Showing papers in "Journal of outdoor recreation and tourism in 2014"

Local communities and protected areas: The mediating role of place attachment for pro-environmental civic engagement

Abstract: Managers and researchers agree on the importance of understanding the nature of humans' attachment to place in order to reduce environmental impacts in protected areas. Attachment has been discussed as having implications for pro-environmental behaviors directed at protecting natural resources and informing sustainable recreation and ecosystem management. Accordingly, this study examined whether residents' (who might also be park visitors) attachment to a place (i.e. a national park) mediated the relationship between community attachment and engagement in participatory resource management. Drawing on responses from 239 residents in communities surrounding Retezat National Park in Romania, place attachment, community attachment, and pro-environmental civic engagement behavioral beliefs were hypothesized as independent variables. A high correlation was observed between place attachment factors, place identity and place dependency which suggested a weak differentiation of the two factors. Pro-environmental civic engagement intentions were found to vary depending on residents' beliefs regarding pro-environmental civic engagement and level of place attachment. Both community attachment and park related place attachment played a role in predicting citizens' levels of pro-environmental civic engagement beliefs. Parks that are perceived to have a level of mutual benefit and co-management generate more support toward conservation and recreational use goals. Management implications Local residents represent a key stakeholder group for parks and protected areas because of their constant interaction with the setting through recreation and other activities. This study reveals the importance of understanding the social environment within communities proximal to a park and how social perceptions can shape attachment to a protected area with implications for pro-environmental civic engagement beliefs and intentions to sustain natural resource protection. Programs and initiatives designed to increase local residents' attachment to their community (e.g. through recreation programming, special events like concerts, wildlife oriented walks, nature oriented games) should be encouraged and supported by park managers. Allowing some carefully managed and zonal extractive uses of the park also facilitates more positive social connections and attitudes toward the park, as long as other extensive park area resources are protected and basic principles of sustainability and conservation are followed. Based on responses to the civic engagement beliefs and intention items in this study, it would also be advisable to provide opportunities for local residents to participate in meetings, public hearings, community projects and management decisions, to sustain trust in park managers, which is very important to local impressions of a park and positive park attachment attitudes.

Structural relationships between environmental attitudes, recreation motivations, and environmentally responsible behaviors

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between environmental attitudes, outdoor recreation motivations, and environmentally responsible behaviors. Little has been reported about whether motivation can serve as a mediator to better understand environmental attitude–behavior relationships. On-site responses collected from Florida National Scenic Trail hikers were utilized in a structural equation model. Structural model results indicated significant relationships between attitudes, motivations, and behaviors. Environmental attitudes influenced motivations and environmental behaviors, and motivations were significantly related to environmental behaviors. Further analyses found that motivation served as a partial mediator of the attitude–behavior linkage. These results suggest that environmental attitudes and motivations substantially shape environmentally responsible behaviors. Managerial implications are discussed, including maintaining natural aspects of environments and increasing awareness about natural environments through educational programs. Further studies utilizing participants in other outdoor recreation activities at various settings are recommended. Management implications Publically owned natural areas depend on public support for political buttressing and financial resources to sustain and increase public services. Environmental attitudes are nurtured in those settings through the fulfillment of motivations and benefits sought that drive visitors׳ participation in nature-based recreation. Well-managed natural environments help foster pro-environment attitudes and environmentally responsible behaviors. Those who hold strong environmental attitudes tend to behave in more environmentally responsible ways, including political and educational actions. Natural environments that provide opportunities to recreate generate support for those areas. This means that public land managers shape more than just the immediate experiences visitors attain in an area. It follows that strategies initiated by managers of increasing awareness about and appreciation for their natural areas through outlets such as mass media, internet, and on-site interpretive programs can influence pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors.

