IMPACTS OF RECREATION ON FOREST ECOSYSTEMS
Overview:
Forest-based recreation activities are increasing with more people taking part in both motorized and non-motorized activities. Different recreation activities place varying levels and types of pressure on forests. These pressures can be concentrated (e.g., mountain bike trails) or diffuse (e.g., cutting for ski glades), with potential impacts on forest hydrology, soils, invasive species propagation, wildlife movement, tree regeneration and health. Monitoring and analysis of forest health impacts by recreational activities in the Northeast is limited, but of growing interest to land managers.
Project Objective:
The purpose of this project is to assess connections between recreation and forest health spatially, identifying locations with high risk for forest health impact from recreation. Relative impacts of different recreation types will be analyzed to provide land managers with information about what types of forest health impacts may result from recreation on the land. A complementary and simultaneous effort will explore different approaches for monitoring these impacts.
Previous Activities
The question of how recreation activities impact forest health has been posed by many FEMC partners and highlighted as a need by the Steering Committee and State Partnership Committees. To address these questions, FEMC led exploratory activities in 2022, including conducting a literature review of monitoring recreation activities in the Northeast U.S. This literature review revealed a gap in available data and knowledge on the specific question about impacts by recreation on forest health. Individual conversations were had with experts in forest health and recreation to further clarify the challenges and needs across the region.
Specific outputs from these previous activities include a completed literature review, report summarizing the expert conversations, and relationships built with these experts. In 2023, we will use this preliminary work to continue answering questions about recreational impacts on forest health. Outputs planned from ongoing work will include the creation of a GIS map of use-type categorized trails with high-risk trail areas identified, as well as recommendations for monitoring methods that can be used by land managers. Working groups will provide guidance for the development of these outputs.
Opportunities to Contribute
FEMC will be forming two working groups to achieve program objectives. More information about each of these working groups is available in the Recreation Impacts Working Group and Recreation Monitoring Working Group tabs. If you would like to be involved, please reach out to Elissa Schuett (Elissa.Schuett@uvm.edu).
Overview:
FEMC Working Groups provide input on the development and progress of active FEMC projects. FEMC staff organize and lead the working groups by inviting cooperators to join, defining project objectives, and developing plans to achieve the objectives.
Working Group Objective:
The Recreation Impacts Working Group will consist of 6-8 individuals who have interest and expertise in managing land for recreation. A variety of types of recreation will be considered for inclusion in the analysis, such as hiking, camping, mountain biking, and skiing, among others. The working group will provide input on how to define risk and relative impact by each assessed type of recreation.
FEMC staff will use the guidance provided by the working group to develop a regional map of trails that includes types of recreation and areas at high risk for impact by recreation. As part of this effort, FEMC staff will also develop a matrix of relative impact by recreation type.
Working Group Outputs
The working group will provide known resources for use by FEMC staff in developing a trail map, will aid in developing the relative impact matrix, and generate reporting products. The working group will have the opportunity to review the final products FEMC staff create.
For more information about participating on this Working Group, please review the Recreation Impacts Working Group document and the FEMC Working Group Expectations document. You are welcome to contact Elissa Schuett (Elissa.Schuett@uvm.edu) with any questions.
Overview:
FEMC Working Groups provide input on the development and progress of active FEMC projects. FEMC staff organize and lead the working groups by inviting cooperators to join, defining project objectives, and developing plans to achieve the objectives.
Working Group Objective:
The Recreation Monitoring Working Group will consist of 5-7 individuals who have interest and expertise in monitoring and managing land for recreation. A variety of types of monitoring methods will be considered that capture how recreation impacts forest health. A data census among working group members or their network will also be conducted to gather any monitoring data that is already available.
FEMC staff will use the guidance provided by the Working Group to develop a list of monitoring recommendations to answer different questions about recreation impacts.
Working Group Outputs
The Working Group will conduct a review of monitoring methods to identify and implement pilot monitoring at field locations. The monitoring results will be shared back to the FEMC for inclusion in the development of a monitoring recommendations document. The monitoring data will also be gathered in a data census, along with any other available data, to begin developing a data resource.
FEMC may have some resources to support pilot programs in the implementation of monitoring methods, but will be dependent on timing and other needs.
The Working Group will review final products to ensure they meet the Working Group recommendations and provide an accurate analysis of the results.
For more information about participating on this Working Group, please review the Monitoring Recreation Working Group document and the FEMC Working Group Expectations document. You are welcome to contact Elissa Schuett (Elissa.Schuett@uvm.edu) with any questions.