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Protected areas (PAs) in the United States are lands and waters that are: 1) dedicated to the preservation of biological diversity and other natural, recreational, and cultural uses, and 2) managed for these purposes through legal or other effective means ([19]). Media attention is often given to the effects of droughts, hurricanes, and fires on PAs, but in the Southeast, sea-level rise and increased coastal storm damage, including beach erosion, are major issues for PAs, especially given their importance for tourism. Protected areas of the southeastern U.S. Data were obtained from the Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 3.0: [19]). state under some form of protection, followed by Virginia (Table 1). Recreation took on a more important role in southeastern PAs as postwar America saw an increase in leisure time, greater and more affordable access to neighboring states and regions via automobiles and an expanding road system, and an increased demand for outdoor activities. [Extracted from the article]

Natural ecological protection in protected areas involves the restriction of land use patterns and their intensity. Typically, the goal of land use is to balance environmental protection with community development. Nature education and ecological experiences in protected areas encourage visitor environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) which supports the sustainable use of land in national parks and reduces the degradation of natural environments. The existing research literature has a focus on ways of facilitating ERB through rational and external influences. However, individual behaviors are contextual and specific situations affect behavior. This research used environmental knowledge as a rational factor and situations were viewed as a moderator in stimulating ERB based on situational cognition theory. A knowledge-situation-behavior latent variable moderator model was constructed and tested with visitor survey data from Shennongjia National Park, Hubei Province, China. The findings showed that situations had a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between environmental knowledge and ERB. Books, articles, authors and familiar people had a significant positive moderating effect on ERB, as did environmental interpretation and staff guidance. Precise measures to promote the ERB of national park visitors were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeing wildlife in natural habitat is an exciting and powerful experience for national park visitors but is risky for visitors and wildlife alike. National parks have long used educational approaches to inspire visitors to engage in conservation behavior and protect themselves from harm. With record visitation in recent years, national parks must hone their communication strategies that support wildlife conservation and reduce wildlife-caused injuries to visitors. We tested a campaign that strongly promoted the visitor's experience as it aligns with wildlife protection. We measured its effect on how close people approached wildlife in four US national parks. The campaign resulted in fewer visitors observed within unsafe distances to wildlife in three of the four parks. We recommend parks use messages emphasizing the visitor experience gained by engaging in the desired behavior rather than messages that only highlight the importance of wildlife protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National parks in the United States experience a significant number of annual visits, and with increasing popularity, injuries are expected to rise. This study aims to assess fatal injuries in the top ten most visited U.S. national parks from 2013 to 2022 to improve current policies and develop effective prevention strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted using public National Park Service data. Data including visitor demographics, injury cause, and location, were collected. Fatal injuries were categorized by season, age group, and gender. Summer had the highest total number of fatal injuries. The winter season had the highest rate of fatal injuries per 10 million visitors. The number of fatal injuries per 10 million visitors decreased from 2013 to 2022 for most parks. The South Region reported the highest total number of fatalities. The West Region demonstrated higher rates when adjusted for visitor volume. Fatal injuries were most prevalent in the 35–44 age group, followed by the 15–24 and 25–34 age groups, with the least incidents in the 0–14 age group, and were more common among males (71.5 % of total injuries). This study found the highest number of total injuries occurring in summer; however, winter presented a higher risk per visitor. Slips and falls were the most common cause of injuries, requiring targeted safety measures. Males in the 35–44 age group reported the highest fatality rates. These findings highlight the necessity for improved monitoring and reporting to better understand injury causes and formulate specific, evidence-based policies for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academics have frequently used and endorsed the Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) approach for national park management. However, it is only minimally used by public agencies such as national park organisations. This study explores the potential that managers of Finnish national parks see in the PPGIS approach in the context of planning for the visitor use of parks. Ten semi-structured interviews with managers of Parks and Wildlife Finland were conducted. The managers perceived that PPGIS could help in optimising site management, and preferred PPGIS studies that are practical and clearly connected to planning site management actions. They envisioned a mobile phone application that would allow mapping visitor experiences on the spot. Overall, the managers were open to adopting place-based planning practices. The study increases the understanding of public agencies' views towards PPGIS. It also produces practical information for conducting PPGIS case studies as well as for integrating PPGIS tools into planning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse and omnipresent social media platforms in contemporary society have fundamentally changed the way people interact with their world. Parks and protected areas are no exception. Although outdoor recreation and tourism research has embraced social media from a utilitarian perspective, very few studies evaluate how social media influences visitor use, experiences, and behaviors. This