Integrating social and natural resource information to improve planning for motorized recreation

Abstract

Throughout the United States and other countries, motorized recreation has become a dominant recreation use of the landscape. In response, social scientists worked to understand who off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders were, while natural resource scientists worked to document and mitigate natural resource impacts that were resulting from unmanaged OHV recreation. The purpose of this study was to examine both social and natural resource aspects of landscape planning as it relates to OHV management. Specifically, this study sought to expand the current knowledge base of who OHV riders were by examining the potential for conflict between all-terrain vehicle riders, off-highway motorcycle riders, and four-wheel drive operators. In addition, the potential for conflict between rider groups was examined spatially based on riders stated resource preferences. The outcome of this process provides managers with a set of maps that can be used within the planning process to help reduce potential conflict between riders, increase rider enjoyment, and meet conservation goals of an agency.