The point was well made above that even well managed ORV use has serious impacts, and illustrating them is not "smearing" ORV users. Here in Montana I've had many conversations with ORV users and they can be polite, even amiable folks. However, that does not mean their use is benign, and illustrating this fact is not showing just the "few bad apples."
All recreation has ecological impacts, but ORV use is inherently destructive, and does not require malicious intent to cause harm. Motorized use is harder on our natural landscapes that other forms of public recreation; its impacts are disproportionate to its use. In other words, how may hikers would it take to cause similar impacts as an ORV user? Answering this question does not mean vilifying ORV users, it simply requires being honest and recognizing even the most well managed ORV use will still have impacts. If those managed impacts cause significant ecological harm, then such use should be stopped.
Laurel's pictures effectively demonstrate not only the harm managed ORV recreation has, but the need to protect fragile landscapes.
Adam Rissien
Montana ORV Coordinator
Wildlands CPR
PO Box 7516
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 543-9551 www.wildlandscpr.org
"Pursuit of the idea that no human should be treated like dirt has led us to reconsider how we treat the dirt" - Edward Johnson
In Context
The point was well made above that even well managed ORV use has serious impacts, and illustrating them is not "smearing" ORV users. Here in Montana I've had many conversations with ORV users and they can be polite, even amiable folks. However, that does not mean their use is benign, and illustrating this fact is not showing just the "few bad apples."
All recreation has ecological impacts, but ORV use is inherently destructive, and does not require malicious intent to cause harm. Motorized use is harder on our natural landscapes that other forms of public recreation; its impacts are disproportionate to its use. In other words, how may hikers would it take to cause similar impacts as an ORV user? Answering this question does not mean vilifying ORV users, it simply requires being honest and recognizing even the most well managed ORV use will still have impacts. If those managed impacts cause significant ecological harm, then such use should be stopped.
Laurel's pictures effectively demonstrate not only the harm managed ORV recreation has, but the need to protect fragile landscapes.
Adam Rissien
Montana ORV Coordinator
Wildlands CPR
PO Box 7516
Missoula, MT 59807
(406) 543-9551
www.wildlandscpr.org
"Pursuit of the idea that no human should be treated like dirt has led us to reconsider how we treat the dirt" - Edward Johnson