Epsilon Open Archive

It is known that driving of all-terrain vehicles during summer in can cause damage to both
vegetation and the underlying ground. However, in the mountainous parts of Sweden it is
poorly known if these problems are of general nature or occurring in patches. The aim with
this study was to make a general investigation into occurrences of vehicle-tracks in the
Swedish mountainous areas and adjoining sparse forests, using field investigations,
interpretation of color infrared aerial photos and a questionnaire survey. A field survey was
carried out at 28 permanent plots of 1 x 1 km by personnel of the NILS (National Inventory of
Landscapes in Sweden) program during the summer of 2003 and in 8 of the plots (28 %),
vehicle tracks were found. Two of the 8 plots have been interpreted in color infrared aerial
photos as a larger area of 5 x 5 km and a multitude of linear elements were found. From field
control of the interpretations we can conclude that many of the linear elements visible from
the air, are very hard to see at ground level. The questionnaire survey shows that vehicle
tracks occur scattered over the mountainous area and also that 4-wheeled motorcycles are the
dominant type of vehicle. The answers also show that tracks stay long on the ground and can
be seen long after vegetation covers the initial damage.