In observance of Arbor Day, the American Motorcyclist Association, District 14, in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources, the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan, and the Lansing Motorcycle Club, will host a tree planting event in Kalkaska on Sunday, April 29. The event starts at 9 a.m. at the off-road vehicle (ORV) staging area on County Road 612, approximately two miles east of M-72 in Kalkaska.

The event will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., and the ceremony will feature the planting of red pine seedlings donated by the DNR. The seedlings will be planted on state forestlands and will include the restoration of areas damaged by illegal ORV use. DNR officials will be on hand for the celebration. Local DNR Forester Dave Johnson prepared the planting furrows for the seedlings.

"This is our third annual tree planting event, and our goal is to plant 10,000 trees. That will exceed the 6,000 trees planted last year," said Thomas Dunn, Enduro chairman for the American Motorcyclist Association, District 14. "This gesture is to show that the riding community cares about our natural resources and promotes responsible ORV use on public lands."

DNR recreation officials remind ORV riders to ride responsibly and stay on designated trails.

"All ORV riders need to be responsible and cognizant of where they are operating their ORV," said Steve Kubisiak, recreation and trails program coordinator for the Forest, Minerals and Fire Management Division of the DNR. "Fragile tree seedlings can be damaged by illegal ORV use and could be easily prevented if riders remember that cross-country operation is illegal except in designated ORV use areas."

For more information about ORV use on state land, go to the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr and click on Recreation and Camping.