Race, ethnicity, and visitation to national parks in the United States: Tests of the marginality, discrimination, and subculture hypotheses with national-level survey data☆

Abstract: It is well documented that members of racial and ethnic minority groups tend to visit national parks at lower rates than whites, and a large body of literature has explored a number of hypotheses for this finding. These explanations are usually grouped into three categories: (1) marginality, which focuses on economic-related reasons for non-participation; (2) ethnicity, which purportedly focuses on cultural factors; (3) discrimination, which centers on the role of hostile behaviors on the part of whites and/or institutional discrimination. Despite the size of this literature, it suffers from a number of shortcomings. To begin with, the data used to test the hypotheses are usually not nationally representative. In addition, the possible explanations have not been comprehensively evaluated. For instance, a full range of demographic items has generally not been used in tests of marginality, actual measures of culture have rarely been employed in examining ethnicity, and the discrimination hypothesis has received very little testing. In this paper, we add to the literature by testing all three perspectives with national-level data from the National Park Service Second Comprehensive Survey on the American Public. Findings indicate larger differences between African Americans and whites than between Hispanics and whites, with some racial differences growing over time. We find evidence for all three explanations considered, with the subcultural hypothesis receiving the most support. Management implications 1. More management attention is needed to address underrepresentation of racial/ethnic groups in national parks and related areas, as this may violate the fundamental democratic character of these sites. 2. In addition, as underrepresented groups continue to grow in proportion to the historically dominant white European majority, underrepresentation is an increasingly urgent matter. 3. This issue may be further exacerbated by an apparent growing differential in visitation by younger African Americans. 4. Given global patterns of immigration, this matter is increasingly international in scope. 5. Support for the marginality hypothesis suggests that special efforts may be needed to help ensure equal access to parks and outdoor recreation, including provision of public transportation, location of parks closer to minority populations, and development and marketing of outdoor recreation programs to minority racial/ethnic groups. 6. Support for the subculture hypothesis suggests that park and outdoor recreation opportunities should be designed in concert with the values of minority racial/ethnic groups, including types of facilities and programming, establishment of parks honoring diverse cultures, and reinterpretation of existing parks in ways that are more culturally inclusive. 7. Support for the discrimination hypothesis suggests that park and outdoor recreation managers re-examine their agencies and programs for evidence of interpersonal and institutional discrimination, including hiring practices and pricing policies.

A qualitative analysis of group formation, leadership and decision making in recreation groups traveling in avalanche terrain

Abstract: The popularity of recreational activities in avalanche terrain has increased dramatically in recent years. Venturing into such terrain also increases the personal risk of injury or death. Whereas the majority of recreationists travel in groups, existing research on the human dimension of avalanche safety has primarily focused on individual decision making. This empirical study aims to fill this gap by investigating aspects of group formation, leadership and decision making among winter recreationists with respect to their ability to make safe decisions when traveling in avalanche terrain. We used a qualitative research design and conducted 29 semi-structured group interviews with backcountry skiers and off-piste skiers in Switzerland during the winter of 2013. Our results show that while the majority of the reported behaviors and strategies are effective at reducing avalanche risk (e.g., traveling in well-established groups or deciding on the basis of well-known avalanche safety rules), others are highly problematic (e.g., traveling in emergent groups or trivializing decisions concerning avalanche danger). The identified behavioral patterns offer valuable insight for the development of effective avalanche safety messages to address weaknesses in group dynamics. Management implications Since most recreationists travel in groups when visiting avalanche terrain, group dynamics are a crucial component of avalanche safety, and a better understanding of group behaviors is imperative for safe traveling. We urge avalanche safety educators to put more emphasis on the role of group formation, leadership and decision making for avalanche safety. While strategies known to improve group performance should be encouraged, educators should also highlight the risks associated with the more problematic behaviors explicitly. We propose the development of a group checklist to facilitate the group formation process.