research note is designed to provide a research agenda for investigating the relationship between social media, visitor use and experience, and parks and protected areas. It identifies four critical themes that act as a platform for further research with respect to social media: 1) the influence of social media on visitor behaviors, 2) using social media to enhance and facilitate the visitor experience, 3) reaching intended audiences, and 4) understanding management perspectives. Collectively, inquiry into these four themes can improve our understanding of how social media influences contemporary and future management of parks and protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, the US National Park Service faced a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog. To address this backlog, they announced plans to increase entrance fees in 17 of the most visited parks. As fees are a component of the travel cost, we consider price change effects on demand for park entry. Demand for the 17 parks is shown to be inelastic. Recognizing that spending in gateway communities is complementary to national park visitation, we use Yellowstone National Park as a case study on entrance fee increase effects on gateway communities. We estimate a $3.4 million annual loss in gateway community spending by visitors as a result of reduced visitation by those visitors who choose not to purchase a 7-day pass. Acknowledging the diminishing effect of the fee increase on travel costs, we further explore alternative means of structuring fees based on examples of other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few decades, Brazilian National Parks followed a paradigm suggesting that public use is only a superfluous activity that can be developed after the full implementation of a Protected Area, which we refer to as the "cherry on the cake paradigm." This case study aims at discussing whether the increase of public use activities is related to the development of other management activities. This is done by using selected indicators from Serra dos Orgaos National Park (SONP) and investigating aspects of the history of this protected area. The results indicate that if it is not possible to conclude that public use causes improvement in other management activities, there is a strong relationship between the number of visitors and other management indicators. In contrast to what happens in Brazil, our results suggest that public use should be taken into account by protected area managers from the moment of its creation. By doing this, public use contributes significantly to protected areas' image improvement and to the gain of allies for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in temperature and precipitation can affect tourist experiences. This study examines how summer park visitation has changed in response to temperature and precipitation extremes. The study goals were two-fold. The first is to introduce a framework and the second is to test it in a pilot region with four mountainous National Parks. The framework is designed to compare the vulnerability of seasonal park visitation to shifts in a combined indicator of temperature and precipitation. It uniquely considers needed measurements, and the data required to conduct an analysis. The second goal is to test it in four destinations in the U.S. Northern Rockies, including Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. The preliminary test reveals outlier cases of visitation under wet and dry extremes. The analysis connects time series climate and visitation data for the peak summer season from 1991-2012. Outlier analysis illustrates more change in extremely dry conditions, with four out of the six dry-year outliers resulting in a visitation decline. Whether this decline in park tourism is attributable to climate features, economic factors, or conscious management decisions, these drops have significant economic impacts: estimates of changes in visitor spending during dry years are between roughly 9 and 90 million USD. These differences may be connected to the popular activities in each park, and the extent they are dependent on weather conditions. This framework can be used to test the relationship between climate and tourism visitation in other regions, in various seasons and time frames. The work may inform the tourist sector in adjusting and planning for a range of conditions. We discuss opportunities and conclude with additional needs for understanding the mechanisms behind risk in mountain park tourism under climate extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the visitors' satisfaction levels to find out if satisfaction levels were decreasing due to the increased visitation levels at southern Utah national parks, which had experienced double digit visitation increases the past two years. The parks included in this study are Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park. Surveys were collected from visitors to these three parks on September 15, 2015 (the Saturday of Labor Day weekend) and on September 19, 2015 (a Saturday two weeks later) to examine the different satisfaction levels of very busy and less busy time frames. The results of this study revealed that the percent of visitors that were either satisfied or very satisfied were comparable for the two dates, but the percent of very satisfied visitors was lower for the holiday time frame. Common park features that drive visitor satisfaction were identified. Steps that can be taken to assist visitor satisfaction were also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demographic composition of the United States is increasingly diverse, but racial/ethnic minority groups are substantially underrepresented in visiting national parks. Transportation is needed to provide access to national parks but may not be equally accessible to all groups in society. This study uses a general population survey of New York City residents to examine the role of transportation in visiting national parks by three racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic, Black, and White). Principle study variables were perceived barriers to visiting national parks and the importance of transportation-related incentives in encouraging visits to national parks. Study results identified three categories of barriers: comfort and safety, expense, and accessibility; Hispanics perceive higher levels of barriers than do Whites and Blacks. Transportation incentives may increase national park visitation, especially by Hispanics. Survey findings partially support the marginality and discrimination hypotheses, and