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Here’s a desciption, 

i just did a quick copy paste translation 

 

What's this ?
EcoSense® is:

a program developed by environmental specialists in consultation with the snowmobiling industry, trail users and community organizations;
certification with normative requirements and environmentally friendly practices;
increased protection for the natural environment and local communities;
the assurance that each certified trail has been verified by an independent non-profit organization, Nature-Action Québec.
The EcoSentier® Environmental Certification Program provides environmental trail recognition where not only the practices required by current environmental regulations for snowmobile trails, but also good environmental practices that go beyond - to manage optimal trails.

The EcoSteM® program was developed in close collaboration with partners - trail manufacturers, users and general interest representatives.

The Fédération des Clubs de Motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ) and Nature-Action Québec (NAQ), a non-profit organization recognized for the quality of its environmental services, created the program in 2015. Since then, the FCMQ has been managing it throughout Quebec, while NAQ acts as a third-party certification body.

Snowmobile trails

EcoSort® certification is an opportunity for the snowmobile club to raise the level of environmental management of Trans-Québec trails (13,687 km in 2015), to ensure uniformity and consistency, and to obtain a certificate issued by a independent body (third party).

snowmobiler

EcoSort® certification is a reliable, third-party verified tool that helps snowmobilers choose an environmentally friendly snowmobile trail.

Standardization process

ecoSort® applies a globally recognized process of standardization. The program objectively verifies the quality of the environmental measures applied to a snowmobile trail.

The ecoSentier® Independent Auditor ensures that the trail meets program requirements (regulated requirements and environmental best practices), based on four key criteria: planning, development, trail maintenance and waste management.

The program's requirements are based on the best practices currently available, drawn from expert recommendations from Quebec industry and specific programs for snowmobile trails.

Federation and participating clubs

The FCMQ proudly participates in the EcoSentier® certification program by making it a key element of its Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP), which began in 2010.

A total of 200 snowmobile clubs will be invited to implement the EcoSense® program requirements, on a voluntary basis.

Edited by iceman
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They put out a pretty wordy explanation, with zero about what are the "best practices currently available, drawn from expert recommendations from Quebec industry and specific programs...making it a key element of its Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) which began in 2010...to implement the EcoSense program requirements".

 

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I got this, I speak BullShit.

So if a trail or club is found to be deviant of the parameters of being environmentally compassionate, said parameters could be implemented by a third party to facilitate in the re-alignment of goals laid out by said party, this will result in either the parameters being a more fluid boundary so much as a strict adhesion therefore and as to make total compliance possible with out disrupting the required results.

There you go, clear a day.

GutZ

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You can be sure it says or means something and we probably will not like it, politics is a dirty business where governments have no money, they have your money, and when the government does something for someone or gives someone something, they took it from someone else, exactly why I love Quebec, getting lost in the trail system and leaving all that garbage behind!!

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I think this translates to less grooming as it is environmentally friendly.   You go slower as a result, using less fuel and become environmentally friendly.  Restrict operating hours so the little critters can enjoy the trail as well.  Win for all.

Anytime an environmental group get involved with power sports be concerned.  Ask questions. There is always another motive

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I often thought that environmental lawyers in the States had the best line of undefinable BS I had ever seen, but clearly some of them have made it north of the border, I truly believe in protecting the environment but, how about putting this down in common sense language that anyone can interpret and understand exactly what it means and what it does not mean, the way it is written 50 people could say it means 50 different things...only thing for sure is it is TROUBLE!!

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I was wondering if this is a way the FCMQ is fighting back.  I’m no expert, but wasn’t there some major trail closures in the early 2000’s?  A major chunk of an abandoned rail line near mont tremblant, trails north of St Donat in the park being closed, trails in other national parks in the province being closed, etc.  There is also an immunity clause in a piece of environmental legislation in Quebec that keeps being extended to keep the FCMQ from being sued over environmental concerns.  Maybe this has to do with fighting back on these fronts???  I’d be curious to hear more from anyone who knows the purpose behind this.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ecosentier is a programme that clubs can opt into should they so choose.  It simply means using best practices when installing culverts and bridges and when brushing and so forth on selected sections of trails and then applying to have that section designated as "eco" friendly.  It's all optics and PR of course, but it gives us a bit of ammunition whenever we're under attack by eco-freaks and the media at large.  It's good for press releases and whatnot, but, though it earns clubs a bit of environmental credibility, it doesn't earn them any extra moolah ... at least none that I'm aware of.  We haven't bothered to opt in, but some of the neighbouring clubs have.

