The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC) recently had it's AGM in Castlegar hosted by the Kootenay Mountaineering Club (KMC)
Club grants were awarded, issues around waivers were discussed and differences around the province were discussed. A great write up is shown on the FMCBC website here
It was an honour to spend the weekend with like minded people from around the province working to further the goals of non-motorized recreation. Realizing that the issues that we face are similar yet different from those that others face.
A presentation was had on the Backcountry Recreation Study was shown and discussed.
The FMCBC has released a press release that is below.
May 13, 2014
Non-motorized outdoor recreation has huge economic and health benefits, independent research confirms In an era where parks and wild spaces are under pressure from a wide range of concerns including resource extraction, funding cuts and increasing population, British Columbia’s largest advocate for non-motorized backcountry recreation has confirmed that these areas have never been more valuable.
The Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC (FMCBC) today released the results of two studies commissioned by the organization, evaluating both participation rates in non-motorized outdoor recreational activities and their economic and health impacts. This research, conducted by the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, clearly shows these activities have enormous benefits both for participants and the economy.
The research found that the direct economic contributions from non-motorized recreation participation topped $3.5 billion in 2012, even before equipment purchases were considered. Nearly half of study participants engaged in a non-motorized recreational activity in the study year (2012). The most popular non-motorized outdoor recreation activities were hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, kayaking and trail running.
FMCBC President Scott Webster stated, "The outdoor recreation survey results show that non-motorized outdoor activities play a key role in the lives of British Columbians. These activities provide a substantial contribution to our economy and help maintain the health of our population. Non-motorized outdoor recreation should be encouraged and supported as an ideal way to experience British Columbia."
The first of the studies evaluated the participation rates and economic impacts for non-motorized outdoor recreation activities away from urban areas. The study found that 48% of respondents had participated in at least one of these activities in 2012. The second study reviewed and summarized the health benefits of non-motorized outdoor recreation.
In response to the results of the health benefits study, FMCBC Secretary Mack Skinner stated, “These results show that being away from the urban scene and in the great outdoors has tremendous psychological, as well as physical, benefits. Canada could save, conservatively, $7 billion on health care from its citizens being more active and this gives us all the more reason to encourage Canadians to get outdoors.”
The FMCBC is proud to have led this research and acknowledges the financial assistance received from Mountain Equipment Co-op which helped to make it possible. The FMCBC’s role is to advocate on behalf of non-motorized backcountry recreation users in BC and the results of this report will be used to help defend these interests.
The reports will be presented to members of the FMCBC at the Annual General Meeting in Castlegar in June. The full research and results are available on the FMCBC website at http://mountainclubs.org/backcountry-recreation-study/.
Interested organizations can contact the FMCBC directly to request hardcopies of the reports.
The FMCBC promotes self-propelled activities, such as hiking, mountaineering and backcountry skiing through leadership, advocacy and education. The FMCBC is a federation of outdoor clubs with a membership of approximately 4900 people from 32 clubs across the province. The FMCBC works with outdoor recreation organizations, industry and government agencies, to protect and maintain access for non-motorized backcountry recreation in British Columbia’s mountains and forests.
For more information contact: Jodi Appleton, Program and Administration Manager, Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC,
604-873-6096, admin.manager@mountainclubs.org www.mountainclubs.org @mountainclubs