suggest potentially effective strategies to increase park visitation by minority racial/ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research contributes to a better understanding of visitors’ preferences and behavioural patterns in national parks and protected areas. A conceptual model is proposed to explain why visitors prefer particular nature- or culture-based activities. It integrates three components – outdoor recreation participation, expectancy-value and environmental attitudes. The New Environmental Paradigm is used to capture environmental attitudes, and the motivations for travelling to parks are based on the push and pull motivation factors. Structural equation modelling is used to test the proposed model using data from 401 domestic visitors to Portuguese parks and other protected areas. Results show that nature-based sports are influenced by motivation to do adventurous sports and by social norms; the pro-environmental attitudes, the motivation to enjoy nature and the influence of others affect the interest in interpretation activities; the model’s strongest impact on recreation activities is from culture-related motives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In most cases, transportation planning in national parks and public lands might most appropriately be termed “demand-driven.” In this approach, rigorous analyses of park visitation, traffic, and parking data are used as a basis for transportation planning to accommodate current and projected future visitor demand, within financial constraints. Performance measures used to assess the quality of transportation systems in national parks are generally related to “moving people” efficiently. This approach is based on well-established principles for transportation planning in urban and rural communities. However, a demand-driven approach to transportation planning may not be suitable in national parks and public lands because it may enable levels of visitation that cause visitor crowding, resource impacts, and other unintended consequences. This paper introduces a more sustainable, systems-based transportation planning approach developed in the Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO) to help the park operate its shuttle bus system efficiently and conveniently, and according to thresholds for visitor crowding and resource impacts at sites serviced by the shuttle system. The transportation planning approach developed in this study for ROMO is more suitable and sustainable for national parks and public lands than a demand-driven approach, and is readily adaptable to other locations. Correspondingly, the approach is now being applied in several other national parks and public lands recreation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Visitor activities within national parks are important information for park management. Currently, national parks and nature-based recreation area worldwide have no systematic visitor activity data collection schemes. Traditional visitor movement or activity data collection methods used in tourism studies are often costly in money and time and difficult to implement. This paper presents a framework and formal procedure that uses geotagged photos crowdsourced from social media platforms to uncover visitor activities within national parks. First, the daily individual space-time paths are constructed from the photo geotags and timestamps for all visitors. Then the following information is derived from the space-time paths: 1) four activity types including stationary, walking, vehicle riding, and flying; 2) the total time of various visitor activities in a park; 3) visitor flow directions aggregated to a grid; 4) a graph constructed from space-time paths and the directed and undirected connections (flows) between POIs; and 5) the centrality of POIs derived from the graph. A case study of four highly visited U.S. national park units from 2008 to 2021 demonstrates the process and capabilities of the method. It also reveals a trend of increased walking time and decreased stationary time in the case study parks over the years. Although this study is only based on Flickr photos, the method can be implemented with data derived from any social media platforms as long as geotags and timestamps are available. The method may be used to monitor visitor activities and movements within national parks and other outdoor recreation areas, especially remote and unmonitored locations. • It presents a framework and formal procedure for uncovering visitor activities within national parks • Space-time paths of individual visitors are constructed from geotagged photos obtained from social media platforms • Four activity types are derived from visitor space-time paths: stationary, walking, vehicle riding, and flying • A case study is conducted in four highly visited U.S. national parks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land managers rely on visitation data to inform policy and management decisions. However, visitation data is often costly and burdensome to obtain, and provides a limited depth of information. In this paper, we assess the validity of using crowd-sourced, online photographs to infer information about the habits and preferences of recreational visitors by comparing empirical data from the National Park Service to photograph data from the online platform Flickr for 38 National Parks in the western United States. Using multiple regression analysis, we find that the number of photos posted monthly in a park can reliably indicate the number of visitors to a park in a given month. Through additional statistical testing we also find that the home locations of photo-takers, provided voluntarily on an online profile, accurately show the home origins of park visitors. Together, these findings validate a new method for measuring recreational visitation, opening an opportunity for land managers worldwide to track and understand visitation by augmenting current data collection methods with crowd-sourced, online data that is easy and inexpensive to obtain. In addition, it enables future research on how visitation rates change with changes in access, management or infrastructure, weather events, or ecosystem health, and facilitates valuation research, such as travel cost studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses impact of public access on landscape and wildlife of the Yosemite National Park, California such as construction of wide paved roads, exploitation of wildlife, and complete fire suppression resulting in meadows disappearance; and mentions its impact on environment degradation.