Examining the impact of fisheries resources and quality on licence sales

Abstract: One expects that participation and effort in outdoor recreation activities would be directly related to the quality of available resources. However, this expectation remains a largely untested empirical question. We examined this relationship explicitly by analysing the proportion of the population with freshwater angling licences in 188 different administrative regions of British Columbia, Canada. Variations in the proportion of anglers in the population within a region were explained by resource quality measures, including multiple catch and non-catch related factors (such as stocking and the accessibility of fishing destinations). The proportion of the population holding a fishing licence was greatly affected by physical determinants such as access and the availability of many fishing options. Catch-related factors were also important and positively related to participation. The results suggest that management agencies could use actions such as stocking to provide more fishing opportunities across the landscape, or increase the accessibility of opportunities in order to retain licence sales. However, the results also imply that participation decisions arise from more than just considerations of catch at and the accessibility of fishing sites, i.e., socio-demographic characteristics. Management implications The results of this study offer a novel analytical approach for deriving management recommendations, based on a model of fishing licence sales as a function of resource quality and socio-demographic information on a regional scale. The analysis, based on these aggregate types of data, relies on information for 188 administrative units covering the entire province of British Columbia, Canada, and provides a number of important insights for fisheries management: – Stocking activities are an effective instrument to steer participation in recreational fishing; – providing more fishing opportunities, or increasing accessibility is likely to lead to increased participation rates and licence sales; and – non-catch related factors (i.e. accessibility, constraints, socio-demographic and cultural factors) also influence participation rates.

From rhetoric to knowledge based actions – Challenges for outdoor recreation management in Sweden

Abstract: This paper investigates how outdoor recreation is considered in the context of strong biodiversity conservation ambitions, and discusses the challenges associated with outdoor recreation management in two protected areas in Sweden. The research employs qualitative techniques such as interviews with key actors and examinations of documents. The results show that while the two planning processes show a sincere engagement and effort spent on outdoor recreation management, no clear strategies for or systematic treatment of outdoor recreation became apparent. Worse, clear deficits in knowledge and relevant competences have been identified, and generally available scientific knowledge about outdoor recreation has not been utilized. Concerns of outdoor recreation are typically addressed by biologists, instead of professionals with training in any of the social sciences or planning disciplines. Apparently these fundamental deficiencies with regards to outdoor recreation can only be improved if it is recognized as a land use interest in its own right. In order to improve management and planning processes, outdoor recreation needs to be institutionalized, and receive its own management guidelines and formal process agendas. Management implications The consideration of outdoor recreation in Sweden’s landscapes and protected areas lacks behind international standards. Currently it is not considered as a separate land use or planning objective, and modern recreational benefits of provision for health and wellbeing and the high esteem of outdoor recreation by the general population are ignored. Improvements would require a professional implementation process which should consider: – Area specific databases on outdoor recreation activities, including their spatial distribution; – A dedicated training and education in outdoor recreation planning and management (instead of it being an additional task for ecologically trained managers); – A strengthening of outdoor recreation research; – The mandated development and implementation of outdoor recreation related guidelines and monitoring plans; and – The development of specific frameworks sensitive to various ecological conditions (e.g. water based landscapes or forests).

Place meanings and rock climbing in outdoor settings

Abstract: This article presents the place meanings that 21 rock climbers from Western Canada ascribe to outdoor climbing sites. It takes the form of an interpretive inquiry based on semi-structured interviews through which interviewees provided narratives about their climbing experiences. An analysis of these narratives identified eight place meanings (accessibility, site attributes, variety, social interactions, mecca, learning, exploration, and escape) which were grouped into three dimensions (physical site, social, and experiential). As these themes suggest, the place meanings of climbing sites are complex and multidimensional as articulated by the climbers. Specifically, climbing places were physical places associated with the act of climbing, exploring the site and social interactions that included group inclusion and avoidance. Management implications: The concept of place meaning can offer resource managers with important qualitative information about rock climbing sites and rock climbers: • Provides insights into how climbers perceive the importance of specific climbing places; • Provides a qualitative sense of the various desired climbing outcomes such as solitude, escape, learning and interactions with others; and • Enhances the development of intimate connections with the wider aspects of the climbing sites beyond the narrow aspects of climbs/routes (i.e. the landscape). Management may use these insights for the benefit of site planning and management to increase the satisfaction of climbers, and for marketing by positioning their climbs vis-a-vis other routes.

