National OHV organizations hold land-use forum in conjunction with SEMA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Leaders from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and other national organizations met in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 6, to discuss a variety of land-use issues affecting off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. The meeting was held in conjunction with the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) convention in Las Vegas.
 
In addition to the AMA and the AMA's sister organization, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association, stakeholder organizations represented included the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, Americans For Responsible Recreational Access, the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Motorcycle Industry Council, the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, the Off-Road Business Association, the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and Tread Lightly!

This is the third forum that the groups have held in 2008. This meeting focused on the recent federal election results and their impact on recreational access issues, as well as the priorities and challenges facing OHV recreation in the 111th Congress. Also discussed were strategies to address the upcoming Recreational Trails Program reauthorization, and the on-going U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Route Designation process.
 
The organizations represented believe that it is useful to periodically discuss and explore areas where they share a common interest. Recognizing that each organization has a separate mission in representing its distinct membership, communicating with each other serves to strengthen advocacy efforts for OHV recreation.
 
"The AMA values its partnerships a great deal," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "Working together is the only way the AMA and our partners can meet the public lands access challenges before us. Meeting and sharing ideas and resources helps us address these challenges with a united front, and it amplifies our collective voice when advocating for continued responsible access to public lands."