BAKERSFIELD, CA (November 13, 2008) ORBA is pleased to announce it has received a Yamaha OHV Access Initiative GRANT (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails) of $15,000 for trail identification and mapping equipment. The GRANT was awarded as a part of Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas.

The funding will be used to purchase equipment that will enable ORBA to expand its efforts on behalf of its members and the OHV community as a whole. The GPS mapping equipment, mapping software, and laptop computers will enable ORBA staff to inventory current trails and provide accurate, detailed information to land managers involved in travel planning and route designation. This information will assist land managers to identify routes that they may not be aware of or to update information.  We expect that this will reduce arbitrary closures because of a lack of current information and that the end result will be that more existing routes will ultimately be formally designated for OHV use.  With all National Forests currently going through the Route Designation process, and many BLM offices also revising their Resource Management Plans or Travel Management Plans, this equipment will be a very valuable tool to make our input more effective.

Fred Wiley, Executive Director of ORBA, stated “We are honored to have our application approved by the GRANT funding committee. We look forward to using the equipment and funding to help provide continued access to trails that are threatened by closure and hopefully enable the designation of many routes not currently on agency inventories or designated for motorized travel.”

# # #

ORBA is a national trade association composed of off-road related businesses united to promote common goals that support the prosperity and growth of the off-road industry.