Swedish spatial planning: A blunt instrument for the protection of outdoor recreation

Abstract: Outdoor recreation opportunities are in great demand across Europe—so much so that for many citizens it affects their choice of where to live. National authorities, for example the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (2005) , have stressed that municipal spatial planning (i.e. local land use planning) should be used to protect outdoor recreation. However, the circumstances under which outdoor recreation is integrated into spatial planning remain unclear. The study draws on a survey of Swedish citizens, and another survey of planning officials representing all 290 Swedish municipalities, qualitative interviews with ten municipal planning officials, and analyses of comprehensive planning documents in eleven municipalities. Based on a discussion of the supply of and demand for urban and peri-urban nature, the results show that in Sweden spatial planning is an important, but somewhat blunt instrument for the protection of nature areas suitable for outdoor recreation. It is argued that, a combination of the following planning measures would make it more effective: (i) increased public participation in the planning process; (ii) greater use of research-based knowledge of outdoor recreation; (iii) umbrella legislation for outdoor recreation; (iv) changes to the wording of the legislation; and (v) research on providing clearer definitions and their implementation to planning. Management implications This case study about the position of outdoor recreation in Swedish planning processes bears relevance for an international audience of practitioners and researchers. In Sweden, outdoor recreation as public interest carries very high rhetorical value, but both the spatial planning practice and the planning legislation carry notable weaknesses in defense of these interests. The following strategies are proposed to alleviate this situation: – Knowledge about public recreation and suitable natural areas in and around urban areas needs to be communicated at all levels of spatial planning, to support the required trade-offs between competing interests. – The high demand for recreational opportunities close to people׳s homes is one particularly strong argument for defending the public interest. – In order to strengthen public participation, the planning process should be made more transparent, public meetings should be made more inviting, and be held at suitable times. Participation and knowledge transfer can also be enhanced by new methods such as geographic information systems (Soft GIS) that allow residents to share their knowledge of their living environment with urban planners and researchers.

Plan quality and plan detail of visitor and tourism policies in Ontario Provincial Park management plans

Abstract: Visitor and tourism management is a major component of parks and protected areas. Management plans are important public accountability documents. Research on the policy content of those documents is lacking. This paper uses the concepts of plan quality and plan detail to assess the scale and depth of visitor and tourism policies within park management plans of Ontario Provincial Parks. The research found low levels of plan detail for most of 30 identified areas of visitor and tourism policy in the management plans. However, the overall park organization often had such policies identified in park agency policy documents other than the park plans. The research concludes that these plans are not good plans, due to low levels of plan quality and plan detail, at least in regard to visitor and tourism policies. Suggestions are made on the factors causing this policy void and methods to improve planning practice in the future. The paper provides a method and definitions, with 5 levels of policy detail, which provide more guidance for planners than heretofore available. This research should enable a much more precise definition of policy detail for visitor and tourism policy in plans than has occurred in the literature to date.

Analysis on vehicle and walking speeds of search and rescue ground crews in mountainous areas

Abstract: In recent times, the growing number of people enjoying nature-based tourism and recreation activities has led to an increase in search and rescue (SAR) missions in mountainous areas. During SAR responses time is of essence, and the speed of SAR ground responses is affected largely by the mode of transportation and the road and trail network. This study presents a detailed analysis of vehicle and walking speeds of SAR ground crews along a secondary transportation network and on off-trail areas, culminating in mode-specific regression models. Thereafter, these models are integrated into GIS to generate maps of the total accumulative travel time of a rescue area. This GIS model is then evaluated by calculating likely rescue times when using small All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) as an alternative to 4WD cars. The results show that vehicle speeds strongly depend on the quality of the secondary transportation network in terms of roughness and gradient. The spatial analysis in the GIS model reveals that the alternative use of small ATV can reduce the total cumulative travel time of SAR crews significantly, especially in areas where the quality of the secondary transportation network is poor. Management implications With the ever increasing popularity of mountain-based outdoor activities, search and rescue (SAR) missions in challenging terrain are becoming increasingly important. Therefore, a rigorous analysis of the effectiveness of modes of transport as a function of terrain characteristics is an important contribution to SAR operations. The study finds that: • A GIS based rescue concept is recommended as a precautionary measure in all mountainous areas; it should include trail characteristics to document the accessibility of the management area. • An ATV is most likely the best means of ground transportation, especially when searching for missing recreationists and for providing first aid. • In areas with frequent accidents it might worthwhile to consider improving trail conditions for ATV access.

