Number: 2001-02
WHEREAS, the human population continues to increase and more people are seeking outdoor recreational experiences on public lands; and
WHEREAS, a popular form of recreational use involves off-highway vehicles (OHVs), the sales of which have increased significantly in the last decade; and
WHEREAS, inappropriate use of OHV’s (e.g., off of designated trails) can cause negative impacts to fish and wildlife and their habitats through damage to vegetation and water quality, increased erosion and compaction, increased numbers of illegally created trails, decreased hunting and other recreational opportunities for other users of public lands, noise pollution, displacement of wildlife, spread of weeds and invasive species, reduced fish and wildlife reproduction success due to stress, disturbance of breeding and rearing habitat, and loss of wildlife security; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation continues to support the responsible use and enjoyment of our public lands by all;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation at its Annual Meeting assembled April 4-6, 2001 in Washington, DC, urges significantly increased efforts on the part of public land management agencies to ensure that OHV use does not result in substantive adverse impacts to fish and wildlife populations and their habitat, in particular, special status species and areas of high ecological value such as wetlands and streams; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation encourages public land management agencies to work with all affected parties to develop resource/area specific, fair, comprehensive, and effectively managed OHV travel plans that; (1) promote sustainable recreational opportunities and levels of use, (2) ensure reasonable, equitable, and appropriate opportunities by recreationists of diverse interests, (3) minimize conflicts among the varied users of public lands, (4) address restrictions on use during critical seasons and conditions, (5) identify specific measures (and their costs) needed to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitat, (6) clearly identify which trails are open for use and by what types of vehicles, and (7) describe existing and proposed penalties for damaging habitat, traveling in restricted areas, disrupting hunting, and dislocating wildlife; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports OHV use limits that are clear, reasonable, enforceable, and based on the affected natural resources; and supports the promulgation of regulations (after obtaining public input) that restrict OHV use to designated vehicles, sites and posted trails; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports efforts to increase federal and state funding for enforcement of existing and any required new regulations, restoring damaged habitat, improving trails, posting signs, and educating users.