Off-road vehicle ban called for in Alberta's parks and public places

A conservationist andformersuperintendent for Banff National Park isconcerned about the destruction caused by off-road vehicles in the province.

Kevin Van Tighem is part of a coalition of individuals andenvironmental groups calling for strict limits on off-road vehicles on public land and bans in parks and protected areas. Hetold CBC'sAlberta@Noonthat anyone who has visited the headwaters of the Bull or Oldman rivers would be horrified by the damage caused.

"It's not what I believe, it's what I see," Van Tighemsaid this week."It's sort of like a spreading level of sheerdevastation."

• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Radar testing accurate, say Calgary police after CBC News probe
• MORE CALGARY NEWS |Human rights tribunal ruling should prompt overhaul of funding formula, says prof

Van Tighemis particularly concerned about the use of quads and other motorized vehicles in protected wilderness areas on the Eastern Slopes, including the new parks in the Castle Wilderness area ofsouthwestern Alberta.

Part of the problemis that outside of parks, there is no regulation about what riders can do.

"It's just a dog's breakfast, you can do whatever you like. And they do," Van Tighem said.

A callfor provincial leadership

But Van Tighem is careful to point out his problem is with the regulator, not the rider.

"A lot ofoff-roadersreally care about nature, they don't want to be causing harm. But they haven't been given proper facilities.... Current government inaction has got them unable to be part of the solution."

Worse still, he said is that the province's newly planned provincial park in the Castle region will continue to allow off-road vehicles despite its designation as a park.

The Minister of Environment and ParksShannon Phillips said she is still looking forward to hearing all points of view on this issue.

"As we move forward with our park management process for the Castle area we are committed to the protection of the headwaters, as well as critical fish and wildlife habitat," Phillips said in a statement to CBC News.

CBC Calgary contacted theAlberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and had not heard back by the time this story was published.