Physical activity locations in Georgia: Frequency of use by socio-demographic group

Abstract: Active outdoor recreation helps to mitigate health consequences associated with sedentary behavior. Enhanced understanding of socio-demographic differences in physical activity (PA) location preferences could therefore contribute to health promotion. This study examined frequency of use for various PA locations in Georgia, a state with historically high levels of physical inactivity and obesity. Data were collected via intercept surveys of visitors to state parks ( n =761) and flea markets near the parks ( n =234). According to these self-reports, homes and backyards were used most frequently for PA followed by neighborhood settings. State parks and gyms or recreation centers were used less frequently than other recreation settings. Latinos relied more on parks and less on homes/backyards for PA than others groups. African Americans and Asians used gyms or recreation centers more often than other groups. Development of built environments that promote active living should account for PA location choices across diverse communities. Management implications Physical activity is widely recognized as key element of health promotion, yet data depicting frequency of use for PA locations and variations among demographic groups is limited. By examining the frequency of use for various PA locations across a diverse population in north Georgia, this study revealed several patterns that have implications for recreation management: • Localized outdoor settings (e.g., homes/backyards, neighborhoods) are used more often for PA than other recreation locations (i.e., parks). • Females use neighborhood settings more often for PA than males. • Latinos and African Americans use parks more often for PA than Whites. • African Americans, Asians and high income individuals use gyms and recreation centers more often for PA than other groups. • Efforts to promote PA via outdoor recreation should consider multiple aspects of the built environment and account for a range of diverse preferences that influence site use patterns across different demographic groups.

A hedonic analysis of the price for horse riding lessons in Sweden

Abstract: Riding school businesses have evolved as popular providers of recreational services in many rural and peri-urban regions of northern and western Europe. We conducted a country-wide survey of riding schools in Sweden to analyse determinants of the price of riding lessons for adults and children. We found that riding schools depend heavily on the willingness of customers to commute, with a positive relationship between the price of a riding lesson and average household income, as well as population density in the municipality. Older schools charged on average higher prices than newly established schools and the presence of an indoor arena proved to be the single most important physical price determinant. Existing financial support to riding schools does not seem to affect the price per lesson directly. Education of riding school managers can be distinguished between various generic skills that allow riding lessons to be provided at a lower price, and specific riding instruction skills for which a premium can be charged. Management implications • A hedonic price analysis was performed on data from a national survey of riding schools in Sweden. The findings indicate that the price of riding lessons decreases with increasing distance from urban areas, increases with rising average household income, and with increasing population density in the nearest municipality. • Many riding schools have not only invested in horses for their customers, but also in specific infrastructure and facilities for guests and children. The majority of the schools surveyed had an indoor arena and provided access to showers, lockers, changing rooms, a cafe and other related leisure facilities. • Riding school managers are typically female, middle-aged and have vocational or university education. However, specific, formal horse-related education yields a direct price premium per riding lesson only in the case of certified riding instructors for children and teenagers. • Riding schools within our sample also actively incorporate non-monetary contributions of their customers into their pricing schemes.

Further clarification of interpersonal versus social values conflict: Insights from motorized and non-motorized recreational river users

Abstract: This study examined interpersonal conflict and social values conflict among motorized and non-motorized river recreational users at a relatively low use recreation area in interior Alaska Previous methodologies for operationalizing social values conflict are not conceptually clear and may result in individuals being classified into the wrong conflict typology This study addressed these conceptual problems by: (1) introducing a new conflict typology to differentiate between social values conflict and latent problem behaviors and (2) by uniformly applying a non-behavior based measure to classify social values conflict Data were collected using an on-site survey of motorized (n=26) and non-motorized (n=63) river recreational users at multiple put-in/take-out locations To the extent that conflict existed, social values conflict was the most prevalent A small but perceptible number of respondents in both user groups reported a latent-behavior conflict The results of this study were compared to the results of studies using previous methodologies Differences were found between the number of non-motorized respondents who were classified into the no conflict and social values conflict typologies Management implications Understanding the underlying causes of recreation conflict is essential to implementing an effective management response Research has increased our understanding of conflict, yet the refinement of measures continues This study investigated measurement issues regarding interpersonal vs social values conflict and the impacts on management recommendations • Correctly identifying conflict as interpersonal or social values is crucial to selecting the most appropriate management response • Future studies of recreation conflict should also include evaluations of latent-behavior conflict to identify users who simply have a problem with another’s behavior even though it is not evident as interpersonal or social values conflict • Evaluations of social values conflict should focus on non-behavior based measurements • Managers should apply a combination of management strategies to reduce conflict among river recreational users • Education efforts can be used to reduce social values conflict by broadening general understanding among users and dispelling myths It can also be used to communicate generally accepted practices that can reduce or eliminate interpersonal and latent-behavior conflict • Zoning and alternative management strategies such as alternative infrastructure development can be used to reduce interpersonal conflict by limiting interactions between users, enhancing recreational opportunities, and maintaining quality recreational experiences for multiple use types