With respect to the ever temporary moratorium on lawsuits, it has to do with the Judge Langlois judgement on the Petit Train du Nord north of Ste-Agathe.  A small group of landowners adjacent to a 12km section of the train tracks sued the Provincial and Regional governments, and the FCMQ, for establishing a snowmobile trail along that corridor.  Bizarrely, the judge not only agreed to close the trail, but unexpectedly awarded damages to all residents within a given distance from the trail amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.  It was the landowner, the regional government (regional governments are known as MRC's), that was on the hook for the payment, and the precedent exposed ALL landowners in the province to lawsuits from their neighbours when they allowed trails on their own property.  The morning after the judgement, clubs everywhere were being notified of land-use agreements being cancelled by justifiably fearful landowners, be they private or municipal.  The provincial government at the time had to impose a law blocking such lawsuits.  However, since such bans are essentially "unconstitutional", they can't be permanent.  We've been wrestling with this issue ever since, and initiatives such as the nighttime closure of trails and the ban of new trails closer than 30 metres from a residence are just some of the results.  Since I'm not much of a legal expert, I have no idea how this will end up.  I do know that there are a large number of greedy neighbours and just plain haters rubbing their hands together in anticipation of launching lucrative lawsuits against their neighbours ...

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On a side note to the petit train de Nord closure, the bypass that will essentially reconnect Tremblant and St Faustin and has been talked about for years, is so close to a go. latest from my club a few weeks back has the money in the bank, the plans drawn and modified slightly to satisfy the ministry of transport, the contractors pretty much ready to get started and one sticking point. Guess who has not yet approved and has the club worried we will see another no go?, the minister of the environment. As I understand because the trail will pass through some humid zones they are dragging their feet. 

Edited by Cnc
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When the snowmobile industry was told sleds were noisy, they responded, when they were told riders were hooligans they responded, when they were told sleds polluted and 2 stroke had to go, they responded with etec and four stroke that no one thought would be a go, thanks to all that criticism and hate for our sport, we now have the best sleds ever and not that it is a good thing, but an older group where everyone respects property and the environment, all that is left is to try and close trails and cut regions off from each other. This sport contributes billions of dollars into the economy and employs many in a wide array of industry, good people working hard to support their families. The time has come to realize how much this sport is relied on for many peoples well being, next time powers to be are at the table, this should be a large part of the conversation, when St Donat was cut off from the park by environmentalists, business and people their have suffered financially and want the park reopened, it should happen, no one was being hurt with sleds passing thru there.

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We've been told by legislators that trails through parks is a dead issue and it will not be re-visited (check out the severed portion of the Regional Trail 323 between Thurso and Plaisance. We begged for a 14' X 46' corridor through the eastern end of the Plaisance Park alongside the Thurso ferry to allow our Ontario members direct access to our trail about a half a klick from there and were met by a blanket refusal) This has hurt our club tremendously.  Anyone who thinks that Québec bureaucrats give a damn about the 14,000 Québec jobs created by snowmobilers is sadly mistaken.  I know .... I've sat across the table from them often enough and, when they aren't pecking at their Blackberries,  they just glare at you with barely disguised contempt and hostility.

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Gullyrider, thank you for your input and especially thank you for clarifying , publicly, what I have known for years, and yes even though many suffer financially, many on the other side just do not care who it hurts, as long as they get their way. It really make no sense to me, you would think that there would be a large push back from business and employees, if these trails go away, folks outside of the city will see a lot of business hurting. I am a business man and when I see the amount of people at the hotels, restaurants and fuel stops, it makes me feel good that these people are earning a good dollar from us..and unlike the US, most are very happy and smiling to be busy and running hard...there is a lot to be lost...or gained...in this conversation...that will not go away!! Thank you for this post.

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