by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
One day isn’t a substitute for a full year. Or a lifetime.
But string enough of those ‘one day’ things together, and soon enough you’ll start getting somewhere.
Today, Tuesday, April 22, is marked as the annual Earth Day. A day to inspire action from individuals, businesses and governments to all help safeguard the planet. The truth, though, is that the day shouldn’t live in some vacuum, only activated or thought about once a year.
For all those who participate, this day should be a ‘jumping off’ point for everyone to instigate a lifetime of action.
As Jeep enthusiasts, there will always be that thrill of hitting the trail, climbing rock ledges and overcoming whatever stands in the way.
The chance to head out into the wilderness and discover all that is out there.
Well, with all that freedom to explore comes responsibility. And it is up to everyone to ensure that wilderness remains just as special when coming off the trail as it was upon arrival.
It can be as simple as policing your surrounding area, making sure trash and other leftover stuff like empty soda cans or water bottles find designated garbage or recycling spots.
For some, the concept means a bit more like partnering with active local, regional, or national groups and participating in events and rallies, maybe even working to help push through new environmental legislation to safeguard areas like wetlands and sensitive beach landscapes.
Earth Day began back in 1970, when an estimated 20 million people took to the streets in protest of plenty of bad stuff happening in the environment. It was also the culmination of weeks of work by Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Senator, and a graduate student named Denis Hayes. Both were moved to action following a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
Following this first Earth Day, things did begin to change. Laws emerged to help protect our environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency was formed.
This year, Tuesday's Earth Day marks its 55th incarnation, and the event now annually brings together over a billion people in 190 countries who participate in educational, public policy and activism campaigns.
This year’s theme is Our Power, Our Planet—a call for everyone to unite around renewable energy to triple clean electricity output by 2030.
"The strength of this movement lies in its grassroots nature, and our power as individuals,” said earthday.org in a news release. “It’s the collective voice of concerned citizens that pushes governments and corporations to make bold commitments and take decisive action.
”By engaging in community initiatives, participating in local and national elections with renewable energy in mind, and making sustainable choices in daily life, individuals are the catalysts for change.”
The off-road community, whether Jeep enthusiasts, Ford, Toyota, Chevy, or whatever, can play a huge role in environmental protection. Off-roaders are avid users and supporters of all types of outdoor activities, including a day on the trails, a scenic afternoon drive, or camping out for the weekend. But the way off-roaders interact with the environment – the way they leave it when the weekend or trip is over – defines them as individuals and off-roaders.
At Quadratec, we enjoy spending time off-road and try to do our part whenever we step outside. Whether it is a small gesture like picking up a piece of trash or can we see along the trail, or making sure all our Jeeps’ tires are aired up properly for maximum fuel efficiency — to our efforts with Tread Lightly! and local off-road parks such as Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area — our goal is to seize the initiative and change our world for the better.
Recently, we participated in the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, and joined up with our Tread Lightly! friends and others for a trail restoration day on the Top of the World Trail. Over 40 volunteers helped construct buck-and-rail fencing to eliminate off-trail driving in an area where several routes converge, while helping protect important land conservation areas.
Over the years at EJS, we’ve participated in plenty of these Tread Lightly! projects that restored important historical areas, trimmed away invasive brush and sucked up plenty of discarded trash.
We even created our 50-state, 50-trail initiative that helped fund 50 trail improvement projects, one in each state, over two years. This project removed nearly 125,000 pounds of trash and fixed up over 900 miles of trails across the country.
Tread Lightly!, a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to protecting the great outdoors, provides a great example for anyone interested in taking their vehicle off-road. The company's philosophy includes:
- Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails, and areas. 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.
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 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.
Before any trip, check for fluid leaks like oil, transmission, or coolant. Little drips may seem minor, but they can quickly damage fragile ecosystems.
For those interested in helping, 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.
Recommended Reading:
Quadratec 50-state, 50-trail Stewardship Initiative
Moab, Utah's Top 10 Off-Road Trails
All-Terrain vs. Mud-Terrain Tires: Choosing the Right Tire for Your Adventure
