Changes to the Maintenance of Recreation Sites and Trails

[i]The following letter was sent to attendees of a recent meeting with the Ministry of Forests:[/i]

June 3, 2002

Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for attending the meeting on May 15, 2002, to discuss changes in the way forest roads and recreation sites and trails will be managed in the future. Enclosed are the meeting minutes and the overheads presented.

As discussed at the meeting, the Ministry of Forests (MOF) is committeed to the following:

• while gradually phasing out MOF maintenance of forest recreation sites and trails by March 31, 2004, recreation sites and trails will not be dismantled or privatized and will continue to be available for the public to enjoy. Recreation sites and trails will remain open to the public, and only close if there is a significant public safety hazard;
• searching for other partners, such as community groups, recreation user groups, forest companies, First Nations, regional districts, and other parties to take over the management and maintenance of recreation sites and trails;
• managing as many recreation sites and trails in 2002 as possible, in the hope of encouraging partners to take over the future management of these areas. Because some recreation sites and trails will not be maintained, campers and trail users are encouraged to respect the forest environment and only build fires in fire rings and pack out whatever garbage they pack in;
• posting a list of managed and unmanaged sites and trails on the ministry's website and making copies available at MOF offices;
• developing a long term strategy for transferring the responsibility for managing sites and trails to other parties, consisting of the following components:
  • terms & conditions of agreements,
  • agency or government responsible for administering agreements,
  • principles and criteria for awarding agreements, and
  • process and time-lines for advertizing and awarding agreements.
• presenting the strategy to government for approval.

The MOF values your ideas and contributions, as more information develops for how sites and trails will be managed and administered in the long term, we will share this information with you.

Thank you again for your participation at the meeting.