Santa Fe forest to close some roads to vehicles | News

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A majority of roads and trails in the Santa Fe National Forest are being closed to motorized travel.

The Albuquerque Journal reports officials released a plan Thursday prohibiting all unauthorized off-road travel on nearly 70 percent of forest roads.

Forest supervisor Maria Garcia says under the new plan, about 2,463 miles of roads and trails will be available to vehicles.

Another 138 miles of previously unauthorized paths will now be accessible.

Garcia says the plan was developed from six years of public meetings on alternative routes.

Other changes include seasonal closures to protect wildlife and their habitat and weather-related closures.

Some environmentalists who oppose the plan say there are still thousands of trails open to the public and maintaining them will be difficult.

 (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)