Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter to respond to the front page article in the March 18 edition of the Osoyoos Times about the government’s request for consultation with all motorized vehicle users.
I was one of the members of the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) table.
There appears to be a lack of knowledge that the ATV riders, hunters and many other factions were represented at the LRMP.
The LRMP certainly had a major role in the protection of our unique and critically endangered landscape and species by recommending that only non-mechanized vehicles be allowed in the grasslands and other sensitive areas.
We all agreed to this and the motorized recreation representative signed off on behalf of all the ATV riders.
This also means that hunters must hunt on foot in these areas.
In the ensuing years we have seen a steady increase in all users in South Okanagan-Similkameen grasslands (the site of the proposed national park) and on sensitive sites like Oliver Mountain and the Osoyoos Bench.
Oliver Mountain was identified in the LRMP as a future Provincial Park, yet it is being trashed by ATV riders.
Many of the people who were at the meetings in Osoyoos and Oliver adamantly oppose the national park and a provincial park at Oliver Mountain.
We should, in my opinion, strive to leave these areas as they are so that all future generations can also enjoy them.
Thank you.
Harry Nielsen
Penticton, B.C.
