Group opposes Recreational Trails
Program
Can you say "Trails of Destruction"?
By Stuart Macdonald
Anyone who values the recent increases in federal
funding for trails should take a look at anti-trails
propaganda recently posted on the web by a group
called Friends of the Earth (FOE). The "Trails of
Destruction Home Page" can be viewed at:
http://www.foe.org/trails/
"Trails of Destruction" purports to document
the threat of off-highway vehicles to the environment,
but overlooks the fact that federal funding spent
on OHV routes goes almost entirely for maintenance,
environmental improvements, and management. It includes
statements about the Recreational Trails Program,
as well as state trail grants programs-- some accurate,
some fanciful, some completely wrong. Then the report
jumps to some wild conclusions, such as: "Based
on surveys and recreational needs identified by
state agencies, the Symms Act favors ORV activities
users at the expense of hikers and other non-motorized
trail users."
"When off-roaders want to slash a new trail through
a pristine forest, millions of your tax dollars
are at their disposal," says a fundraising letter
from FOE. " You can help reclaim your public lands
and stop wasteful subsidies to the off-road vehicle
lobby by rushing a special contribution to Friends
of the Earth today."
Anyone is welcome to argue for or against any
particular use of our public lands. But denying
the states funding for all trails in order to keep
them from putting money into OHV management is silly.
However, the breathless tone of conspiracy may also
help raise funds from those eager to believe in
it.
You can contact Friends of the Earth at:
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20005
Ph: 202-783-7400
Fax: 202-783-0444
4512 University Way, NE
Seattle, Washington 98105
Ph: 206-633-1661
Fax: 206-633-1935
More information on trails
and current issues is available on the
American Trails website.
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