Safe Riders! Love this planet
The snowmobile community is a family of outdoor recreationists who enjoy the
outdoors and understand the importance of proper stewardship of our land.
Snowmobilers have been quiet in promoting their environmental accomplishments.
Now we are highlighting the land stewardship programs we have created and
participated in.
To assist snowmobilers in "telling the truth" about our environmental
stewardship of the land, we are expanding the Safe Riders! program to include
land stewardship activism. The expansion of our Safe Riders! position
statement is: Safe Riders! Love this planet. The updated logo and
campaign position statement is designed to draw attention to the many great
stewardship programs snowmobilers have initiated. The Safe Riders! safety
campaign has achieved a high level of recognition over the past 8 years and an
extension of the campaign simply makes sense.
Snowmobilers are comfortable in the woods and studies indicate that wild animal
travel patterns are not affected by winter snowmobile use. Studies
comparing the reaction of deer to the presence of cross-country skiers and
snowmobilers have been conducted by a number of Universities. The studies
have found that when cross-country skiers glide down a cross-country ski trail,
the deer move away from the trail much more frequently and quicker than when a
snowmobile is used on the same trail system.
Snowmobile use does not adversely affect ungulate populations in North America.
In study after study, whether dealing with wolf populations, deer populations,
elk populations or bison populations, it has been determined that snowmobiles do
not negatively impact on the animals' behavior, survival or their migratory
habits.
For more than 30 years, snowmobilers have been riding with nature and working to
keep it beautiful, healthy and thriving. Today, responsible snowmobiling
is more important than ever and it is important for us to tell our story.
Snowmobiles are "Over-the-snow" vehicles, which do not leave any
lasting tracks. Snowmobiles are ridden over a cushion of snow, and do not
physically touch the earth upon which we are riding. It has been
proven that snowmobiles generate only 6% of the pressure on the earth's surface
compared to a backpacker when hiking over the same trail.
Snowmobilers have developed an extensive trail system that takes us to wonderful
vistas and great open riding areas. Our clubs and volunteers maintain the
trail systems and when the snow melts, there are virtually no tracks and or
remnants of our snowmobiling through the woods. Snowmobilers build and
maintain high quality bridges over streams and rivers that are used by
snowmobilers in the winter and hikers and bicyclists in the spring and summer
months. During the fall and spring of each year, we meticulously clean and
improve the trails to ensure that environmental degradation and erosion does not
occur.
Snowmobilers are tree planters and great forest stewards. Throughout North
America we have worked with the Boy Scouts Organization and state and US
Foresters in planting thousands of trees.
Snowmobilers have historically supported the adaptive management of healthy
forests and the proper maintenance of primitive roads to assist in fire fighting
activities and maintaining and controlling the health of our forests.
Snowmobilers are aware that our forests produce not only great recreational
activity for all outdoor enthusiasts, but they also provide the much needed
renewable resource of wood used in building affordable homes for humanity and
hospitals for our sick and elderly.
Snowmobilers respect sensitive areas and understand the need to have certain
areas set aside for Designated Wilderness. Yes, snowmobilers are active
environmentalists that truly "love the planet."
The Safe Riders! Love this planet logo is readily available to all
interested parties for their use. Visit the ISMA web site : www.snowmobile.org
for additional information on the Safe Riders! campaign. A specially
created Love this planet poster will soon be presented to the general public.
The poster will help us spread the word and tell the truth that snowmobilers are
caring, stewards of the land, who have contributed greatly to the maintenance
and improvement of our public and private lands.
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