What impact do ATVs have on public lands?
The Long Island Central Pine Barrens Preserve is intended to protect the areas natural resources and underlying drinking water aquifer. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have become a very serious threat to the Preserve and other natural areas. * There are many sensitive habitats (e.g. coastal plain pond shorelines) in the Pine Barrens containing rare species of plants and animals that are being degraded or destroyed by ATVs. * Noise, dust, and fumes from ATVs are not only unhealthy but are very stressful to wildlife, and can also spoil an outdoor experience for other users of public land. * Erosion caused by ATVs ruins hiking and mountain biking trails as well as fragments and degrades natural ecosystems. * The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that there have been over 4,541 ATV-related deaths since 1985. The American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons considers ATVs to be a significant health risk. In 2001, the number of ATV-related injuries requiring emergency room servic
