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Got this in an email from the AMA:

A08023
June 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete terHorst
Telephone: (877) 877-8969
E-mail: peter.terhorst@sympoint.com
High resolution image available

AMA tells Congress that more money and personnel are needed to responsibly manage motorized recreation on public lands

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Countering criticism that off-highway vehicles damage public land, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) told a congressional committee on June 5 that lawmakers need to provide more people and money for federal agencies to responsibly allow for varied uses of the land.

Testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, also said that active management of different forms of recreation on federal public land is needed rather than trying to cut the costs of management or eliminating motorized trails.

"In both cases, everybody loses," he said. "What we have yet to see is the adoption of full-scale active management, a truly collaborative approach and the budgets and people to accomplish an achievable multiple-use mission.

"The motorized recreation community has a long history of volunteerism and is already helping public land managers by maintaining trails, promoting ethical use and advocating for appropriate funding levels," he said.

Other organizations that testified or submitted written testimony include the BlueRibbon Coalition, Trout Unlimited, the Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association, The Wilderness Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Moreland pointed out that millions of Americans enjoy motorized recreation, and while the number has increased significantly in the past several years, funding, management and recreation opportunities have decreased.

"This has led to more concentrated impacts on those areas where OHV recreation is still allowed, increased the burden on land management staff and contributed to user conflicts," he said. "We recognize that this type of growth presents many unique challenges for public land managers. Additionally, as a primary stakeholder, the recreation community enjoys an impressive track record of collaborating with other users as well as land managers to create workable solutions."

During his testimony, Moreland also raised particular concerns about the designated motorized-route plans that each national forest is creating. The agencies were given tight deadlines to produce those plans but weren't given more money or people to do it and the federal Bureau of Land Management may soon face similar challenges.

"An inventory system that fails to provide adequate time and funding to do the job right is destined to fail," he said. "We urge the committee to be cautious as you consider similar planning for other land management agencies."

In his testimony, Greg Mumm, executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition, noted that besides using OHVs just for riding, people also use them to reach remote areas for hunting, fishing, mountain biking and hiking.

"These enthusiasts benefit from using the very same roads, trails and areas as those who enjoy OHV recreation by itself," he said. "This 'shared use' activity takes place regularly. Virtually every public land user is motorized at some point in their visits to federal lands and it is simply a question of where they depart from their vehicle."

Mumm also noted that the economic benefits of OHV use can't be ignored. For example, a California state report in 2007 said that OHV recreation in the state pumped an estimated $9 billion into the state's economy every year. In Arizona, OHV use generated nearly $3 billion in retail sales in 2002. He added that the demand for public places to ride is increasing while the opportunities are limited.

"There are solutions to these challenges through appropriate planning, maintenance and monitoring," Mumm said. "Active management for OHV recreation activities is the key, and there are many working examples."

Moreland concurred. "While it remains incumbent upon the agencies to provide a managed setting for recreation, and a forum for users to engage in the debate and help provide resources, education and expertise, it is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that the agencies have sufficient resources to accomplish their mission."
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John Brunsgaard
14 KTM 250XCW Six Days, 06 KTM 300XCW, 98 KTM 125EXC