications on tourism, hunting and recreation in Alberta. It must be dealt with positively and proactively.
  • Continued use of traditional trails will depend on the meeting established maintenance and management objectives. If the management system for a trail fails to meet the established objectives, there is the risk that the trail designation may be lost.
  • Public perception is a strong indicator to acceptance and success. Industrial interests in the forests spend considerable time trying to bolster their image. A recent poll by Sunpine Forest Products indicates the Oil & Gas industry to be perceived as having the most adverse effect on the forest, with OHV’s as second. Forestry was perceived to be third. The motorized recreationist has a long way to go to improve their image.

Conclusion:

We at the AOHVA value and respect the natural heritage that the backcountry holds. We believe that the vast majority of motorized recreationists hold those same values. With cooperative and positive communications it is possible for all users to coexist. The management process put in place to manage access in the C5 FMU must be for the benefit of all Albertans and not the selected few. The creation of safe, well-signed and mapped trails will benefit the environment and provide economic well-being to the community.

APPENDIX 1

Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association

Values, Principles and Beliefs

  •  

    Mission:

    The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association is dedicated to providing

    safe individual and family motorized recreational opportunities in

    an environmentally responsible manner.

    Values:

    We value our privilege to ride on public lands

    We value the natural and archaeological treasures that our great outdoors hold

    We value nature and respect its diversity

    We value clean air, water and land.

    We place a high value on future use of trails for our children and other users.

     

    Beliefs:

    We believe that majority of motorized recreationists are responsible.

    We believe that majority of motorized recreationists respect the environment.

    We believe that motorized recreation is a legitimate use of public lands.

    We believe that attitudes can be changed through education.

    We believe that users must participate in the decisions on trail use and management.

    We believe trails can be shared by all users

    We believe that the motorized recreation community provides significant economic benefit to local communities.

     

    Principles:

    Respect the environment and minimize impacts.

    Respect the rights of other users.

    Participate in the decisions that affect our access and use of public lands.

    Improve public understanding by addressing issues and concerns.

    Be responsible when riding by using designated trails and minimizing impact

    Obey the rules and other relevant legislation.