This article explores the framing mechanisms used by an embedded civil society network of urban planners, architects, and journalists in the burgeoning city of Hanoi, Vietnam, to structure the terms of debate in a controversy over the use of public space in Reunification Park. The network drew on the values of collectivism, modernization, and nationalism propagated under the socialist government’s ‘civilized city’ campaign in order to pressure the city government to preserve green space in its largest park and cease development plans for a hotel. By analyzing the content of the investigative reporting on the SAS hotel investment controversy in Reunification Park covered by the online journal of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, this article demonstrates how this embedded civil society network used methods of ‘rightful resistance’ in framing the issue, pressuring the government to be accountable to its own purported values. It shows that there are social movements both associated with, and outside of, the Vietnamese state that are competing in the construction of meaning around the debate of citizen rights to public green space in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper analyzed characteristics of railway heritage, and introduced several models for the protection and reutilization of railway heritage worldwide, and also a few cases. Taking Jiangshu Railway Relics Park and White Pagoda Park in Hangzhou City for example, the paper explored domestic cases of protecting and reusing railway heritage, and pointed out the directions for railway heritage protection and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Isle Royale National Park is a remote island in northern Lake Superior that attracts 16,000 visitors annually. The epidemiology of injuries and illnesses sustained by Isle Royale׳s visitors has not been previously studied. The purpose of this study is to examine these data and evaluate them for injury patterns. Methods This is a retrospective observational study examining the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses sustained during the period from 2008 to 2012. Incident reports completed by park rangers were reviewed and the data sorted according to time of year, time of day, type of medical encounter, and whether the patient was stable, unstable, or required transport. Results Two hundred and seventy patient care reports were obtained from the National Park Service. Sixty-four percent of encounters occurred in July and August, and most patients sought care in the afternoon. Care was provided by park rangers, the majority of whom were trained to the level of emergency medical technician. Fifty-eight percent of cases were trauma related, and 20% of all cases were evacuated. Conclusions The majority of incidents were trauma related. The majority of the rangers on the island are trained to the level of emergency medical technician-B and appear to offer appropriate care to the island’s many visitors, utilizing the National Park Service treatment protocols and comprehensive medical kits. In addition, access to advanced medical care is readily available by air and water evacuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viewing bears along roadside habitats is a popular recreational activity in certain national parks throughout the United States. However, safely managing visitors during traffic jams that result from this activity often requires the use of limited park resources. Using unique visitor survey data, this study quantifies economic values associated with roadside bear viewing in Yellowstone National Park, monetary values that could be used to determine whether this continued use of park resources is warranted on economic grounds. Based on visitor expenditure data and results of a contingent visitation question, it is estimated that summer Park visitation would decrease if bears were no longer allowed to stay along roadside habitats, resulting in a loss of 155 jobs in the local economy. Results from a nonmarket valuation survey question indicate that on average, visitors to Yellowstone National Park are willing to pay around $41 more in Park entrance fees to ensure that bears are allowed to remain along roads within the Park. Generalizing this value to the relevant population of visitors indicates that the economic benefits of allowing this wildlife viewing opportunity to continue could outweigh the costs of using additional resources to effectively manage these traffic jams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses various developments in relation to historic site interpretation and localized education activities involving the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) as of 2014, focusing on services for NPS visitors and a Fort Vancouver Mobile project which includes the creation of a park-related mobile application (app). The NPS' Interpretation and Education Renaissance Action Plan is mentioned, along with mobile tourist guides and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies.

