chance to increase and extend resources available for 

 outdoor recreational activities. For example, addi- 

 tional rights-of-way and land acquisition are needed 

 in the Northeast to continue its network of cross- 

 country ski trails. 



Providing improved information and education 

 opportunities for outdoor recreationists is also an 

 important opportunity for improving the use of forest 

 and range lands. An informed, educated public could 

 result in more self-regulation and greater user satis- 

 faction. Public information on where to go, how to 

 get there, and what conditions to expect could be 

 provided in the form of maps, signs, and verbal 

 communication. Information could also be made 

 readily available to visitors by establishing informa- 

 tion arrival stations, dispensing pamphlets, bulletins, 

 and cassette tapes. 



Opportunities to improve cooperative efforts — 

 Cooperative efforts by government agencies, private 

 interests, and individuals — whether in technical 

 assistance or coordinated planning — is one means by 

 which a greater abundance of recreational opportuni- 

 ties can be provided. In the past, the interest and 

 involvement of private individuals and organizations 

 at the grassroots level has helped to stimulate legisla- 

 tion resulting in the designation, development, and 

 protection of the recreation resource. The Appalachian 

 Mountain Club, for example, has been a constructive 

 force in developing and protecting the Appalachian 

 Trail, while other organizations like the American 

 Camping Association have generated pressures influ- 

 encing public policy on resource management. 



A program to exchange technical information and 

 research findings can also help to improve recrea- 

 tional opportunities. Standards, technologies, and 

 designs developed by one agency that enhance recrea- 

 tional opportunities could be utilized by others. 

 Opportunities for expanding expertise include: the 

 establishment of management objectives to ensure the 

 maintenance of visual quality; the design and con- 

 struction of roads, trails, campgrounds, and winter 

 sports complexes to provide a variety of outdoor 

 experiences; and the modification of operations and 

 the provision of additional facilities to expand the 

 recreational use of reservoirs. 



Equally important, private landowners can con- 

 tribute to the availability of lands suitable for recrea- 

 tion use. Some public corporations have opened their 

 forest and range lands to public recreation while con- 

 tinuing their business operations. These landowners 

 include the Southern Paper Corporation, which has 

 set aside several scenic "pocket wilderness" areas cov- 

 ering 1,636 acres and 29 miles of trail. 



Forest industry organizations have also made 



Improving access to forest and range lands and waters is one way of 

 meeting projected increases in demands. 



significant contributions to the current recreation re- 

 source supply. The Texas Forest Association is one 

 such organization. Working with six forest product 

 companies and several individual landowners, it has 

 established a system of woodland trails throughout 

 eastern Texas. 



However, more needs to be done if future demands 

 for outdoor recreation are to be met. Cooperative 

 Federal and State assistance to individual landowners 

 can help meet the growing future demand for recrea- 

 tion by adding to the recreation resource base. Nearly 

 two-thirds of the privately owned forest and range 

 lands in the United States is closed to the general 

 public for recreational use. To make this land more 

 accessible and to prevent future closure, problems 

 which now confront landowners must be reduced or 

 eliminated. Among owners with land not open to 

 public recreation, the most cited reason for closure 

 has been interference with other activities. Assistance 

 in activity coordination might help to open more 

 lands to users. 



Other reasons for not opening private land to pub- 

 lic use have been property damage, disturbance of 

 privacy, and wildlife disturbance. Cooperative pro- 

 grams to reduce these problems and to promote the 

 expanded involvement of landowners could include 

 educating potential users on an appropriate "use 



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