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The forest is not just about wooden houses and animals. In addition to the economic and ecological value of the forest, there is also its social value. One of the social functions is the possibility of driving on forest roads to easily reach tourist centers, mushrooms and berries by various means of transportation. However, even in the forest it is necessary to follow driving, decent behavior and established rules and regulations, writes the portal miškininkas.eu.
You need understanding
Valentinas Petravičius, leader of the Šeduva forest district, says that there is a constant dispute between foresters and fans of sharp sensations: drivers in the forest. Fans ask why forest transport can travel in rooms, canals and they cannot.
“The main neighborhood of the forest is like a technological track in the farmer’s field,” says Valentin. – They are only driven by crop care teams. In the same way, in the forest, only the machinery that performs the forestry work can work in rooms, canals, and forest roads. ”
Eigulys says undisciplined drivers drive SUVs, ATVs, or motorcycles even on power lines in the woods, looking for spots, groups, wet spots in the woods, and “moaning” on them.
“Social media is full of different groups posting information, photos, and invitations to participate in such ‘walks,'” says Eigulys. In his opinion, foresters are not the enemy of extreme driving enthusiasts, but there are laws, rules that they regulate the behavior of people in forests and this must be understood.
For example, the rules for driving a quad are governed by the Road Traffic Rules: Quad bikes can be driven on the same roads as other motor vehicles. This means that they are not allowed to drive off-road and on the natural forest floor.
Rules and penalties
“Basically, the procedure for driving vehicles in the forest is established by the Rules for Visiting the Forest, the Highway Law, the Procedure for the Maintenance of Roads,” recalls Algirdas Klimavičius, Head of the Nature Protection Policy Group of the Ministry of Environment. They stipulate that access to the forest and driving under it in motor vehicles, when curving transport is only possible by road. Horse riding is possible on several roads. Cycling is possible on recreational, cognitive trails, or other forest trails without disturbing visitors to the pedestrian forest and without damaging the trail surface. Exceptions are made only for the preparation of ski slopes or other sports tracks, after the coordination of the route route with the administrator and / or owner of the forest or with the management of the corresponding protected area.
“The forest road is classified as a local inland road,” explains Zbignev Glazko, senior advisor to the Forest Policy Group of the Ministry of the Environment. – These are roads used for the needs of natural or legal persons, other organizations and their subdivisions (Article 3 of the Highway Law). The owner of the forest road decides which vehicles can drive on it. You can close (close the entrance) or allow the use of said path (without easement). Appropriate signs will be posted on the roads when traffic is restricted or stopped. “
Violations of the Forest Visiting Rules may result in a warning or a fine of between 20 and 50 euros, and heads of legal entities or other responsible persons may be fined between 50 and 110 euros.
“When driving in the forest, it is necessary to observe the traffic signs provided in the Traffic Rules or the requirements of Clause 9 of the Rules to visit the forest,” says Laura Salokaitė, Head of the Division of Administrative Activity and Supervision of the Traffic of the Highway Police Service.
Forest managers publish information on the ban, the restriction of visits to forests and their period of validity in the press, on the municipal website, on radio (television). On highways and forest roads where access is restricted, forest managers should post information signs with the name of the authority that issued the ban, the date and number of the decision, the period of restriction, the phone number and the email address to contact. According to the official, responsibility for non-compliance with the requirements of traffic signs is provided for in article 417 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Lithuania. 1 d. (fine from 30 to 90 euros).
Police officers, officials of the State Border Guard Service of the Interior Ministry, environmental inspectors, non-staff environmental inspectors, SFE state forestry officials, state forestry officials of the State Forest Service , etc. They have the right to discipline violators.
Karolis Mickevičius, Director of the State Forest Service, recalls that Article 8 of the Forest Fire Protection Rules. provides for a ban on driving in forests in non-road vehicles with internal combustion engines (with the exception of special vehicles and transport for forestry activities and fire and rescue forces).
“There are no special signs, but if the municipal executive institutions make a decision to prohibit or restrict visits to the forests, it is in accordance with Article 8 of the Forest Law of the Republic of Lithuania. 4 d. The limits of the Forest restrictions are indicated by information signs erected by the forest administrator, owner, or user, ”says the manager.
Prevention
With the start of the ATV season, berries and mushrooms, foresters, officials and environmentalists are increasingly monitoring forests, conducting pre-emptive raids on ATVs, motorcyclists in violation of the Forest Visitation Rules, traffic regulations and environmental protection requirements. It should be remembered that where a forest ranger, tractor, or truck can drive in the forest does not mean that any motorized vehicle can be driven freely.
Crime statistics in recent years show that transport owners “earn” most of the fines. A vehicle parked out of place is subject to a fine of 25 to 50 euros, a warning on the forest floor or a fine of 20 to 140 euros. Specialists remember that if the forest floor is damaged or destroyed as a result of the actions mentioned above, there is not only a fine, but also compensation for the damage caused to nature.
Valentinas Petravičius hopes that this will be discussed and that it increases awareness and responsibility for the environment of ATVs, SUV drivers and all of us. After all, every year more and more tracks for four-wheel sports and motorcycle enthusiasts are installed, and if they choose legal tracks, they will travel responsibly and not harm the forest.
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