PLAISTOW -- The Conservation Commissions of Atkinson, Plaistow and Hampstead will hold a joint meeting this week to come up with uniform rules to prevent further damage to nearly 500 acres of conservation land in the area where the borders of the three towns touch.

The meeting is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Plaistow Town Hall. The commissions decided to formulate a joint strategy for the conservation land after they walked trails in the 250-acre Plaistow town forest that neighbors conservation land in Atkinson and Hampstead in early May. There is more than 500 acres of conservation land spread over the three towns in that area.

During the walk Conservation Commission members discovered how much damage had been done by motorized vehicles, said Plaistow Conservation Commission member Jill Senter.

"Our goal is to look at what other towns are doing and try to stay uniform in rules and regulations and keep it cohesive with other towns and protect the woods out there," Senter said. "It is a beautiful piece of real estate we have managed to hold on to."

The commissions' meeting comes after Atkinson and Plaistow both put restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles on town-owned land.

On May 19, Plaistow Selectmen adopted an emergency ordinance banning all wheeled vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and bicycles, from the 240-acre town forest. The action followed the Conservation Commission concerns that the ATVs are ruining wetlands.

Atkinson Selectmen also adopted on June 8 a six-month stoppage on the use of all-terrain or off-highway recreational vehicles on town-owned land and conservation land on June 9. In six months the town will hold another public hearing to discuss establishing permanent regulations and a town ordinance before next spring.

State law requires written permission from a landowner to operate motorized vehicles on private property, and children under the age of 17 have to be with a parent or a licensed driver. There is also a $2,000 fine for riding a motorized vehicle on wetlands.

Atkinson Conservation Commission Chairman Scott Kukshtel recommended the six-month moratorium because of the ongoing damage caused by ATVs, dirt bikes and motorized vehicles. He added that it was important to stop the destruction before the summer months begin, since the land primary use is supposed to be for passive and wildlife recreation.

But both towns are concerned that habitats and wetland are being ruined because of motorized vehicle use. Senter said the vehicles are making huge holes in the forest and causing disturbances in the wetlands. She added the long term effects of ATVs and wheeled vehicles in the forest would be dangerous to plant and wildlife.

Hampstead Conservation Commission hasn't met with selectmen yet but they plan to speak to them soon said, Conservation Commission member Karen Hanides.

"We hope to start an ordinance that will ban motorized vehicles," Hanides said.

She said she is excited to be working with the two other towns because "if we had all of the same rules it would be easier for Fish and Game to watch over the whole area. If we are all on the same page, it will be better."