The importance of managing visitor expectations has been highlighted in natural and protected areas. However, minimal research has been completed on visitor expectations of contact with staff in national parks and protected areas. Staff can play an important role in delivering information and in interpreting significant natural and heritage attributes. This research aims to address this gap by examining visitors' expectations regarding staff contact at one protected site, Cape Byron State Conservation Area (CBSCA) in New South Wales, Australia. A mixed method approach including interviews with staff and a survey of park visitors was implemented to achieve the research aim. Results indicate that visitors have a diverse range of expectations of park staff regarding when, where, and how staff are expected to provide services and information. Peak-season visitors were more likely to want information about European heritage and the lighthouse than were off-season visitors. Visitors over 25 years of age were significantly more likely to expect information about wildlife, native plants and vegetation, the marine environment, whales and whale watching, Indigenous heritage, European heritage, and recreation opportunities within CBSCA than visitors under 25. Visitors between 36 and 45 years of age were the most likely to participate in activities involving staff. Overall, visitors were no more likely to participate in activities involving staff than in self-directed activities. Finally, some implications for the management of CBSCA and avenues for future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is concern that visitor-use associated activities, such as bathing, dish washing, wastewater production, and stock animal use near lakes and streams, could cause degradation of water quality in Yosemite National Park. A study was conducted during 2004-2007 to assess patterns in nutrient and Escherichia coli ( E. coli) concentrations in the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers and characterize natural background concentrations of nutrients in the park. Results indicated that nutrient and E. coli concentrations were low, even compared to other undeveloped sites in the United States. A multiple linear regression approach was used to model natural background concentrations of nutrients, with basin characteristics as explanatory variables. Modeled nitrogen concentrations increased with elevation, and modeled phosphorus concentrations increased with basin size. Observed concentrations (±uncertainty) were compared to modeled concentrations (±uncertainty) to identify sites that might be impacted by point sources of nutrients, as indicated by large model residuals. Statistically significant differences in observed and modeled concentrations were observed at only a few locations, indicating that most sites were representative of natural background conditions. The empirical modeling approach used in this study can be used to estimate natural background conditions at any point along a study reach in areas minimally impacted by development, and may be useful for setting water-quality standards in many national parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tourism has important impacts, both positive and negative, on the management of coastal areas with high biodiversity value. It is therefore important to investigate visitors’ perceptions concerning environmental policy alternatives for these areas along with the factors influencing these perceptions. The present paper aims to investigate visitors’ perceptions of an important nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles located in a highly touristic area of Greece (Rethymno, Crete) registered in the Natura 2000 network. The paper focuses on the level of environmental awareness of visitors and their perceptions of two proposed policy instruments which will secure funding for the improvement of the environmental management of the area: an entrance fee to the beach and a tax to be levied on local accommodation costs. The influence of social and institutional trust on these perceptions is also explored. According to the results of the study, awareness of the existence of the Natura 2000 site was low. Furthermore, the accommodation tax was regarded as a more effective policy when compared to the entrance fee. Average Willingness to Pay (WTP) was also explored for the two policies, estimated at €1.13 for the daily accommodation tax and €1.59 for the entrance fee. The influence of social and institutional trust had a significant influence both on the perceived level of effectiveness of the proposed policies and the stated Willingness to Pay. The study concludes that the accommodation tax would be a more appropriate policy for the management of Rethymno beach taking into consideration visitors’ perceptions and the current level of trust. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study determined the characteristics of North Carolina Coastal Reserve and North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (jointly referred to as Reserve) visitors, visitor opinions of site conditions, visitor understanding of site management objectives, and patterns of visitation. The latter were investigated to obtain a proxy of place attachment and its effects on knowledge of ownership and perceptions of management. Data were collected on demographics, use patterns, visitor perceptions, and visitor knowledge during the period of 25 May-28 October, 2007. Visitors were educated, wealthy, older, racially homogeneous, and frequent returnees. The majority of respondents supported existing management activities and the implementation of additional use restrictions should site conditions deteriorate. Data indicated that respondents were unaware of which agency manages the Reserve sites or its mission. These findings suggest that management needs to engage in more education of the visiting public. Sensitizing the public to the mission of the Reserve and increasing place attachment could decrease negative visitor impacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the reforms for eminent domain, and the ramifications on the historic preservation community in the U.S. It offers a summary on the opinion behind the Supreme Court case, Kelo v. City of New London, and explains the decision of the court for public use jurisprudence. It describes various state eminent domain reforms with a focus on the blight exemptions, and the statutory redefinitions of blight.