Factors influencing attitudes among all-terrain vehicle users on the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Abstract: This study examined the underlying factors that influence the attitudes of ATV users toward the recreation environment. Data were collected through a quantitative survey of 600 residents of the Burin Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess how the attitudes of ATV users are affected by specific beliefs about the environmental and social impacts of the activity, social influences, length and frequency of participation, socio-demographic circumstances, and whether ATV use is motivated by recreational or subsistence goals. Seven variables explained 41% of the total variance in attitudes. Results showed that the attitudes of ATV users were primarily driven by beliefs about the environmental and social outcomes of the activity, type of ATV use, social involvement in the ATV-related activities, frequency of participation, and whether they reside in a rural or urban area. Findings support the belief–attitude relationship and suggest that efforts to predict ATV behavior must focus on cognitions, social influences, and type and frequency of participation rather than on external factors such as socio-demographic indicators and length of participation. Management implications The findings of this research can assist resource managers in developing motorized recreation policies that not only satisfy the needs of a broader spectrum of ATV users, but also support conservation objectives. The following aspects should be considered: • In the planning phase, management should consider replacing traditional public meetings with focus group sessions and quantitative surveys which were effective in uncovering a more nuanced range of attitudes among ATV users. • In the implementation phase, managers must be cautious not to implement overly-restrictive regulations or all-out bans which could have a detrimental effect on the vast majority of compliant riders. • In the management phase, managers should be aware that ATV enthusiasts have a significant knowledge gap about the environmental impact of the activity. This represents an opportunity for managers to initiate targeted communication campaigns to educate participants on the potential impacts of the activity. • The results of this research call attention to the socio-economic and cultural importance of ATV riding.

Combining multivariate analysis and cost analysis in outdoor recreation planning

Abstract: In this paper we examine the usefulness of combining multivariate analysis and costs analysis in recreation planning. Although these approaches have sometimes been developed in previous recreation studies, they have never been combined in this way. We apply this approach to a regional beach planning policy called the “Beach Plan”, in Aquitaine, south-western France. A multivariate procedure is used to assess the current environmental and social conditions of the 91 beaches included in the Plan. It reveals some connections between the variables we selected at the inventory step and leads to the definition of four homogeneous clusters of sites. We also identify possible social inequities. We find that the partition obtained by the cluster analysis does not coincide with the classification defined in the Plan. This confirms the necessity of an iterative process between inventory and implementation steps. We then examine the cost consequences of the implementation of the Plan. To do so, we define “total incremental cost functions” which enable us to evaluate the cost impacts of introducing sites in the Plan. We show that the application of the strict efficiency criterion may lead to several socially undesirable effects. We therefore propose an alternative integration path, called the “no social cost” path, after combining results provided by the multivariate analysis and the cost analysis. Management implications • At the inventory stage of recreation planning, multivariate analyses provide a synoptic description of recreational activities, out of a large quantity of data. Multiple correspondence analysis is a factorial method designed to deal with categorical variables • The combination of physical and socioeconomic data is of great help to decision makers in defining new social objectives in recreational planning. • By identifying possible correlations between the variables, multivariate analyses provide a better understanding of the functioning of sites. In the French case for instance, the level of use and the management effort are much more discriminating than the environmental characteristics of the beaches. • Cost analysis aims at giving full account of the variability of management costs at the site level. Several drivers are identified accordingly. • Cost analysis is also a means to compare several strategies for implementing the plan. In the present case, ranking the sites according to a “pure efficiency” criterion may be appealing because it allows for the introduction of 66 sites (out of the 91) into the planning process at a zero overall cost. • The selection rule based on the efficiency criterion tends to increase social and economic inequalities between the municipalities. Another selection rule (hereafter called the “no social costs”) may reduce such undesirable effects.

