I agree...fragmentation is not sustainable to the other life that we share the planet with...this must be done in a manner that places conservation first.... are you aware of any campaigns to ensure this?
There does not appear to be a long term plan for managing recreational use on crown lands.
In K country, trails and back country campgrounds were built in the 80s and never maintained and very few new trails built, despite huge increases in use. The result is eroded, crumbling trails, unsustainable user built trails, run down campgrounds, over crowded parking lots in weird places, and chaos every weekend.
The random camping scene is a disaster, obviously campground facilities with toilets and garbage disposal are needed, but where and how many do you build and how do you take away random camping privileges that are regarded as a right?
The national parks have decided to restrict use, limiting access and parking, decommissioning trails and bridges. Obviously something had to be done to manage visitor numbers and I don't envy those planners who are forced to make difficult and unpopular decisions. We end up paying more for even less access.
I am afraid that instead of building facilities to distribute use, we are going to see the opposite tactic,
restricting access and parking, and trying to push people into manicured roadside visitor centres and picnic areas, and keep us out of the back country, where we just cause problems anyway.
Speaking as a neighbor to the south, seems like it’s a question of property. In the US, 95% of park visitors only ever set foot on 1% of the land. Most never go more than half a mile from the closest parking lot.
Maybe it’s time for an awareness campaign to highlight lesser known areas of existing parks
I agree...fragmentation is not sustainable to the other life that we share the planet with...this must be done in a manner that places conservation first.... are you aware of any campaigns to ensure this?
There does not appear to be a long term plan for managing recreational use on crown lands.
In K country, trails and back country campgrounds were built in the 80s and never maintained and very few new trails built, despite huge increases in use. The result is eroded, crumbling trails, unsustainable user built trails, run down campgrounds, over crowded parking lots in weird places, and chaos every weekend.
The random camping scene is a disaster, obviously campground facilities with toilets and garbage disposal are needed, but where and how many do you build and how do you take away random camping privileges that are regarded as a right?
The national parks have decided to restrict use, limiting access and parking, decommissioning trails and bridges. Obviously something had to be done to manage visitor numbers and I don't envy those planners who are forced to make difficult and unpopular decisions. We end up paying more for even less access.
I am afraid that instead of building facilities to distribute use, we are going to see the opposite tactic,
restricting access and parking, and trying to push people into manicured roadside visitor centres and picnic areas, and keep us out of the back country, where we just cause problems anyway.
With the government shift of ministries and other news, I am gravely concerned about Forestry Parks Tourism’s approach, even with this announcement.
Speaking as a neighbor to the south, seems like it’s a question of property. In the US, 95% of park visitors only ever set foot on 1% of the land. Most never go more than half a mile from the closest parking lot.
Maybe it’s time for an awareness campaign to highlight lesser known areas of existing parks