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Tread Lightly news release

Postby Treasurer » Fri Jun 24, 2005 2:01 pm

Tread Lightly! News Release

Contact: Monica Clay, (801) 699-9429
OR National Forest Foundation, Kimberley Collins (850) 321-5549

TREAD LIGHTLY! RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO KEY FOREST SERVICE
THREAT

(June 24, 2005) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Because Tread Lightly!® is
successfully
identifying solutions to a key threat to US Forest System Lands, the
National Forest Foundation highlighted the organization in the US
Forest
Service Centennial Celebration in Washington D.C. today.

The National Forest Foundation brought together four partners to
discuss the
four major threats identified by Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth as
having the greatest impact on the health of our Nation’s forests and
grasslands. The four threats are fire and fuels, invasive species,
loss of
open space and unmanaged recreation.

The nonprofit Tread Lightly! has been recognized for its aid in
confronting
the threat of unmanaged recreation—-especially regarding the use of
motorized vehicles on public land.

The organization has developed a variety of educational materials,
training
opportunities, communication pieces and restoration initiatives to
allow
government employees to better manage recreation. It focuses its
efforts on
motorized and mechanized recreation.

“It’s a honor to have Tread Lightly! highlighted as a partner actively
engaged in collaborating to implement solutions to the threat of
unmanaged
recreation,” said Lori Davis, Tread Lightly!’s executive director.

One of the fastest growing forms of outdoor recreation involves the use
of
motorized vehicles or OHVs, having risen sevenfold in less than three
decades – from about 5 million in 1972 to almost 36 million in 2000 on
National Forest System lands alone, cited Davis.

“Ensuring our natural resources survive intact for future generations
is an
immense challenge,” said Davis. “Sustaining recreation into the future
will
require continued smart, flexible and visionary management and the need
to
nurture and grow collaborative partnerships.”

Specifically, Davis discussed Tread Trainer™, a “train-the-trainer”
program
which trains government employees, safety instructors, organization
leaders
and outdoor enthusiasts to train others about responsible recreation
practices.

A “train-the-trainer” program was a primary recommendation in the
conclusions of the Forest Service’s OHV study conducted this past year.

Also recognized at the centennial celebration was Marshal Case from the
American Chestnut Foundation addressing invasive species, Kathy
DeCoster
from the Trust for Public Land addressing loss of open space, and Diane
Snyder from Wallowa Resources addressing fire and fuels.

“Today’s event clearly demonstrated how collaboration is the most
important
part of conserving our National Forests,” said Bill Possiel, president
of
the National Forest Foundation. “Several members of the conservation
community came together to recognize the Forest Service’s 100th year
and to
celebrate the power of collaboration.”

The National Forest Foundation, who hosted the event, was chartered by
Congress and engages America in community-based and national programs
that
promote the health and public enjoyment of the 192-million-acre
National
Forest System. It also administers private gifts of funds and land for
the
benefit of the National Forests.



Tread Lightly!(R) is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is
to
empower generations to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Tread
Lightly!’s
strategic educational message, along with its training and restoration
initiatives are designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in
outdoor
enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is
long-term in
scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor
recreation with the needs of the environment. Tread Lightly! offers
unique
programs and services to help remedy current recreation issues. In
2003,
the federal government recognized this by acknowledging Tread Lightly!
as a
sole-source service provider of education and training on how to be
environmentally and socially responsible while using motorized and
mechanized vehicles in off-highway settings.

###
Steve N.
Treasurer NEA4WDC
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Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:38 am
Location: Nashua NH

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