Excerpt from How to Recognize and Reduce Tree Hazards in Recreation Sites Outdoor recreation offers many enjoyable experiences but there are associated risks, such as the property damage and personal injury that may be caused by falling trees or branches. It is the recreation site manager's responsibility to provide as safe an environment as possible for public use. If an accident occurs, it may be up to the courts to determine whether adequate precautions were taken to reduce hazardous conditions or whether the accidents resulted from natural causes beyond the manager's control. If managers cannot prove they took reasonable steps to reduce hazards in their campgrounds, they may be found negligent and held liable for the accident. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Defective trees are potential hazards to people and property in recreation areas. Most reported tree failures within recreation sites in the Rocky Mountain Region occur in lodgepole pine. Defective root systems account for the greatest percentage of failures. External indicators of defects are used to identify trees that may fail. Some tree species, particularly aspen, are highly susceptible to visitor damage; managers should restrict recreational development in such forest types. Old growth spruce-fir stands should also be avoided for developed sites. Systematic, annual, documented inspections of trees in recreation sites and corrective action are recommended to reduce hazards to the public.