by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
The whole thing began more than 50 years ago. One idea, started by people who believed the world was headed in the wrong direction.
It started at a time when tons of pollution filled the air and our lands were becoming more and more poisoned. And all these things were negatively affecting our children.
They called it Earth Day, that April 22nd back in 1970. Millions took to the streets in protest of everything bad happening in the environment. Over the years, things did begin to change. Laws emerged to help protect our environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency was formed.
This year, Thursday's Earth Day marks its 51st incarnation and while there will certainly be events throughout the world aimed at environmental goals, the vast majority of the day this year is about virtual learning to drive eduation on a variety of topics like climate action, conservation and restoration, as well as plastic and pollution.
The off road community, no matter if it’s Jeep enthusiasts, Ford, Toyota, Chevy, or whatever, can also play a huge role in environmental protection. Off roaders are avid users and supporters of all types of outdoors activities. It may be a day on the trails, a scenic afternoon drive, or camping out for the weekend. But the way we interact with our environment – the way we leave it when the weekend or trip is over – defines us as individuals as well as off roaders.
At Quadratec, we try to do our part every time we step outside. Whether it is a small gesture like picking up a piece of trash we see blowing around, or making sure our tires are aired up properly for maximum fuel efficiency — all the way to our efforts with Tread Lightly! and others like Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, to repair and reinvigorate the great trails we love — our goal is to seize the initiative and change our world for the better.
Tread Lightly!, a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to protecting the great outdoors, provides a great example to follow for anyone who is interested in taking their vehicle off road. The company's philosophy includes:
- Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails and area. Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. when possible, avoid wet, muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.
- Respect the Rights of Others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers and those on or near shore.
- Educate Yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes and know how to operate your equipment safely.
- Avoid Sensitive Areas on land such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don’t disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shorelines at high speeds.
- Do Your Part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas.
Additionally, like so many other Jeep clubs and individuals across the country, we've joined Tread Lightly! and participated in several trail cleanup events out in Moab, Utah - with the more recent ones helping trim invasive tamarisk and install signage on Hey Joe Canyon trail, while also putting down fencing and signage on Hells Revenge. We've also helped sponsored trail cleanups at Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.
Even if you are not currently involved with trail assistance programs or environmental action, there are several things you can still do to help keep Earth Day relevant all year, while assisting the environment at the same time. Things like growing your own food, striving to go paperless, planting a tree, carpooling – even drinking less bottled water to cut down on plastic waste – are all great ways to keep the spirit of Earth Day going throughout the year.
For those interested in helping out, check your local Jeep club or off-road park as they often schedule trail cleanup events that you can join. Also, consider donating to Tread Lightly! as every dollar helps them better accomplish their mission.