Abstract: Data on visitor use are essential to the planning and management of National Park units in order to assess visitor impacts to the resource, estimate the quality of the visitor experience, and to inform facilities planning. Recently, automated infrared monitors have become a popular tool to estimate visitor-use levels at attraction sites and along trails in national parks and related protected natural areas. However, there are counting errors associated with all automated counters, thus procedures are required to convert raw counter data to accurate estimates of recreational use. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance (i.e., degree of error) of automated trail traffic counters and document procedures to correct counting errors associated with their use to measure visitor use. This study was conducted in Yosemite National Park in the summer of 2007 and used automated visitor counters to estimate visitor use at attraction sites and trailheads in Yosemite Valley. A total of 135h of direct observation counts were conducted in tandem with the use of automated counters at six study sites to estimate counting errors in the automated counter data. A series of statistical procedures was used to calibrate raw monitor data to accurate estimates of visitor use at each of the study sites. Results of the study suggest there is a strong statistical relationship between observation-based visitor counts and monitor counts (R 2 >0.95), which supports confidence in the use of monitors to estimate recreational use in national parks and protected natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health education in nontraditional settings can supplement messages received in more traditional venues, such as schools and health care facilities, and can reach new populations. In 2007, the US National Park Service awarded one-time seed grants of $10 000 or less to 16 parks in 16 states to fund the development of public health-focused programs for visitors. These programs used a wide variety of formats and addressed topics such as air pollution, prevention of vector-borne diseases, and promotion of physical activity in the parks. Almost 12 000 visitors attended the programs in 2007. Most programs were supported by park management and were well received by visitors. National parks and similar settings may be underutilized resources for delivering health messages to the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding the relationship between the number of visits to national parks and their characteristics is crucial for park planning and management. Visitation has a key role in existing national parks, but also in assessing the social and economic impacts of new parks. This study examined how the natural characteristics of a park, the recreation facilities and services inside a park and tourist services in surrounding communities, as well as the park''s location in relation to the population, are associated with the number of visits. Regression modelling was used to analyse the visitation to thirty-five national parks in Finland. The results demonstrated that recreation opportunities, the number of biotopes, the provision of trails and the park''s age increase the number of visits, while the park location in relation to the population only has a significant effect in southern Finland. The results imply the dual role of national parks as resource-based destinations if the natural characteristics are outstanding, but also as more user-oriented areas fulfilling recreation needs in the most populated parts of the country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The author discusses a survey conducted to determine the various uses of Michigan's North Country National Scenic Trail, which is administered by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS). Various rules and regulations pertaining to the limited use of mountain bikes on the trail have been passed down by the NPS since 1968. Although mountain biking is not recommended for the trail, the survey found the majority of trail users utilize the trail for this purpose, along with hiking. While users enjoyed the trail, it sees little use. The author concludes that mountain biking on the trail does not exceed the recommended levels suggested by the NPS.

The article discusses research findings related to the geography of U.S. national parks and recommends some areas where future research is needed. Growing numbers of geographers have found the parks themselves and their management worthy of research since researcher Ronald Foresta's 1984 analysis of the National Park Service (NPS). NPS policy protects natural processes and endangered species while providing baselines for measuring environmental change. In spite of the opposition from many NPS employees to pedestrian recreational pursuits, national park units become desirable vacation spots for visitors immediately after they are established.

