This plan will help us ensure people continue to enjoy their public lands, and that together we continue to protect the natural beauty and environment that draws them to these natural wonders. The Agenda is a positive one now, but when it was first released to the public last fall, it fell short of the expectations of many who enjoy National Forests. American Fliking Society and a number of hiking and trail organizations, including the Appalachian Trail Conference, Continental Divide Trail Alliance, Pacific Crest Trail Association, Florida Trail Association, and Partnership for the National Trail System, joined together and urged the Forest Service to improve the Agenda. And it did. The groups urged the FS to strengthen the Agenda in a manner that emphasized ecosystem protection, maintained the integrity of the hiking experience, acknowledged the contributions of volunteers, and protected national forest lands from damaging activities.
Volunteers are a common theme throughout the Recreation Agenda.
But initially, in earlier drafts, the theme was a weak one. But after being encouraged by volunteer-based groups, the agency raised the profiles of volunteers in the Agenda. Generally, it is organized trail groups who are providing the volunteers. In fact, in 1999, on the 20 national scenic and national historic trails alone, volunteers documented over 550,000 hours. The FS manages 133,087 miles of trails.