In David Cole’s publication “Resource Impacts Caused by Recreation,” he discusses how recreational uses of wilderness areas can affect the vegetation, wildlife, water, and soil. He talks about how campsites and hikers can trample vegetation and lure in unwanted pest wildlife. Also, fragile tree seedlings often die because they cannot survive under continuous trampling. This leads to less dense forests and loss of tree cover. Additionally, Cole states that off-road vehicles can cause erosion. ORV riders tend to go off trails to areas that have not been driven on. This makes the damage more widespread. Last, Cole says that because of such little knowledge of how plants and animals respond to trampling, it is difficult to make specific rules to protect them.
David Cole’s publication shows that recreation in wilderness areas can cause damage to many aspects that keep the balance of life. Human presence in these areas can trigger a major loss is small vegetation. If small trees cannot grow to be big, there will be nothing to replace the old trees that die. This shows that recreation is bad. Cole asserts, “In wilderness and nature preserves, impacts compromise the objective of preserving natural conditions” (2). What is the point of having national parks if we are not going to save them from harm of consistent use and abuse? Cole’s points give strong emphasis to the need to conserve wilderness.
United States. President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. “Resource Impacts Caused by Recreation.” David N. Cole. Systems for Environmental Management. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/165.pdf
David Cole’s publication shows that recreation in wilderness areas can cause damage to many aspects that keep the balance of life. Human presence in these areas can trigger a major loss is small vegetation. If small trees cannot grow to be big, there will be nothing to replace the old trees that die. This shows that recreation is bad. Cole asserts, “In wilderness and nature preserves, impacts compromise the objective of preserving natural conditions” (2). What is the point of having national parks if we are not going to save them from harm of consistent use and abuse? Cole’s points give strong emphasis to the need to conserve wilderness.
United States. President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. “Resource Impacts Caused by Recreation.” David N. Cole. Systems for Environmental Management. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/165.pdf
