In observance of Arbor Day, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) 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 27. 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 will be planted on state forest lands. DNR officials will be on hand for the celebration. Local DNR Forester Dave Johnson prepared the planting furrows for the seedlings.

"This is our fourth annual tree planting event, and our goal is to plant 4,000 to 6,000 trees," said Thomas Dunn, Enduro chairman for the AMA District 14. "This cooperative effort is an example of how the riding community cares about our natural resources and promotes responsible ORV use on public lands."

As the ORV riding season is upon us, and DNR officials remind ORV riders to ride responsibly and stay on designated trails, routes and use-areas.

"All ORV riders need to be responsible and cognizant of where they are operating their ORV," said Steve Kubisiak, DNR Recreation and Trails Program coordinator. "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, Camping & Boating.