National Forest visits down 13%
According to the National Forest Service and the Associated Press, visits to US National Forests declined 13% between the periods 2000-2003 and 2003-2007. This decline comes despite the fact that the overall population in the US grew between 2000 and 2007 making the drop in visits even more precipitous.
It sounds like the National Forest Service and informed observers aren’t exactly sure about the reasons for the decline but there are a few guesses out there. Younger generations are spending more and more time in front of the computer and video games and even some adults find the idea of going somewhere without internet or Blackberry access a little old-fashioned. And as the US population becomes more diverse and clustered around urban centers, National Forest areas are increasingly seen as distant and inaccessible.
It also doesn’t help that investment in National Forest recreation areas like campgrounds and hiking trails has steadily declined over the years despite a booming population. Other observers point to the fees charged at some National Forest recreation areas as a deterrent to visitors but I don’t buy that argument - most people can afford a $3 parking fee to go hiking or $15 for a campground. Nope, since much of the US population is centered around urban city centers the biggest cost to visiting a National Forest is gas!
Still others argue that visits to National Forests are down due to a small group of obnoxious recreational users riding noisy off-road vehicles. Clearly this could be a deterrent to some visitors and I can say from experience that I often avoid National Forest areas where I know ATVs are in use or where gun enthusiasts like to take target practice. In some places like Yellowstone there have been limits placed on noisy snowmobiles and it certainly wasn’t a popular decision with everyone involved. It would be interesting to see how those limits have affected overall park visitation…
One of the biggest concerns with this drop in National Forest visits is that if fewer people visit our forests, fewer people will value them. This could one day open the door for more drilling, logging, mining, etc. and could diminish our hiking, camping, boating, and biking opportunities even further.
So, if you haven’t made a visit to a National Forest lately, show America you care and that you still value the recreational opportunities our forests afford. If we don’t start using our National Forests for recreation more they just might not be around for future generations to enjoy!
Related posts: