OHV Users Support Stay the
Trail Campaign
Denver, CO (April 7, 2005)
- The Colorado
Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition
(COHVCO) led federal, state, and local agencies in a call to
off-highway vehicle (OHV) users to stay on designated trails.
"In Colorado, we stay the trail," said COHVCO
Chairman Dennis Larratt
during the morning's press conference at the Colorado State Capitol. "I
am pleased to be a part of this landmark coalition of recreationists,
environmentalists and governmental agencies and truly believe that we
can have an impact on OHV trail use."
COHVCO was joined by the Bureau of Land
Management, the USDA Forest
Service, Colorado State Parks, the Southern Rockies Conservation
Alliance, and others to kick-off the Stay the Trail campaign, designed
to reinforce and highlight responsible off-highway vehicle use.
"With this campaign, we are moving toward a
statewide culture of
responsible OHV use that will continue beyond the life of the project,"
said Larratt.
One of the campaign's goals is to modify and
mitigate irresponsible use
in an effort to minimize resource damage on public land. The committee
members hope to create a stewardship ethic among all Colorado OHV
recreationists.
"Colorado's public lands belong to each and
every one of us, and for
this reason we must take care of the lands - and the trails - that we
enjoy," said BLM State Director Ron Wenker. "The Stay the Trail
committee reminds us of our responsibility to stay on the trail and
protect our natural habitats."
An important aspect to the Stay the Trail
campaign is the broad
support, including both OHV recreationists and the environmental
community. "We are supporting the "Stay the Trail" educational campaign
because education is one component to fixing problems on federal lands.
However, education alone will not solve this problem, which requires a
long-term commitment by the agencies and users to fund planning,
enforcement, monitoring, and rehabilitation. We hope that this campaign
is the first step in a major effort to address the broader problem."
"Stay The Trail" and "Keep Your Wheels Where
They Belong" are
trademarks of the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition.