Understanding motivations of potential partners to develop a public outdoor recreation center in an urban area

Abstract: Participation in traditional outdoor activities has declined in recent decades, causing concern for agencies involved in managing areas where citizens can pursue these activities. With limited resources to address this complex challenge, collaboration among several stakeholders seems to provide a win–win solution. An outdoor center that offers activities such as fishing, hunting, trapping and canoeing is one collaborative option. The purpose of this study is to better understand the motivations of organizations to collaborate in the development and operation of an outdoor center in the U.S. state of Michigan. Expectancy theory and social exchange theory provided a unique approach to understanding potential partners׳ expectations regarding positive outcomes and costs of collaboration. Through semi-structured interviews with potential partners, researchers found that a prevalent expected benefit of collaboration is the presence of a venue near diverse, urban populations at which to conduct outdoor programming. In addition, patterns emerged in the anticipated benefits from (and contributions to) the partnership based on the types of organizations interviewed. Insights into organizations׳ motivations to collaborate, based on these two theoretical frameworks, will aid recreation providers in creating appropriate selection criteria for partners and strategies for engaging them in collaborative projects to enhance outdoor recreation participation. Management implications When planning a new recreation center, it is important to identify potential collaborating organizations, and to integrate and coordinate the expectations of those organizations as early as possible. In order to balance the varying interests, it is helpful for managers: • To categorize potential collaborators based on the nature of their relationship with the initiating organization (e.g., participant-focused, activity-focused, education-focused, manufacturers/retailers), as these classifications are typically characterized by different motivations and expectations; • To understand individual preferences and agendas of each of the respective future partners; • To emphasize the increasing efficiencies associated with cooperation; • To increase their awareness of both benefits and costs anticipated by the potential partners; and • To consider the various types of potential contributions, beyond financial support, that partners can provide. These may include: equipment, experts, participants and volunteers.

A methodology for prioritising management tasks for an extensive recreational walking track system

Abstract: Land management requires the setting of priorities so that limited resources can be allocated to maximum effect. Priorities inevitably have a subjective component, which can be minimised by using systematic and transparent methodologies to derive them. A method for priority setting introduces several potential advantages to a management process, in particular a sound basis for justifying priorities to managers and stakeholders alike. This paper describes a methodology that was developed for prioritising management tasks across a 1700 km recreational walking track system in Tasmania, Australia. Priorities were calculated numerically within a framework of seven components, based on assessments of factors such as environmental impacts, visitor safety and conformity to Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) standards. The methodology yielded logical results, was easy to use and was readily accepted by management staff. With suitable modifications it could be adapted for use in other land management applications and in other regions and environments.

Updating the manager׳s toolbox: Mapping spatio-temporal trends in freshwater fishing

Abstract: Wildlife-associated recreation is culturally and economically important, yet relative participation in the United States is declining. To address concerns of recreation managers, we present an innovative way to assess temporal trends and the spatial distribution of licensees in conjunction with demographic, economic, biophysical and social datasets. Geocoding license-based wildlife-associated recreation (i.e., fishing and hunting) provides a cost-effective strategy for monitoring spatio-temporal changes and learning about a community. We demonstrate this approach by calculating the retention, recruitment and loss of licensed freshwater recreational anglers in North Carolina between 2008 and 2010, and examining the demographic profile of areas with the greatest loss of anglers from 2008 to 2010. We describe how geocoding licenses can help assess the sustainability of a recreational fishery and the quality of fishing resources. Tracking trends in license purchases can provide recreation managers with insight to make informed decisions in recruitment strategies, and avert overuse or overcrowding. Management implications • Geocoding of license information provides a cost-effective, widely-available technology to monitor spatial and temporal changes of licensed wildlife-associated recreationists. • Changes in the spatial distribution of licensed anglers through time can provide insight into where recruitment and retention (e.g., outreach and advertising) are most needed. • Joining license data to biophysical, demographic and socioeconomic data in a spatial context can provide managers stronger information for strategic planning and investment