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As one of the nation's oldest independent environmental research organizations, Manomet conducts original research on natural systems and wildlife.   We use our science to bring people together and guide them in the development of practical strategies that improve conditions for wildlife, habitats and people.


Recreation Stewardship Scorecard

For Promoting Recreational Stewardship

in the Northern Forest

 

What is the purpose of the Recreation Stewardship Scorecard?

To provide an objective tool to help recreation users monitor trail impacts and be good stewards of all lands.

 

What can you do with the Recreation Stewardship Scorecard?

 

Land managers and trail user groups can use the Scorecard to objectively measure trails impacts and track improvements.

 

Landowners and trail user groups can set publicly defensible benchmarks for responsible use.

Trail user groups can use the Scorecard to communicate and demonstrate their stewardship values to the public.

Managers can assess the carrying capacity of a trail and plan for upgrades when increasing useage is projected.

 
 

One of nature's greatest services is providing people with places to recreate.

Quality outdoor recreation is vital to the economy and character of the Northern Forest Region. It provides the "second paycheck" that keeps people here and unique experiences that draw visitors from away who support the economy. On the other hand, the U.S. Forest Service has identified public recreation as one of the four greatest threats to forests in the U.S. Hence, controversies about what constitutes appropriate recreational uses are becoming more frequent on both private and public lands.

Private lands in northern forest region have historically provided a significant portion of the land base available for recreation. Here, the conflict is between landowners concerned about recreational impacts, and recreational groups seeking to maintain or expand their recreational access. On public lands, the environmental community is concerned about how the ecological impacts of recreation are managed. For ecological reserves on public lands, there has been a contentious debate as to increase, grandfather, or reduce motorized access.

On both public and private lands, different recreational groups compete with each other for trail space. Tensions everywhere are made worse by competition among recreational groups for trail space, declining public access to private lands, and vulnerable rural economies.

 

At the heart of all these conflicts are negative perceptions about recreational impacts on the forest ecosystem, but there is little hard data to bear that out. Manomet's Recreation Stewardship Scorecard will provide users with a science-based tool for estimating and monitoring the overall ecological impact of trails within a recreational area. The key to having trails on public and private lands is to assure good stewardship so that trails are maintained without damaging the environment.

 

News and Updates:

The Recreation Stewardship Scorecard is hiring for seasonal field positions. See the Employment page for more information. The deadline for applications is March 3, 2008.

 

Web Links:

 

Project Description

 

Brochure on Recreation Stewardship Scorecard

 

List of Collaborators

 

Recreational Resources

 

List of Technical Literature on Recreational Impacts

 

For more information on the Recreation Stewardship Scorecard contact Andrew Whitman or Ethel Wilkerson .


The Recreation Stewardship Scorecard is funded by The Northeastern States Research Cooperative and The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund.

 



Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences
14 Maine Street, Suite 305
Brunswick, ME 04011 USA
phone: (207) 721-9040 · fax: (207) 721-9144

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