The Trails Only Yukon Association (TOYA) is continuing its call for the government to take action on off-road vehicle (ORV) use throughout the territory.

Officials with the group are set to be at the annual Yukon Trade Show this weekend to discuss the issue with local residents and encourage them to get in touch with their MLAs in calling for action.

TOYA steering committee members Ellen Johnson and Vern Peters met with the Star this morning.

They hope the territorial government will pass legislation in the fall to address ORV use, including where the vehicles may go.

The group, which has been pushing for more stringent regulations since 2009, called for it during the 2011 territorial election, with all parties supporting new legislation.

However, there has been little action since, the two advocates pointed out today.

Two weeks ago in the legislature a motion was brought forward (and eventually passed) by NDP MLA Kate White.

It called for the government to implement all the recommendations which emerged from a select committee on the safe operation and use of off-road vehicles.

It also called for a plan to be developed and implemented to protect environmentally sensitive areas from the vehicles while also allowing responsible access to the backcountry.

Today, Peters and Johnson stressed the importance of the government moving forward on legislation, pointing to evidence of spider-webbing trails carved by vehicles in the Yukon wilderness.

It was in 1981 that ATvs were first flagged as an issue by the-then Department of Renewable Resources (now Environment Yukon).

Since then, polls, surveys and recommendations have pointed to the need to take immediate action to protect the land, but little has happened, Peters said.

"Overwhelmingly, the public wants us to do something,” Peters said.

The group met with Environment Minister Currie Dixon as well as Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers in December 2012.

Last January, they received a letter stating the government's plans to further define regulatory requirements, draft regulations and do consultation.

But both Peters and Johnson argued time is of the essence, with the ATV season approaching.

The territory only has to look within its own borders to see what works, the pair said.

They pointed to Kluane Lake, where trail signs have been in place for years letting riders know where they must stop.

"Already in the Yukon, there's been a precedent,” Peters said, noting it has worked very well in southwest Yukon and he doesn't see why it can't be done in other areas.

He also cited other jurisdictions throughout North America which restrict access for ORVs in the interest of protecting the wilderness.

The territory should take a proactive approach rather than reacting after the unsightly damage has been done to the land, Peters said.

Maps spread out over his coffee table displayed sites where ATVs could be required to stop and their drivers then required to hike in if they want to go any further.

With more than 10,000 kilometres of established trails, it was argued there's no need for further trails for ORVs.

In many cases, ORVs are going beyond the ends of old mining roads that can be designated for ORV use and creating a spider web trail effect into areas that need protections – alpine regions, wetlands and so on.

"It's just good common sense,” said Peters, who uses ATVs himself.

There is a significant impact on wildlife, which ends up losing its grounds or being hunted to a point the area they were in has to be closed as hunters make their way in on ORVs.

And then they simply move on to other areas and the same thing happens.

"All across the Yukon, it happens,” Johnson said.

Certain areas should be protected entirely, the pair also stated, proposing total protection for the Trout Lake area.

There has to be a place for uninterrupted wilderness, they argued.

While most ORV owners are responsible with their machines, Peters stressed there need to be consequences in place for those who aren't.

As Johnson also pointed out, there's also a number of drivers who think that as only one driver, they can't make a huge difference.

Regulations would also set out very clearly what ATV users can and can't do.

Johnson and Peters said they want the Yukon to protect the quality wilderness so many people visit and move here for.

"We're just so lucky to be in a place like this,” Johnson said after noting, "We want the Yukon to be the Yukon.”

As TOYA moves forward, it's reminding ORV riders to stay on the trails that are already in place.

In the meantime, TOYA plans to continue its efforts gathering pictures of the impacts ORVs are having on the land along with encouraging residents concerned about ORV use to write to or phone their MLAs with their concerns.