Habitat loss  Agriculture  Pollution  Development  Transportation  War

Over the years, there has been a growing trend for off-road vehicles as a faster and more powerful means of transport on and along coasts. Although they are popular, they have the potential to cause irreversible damage to coastal landforms and ecosystems. The areas most affected by off-road vehicles are intertidal beaches, the backshore, shell middens, dunes, salt marshes and sand and mud flats.

There are a some ways in which people can help to minimise this problem:

• Drive only on beaches where vehicle access is permitted and only after obtaining a permit - access via an authorised entry point.
• Ensure there are no petrol or oil leaks, which will pollute the beaches.
• Reduce tyre pressure before driving on the beach or soft sand - hard tyres cause excessive damage to the terrain.
• Avoid ecologically sensitive features: dunes, salt marshes, sand and mud flats, drift material above the high tide mark, pioneer plants on the backshore, and bird and turtle nesting sites.
• Avoid driving at night when nocturnal animals are at their most vulnerable.