The World Heritage Convention rests on the assumption that World Heritage sites hold value for people globally and that these values promote protection of sites. This study focuses on natural sites, selected for environmental significance. All World Heritage sites are also supposed to be of 'outstanding universal value', with a variety of values attributed to them in World Heritage and other documents, including aesthetic, cultural and spiritual values. This study investigates via a survey whether such values are recognized by visitors to natural sites in the USA, and how useful they are for generating support for sites. Most visitors appreciated sites primarily for their environmental importance; a minority recognized other values listed in World Heritage documents, even though most visitors had little understanding of the Convention itself. In general, recognition of World Heritage status did not translate into greater protection or support for sites beyond what they already receive as national parks, even though most visitors and park personnel were supportive of World Heritage goals. For a minority of visitors, the global framework in which the World Heritage Convention operates had negative connotations, owing to questions of how ultimate responsibility for sites should be divided between national and international scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norm stability is an important issue to consider in using the normative approach as a component of resource management decision making. This study examines three major questions related to norm stability: (1) Do norms change over time? (2) Do existing conditions affect norms? (3) Do background characteristics and visitation patterns affect norms? Data used in this study were collected at a campground in the Jirisan National Park (JNP) of Korea in 1993, 1994, and 2003. A total of 396 subjects were used for the study (120 for 1993, 106 for 1994, and 170 for 2003). Changes in the standards for “quiet time” and “seeing others littering” were statistically significant, but there was no change in the standard for “number of other tents.” There was little change in norm agreement or norm prevalence. Existing conditions were strongly correlated with standards for number of other tents but results were mixed for the other two indicators. Users’ demographic characteristics and visitation patterns were not generally related to norms. Findings of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated variation in the prevalence, importance, and stability of normative standards across different settings and activities. None of these studies, however, has directly used the concept of norm strength to help explain this variation. This study used norm strength to explore variation in normative standards at 52 locations in 13 U.S. national parks. The analysis measured and supported five dimensions of norm strength: intensity, consensus, certainty, preference consistency, and management consistency. No significant correlations were found between the five indicators indicating conceptually distinct dimensions of the norm strength concept. The findings support the notion that normative standards matter more at some places and the norm strength concept can help managers better understand these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers discussed at the 2nd Congress on National Parks and other Protected Areas, held in Bariloche, Argentina is presented. The meeting is aimed at the socio-economic aspects of protected areas in Latin-America. Indigenous communities, active organizations and stakeholders in the conservation as well as management of protected areas attended the event.

This study uses three major U.S. national parks as applications of statistically selecting appropriate methods to forecast attendance. Forecasting methods assessed include Naïve 1, Naïve 2, single moving average (SMA), single exponential smoothing (SES), Brown's, Holt's, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), derived time series cross-section regression (TSCSREG), and time series analysis with explanatory variable models. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is used to measure the accuracy of forecasting methods. Based on the MAPE values, SMA produces the most accurate forecasting, followed closely by ARIMA, Brown's, and Naïve 1 models. Holt's and TSCSREG models produce the next most accurate forecasting, followed by SES, time series analysis with explanatory variable model, and Naïve 2. Methods used in this article are readily transferable to other hospitality and tourism data sets with annual visitation figures. Merits and limits of the proposed forecasting methods are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stated choice analysis was used to assess visitors' preferences for alternative combinations of public access, resource protection, visitor regulation, and site hardening to manage the Cadillac Mountain summit. Results provide insight into visitor preferences concerning the management of national park icon sites like the summit of Cadillac Mountain. These areas have received limited research attention. Results suggest that visitors consider resource protection to be a priority and are willing to accept regulation of visitors' behavior onsite reinforced with the use of moderately to highly intensive management structures, but generally don't support limiting the freedom to visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural areas are important interfaces between air quality, the public, science and regulation. In the United States and Canada, national parks received over 315 million visits during 2004. Many natural areas have been experiencing decreased visibility, increased ozone (O3) levels and elevated nitrogen deposition. Ozone is the most pervasive air pollutant in North American natural areas. There is an extensive scientific literature on O3 exposure–tree response in chambered environments and, lately, free-air exposure systems. Yet, less is known about O3 impacts on natural terrestrial ecosystems. To advance scientifically defensible O3 risk assessment for natural forest areas, species-level measurement endpoints must be socially, economically and ecologically relevant. Exposure-based indices, based on appropriate final endpoints, present an underused opportunity to meet this need. Exposure–plant indices should have a high degree of statistical significance, have high goodness of fit, be biologically plausible and include confidence intervals to define uncertainty. They must be supported by exposure–response functions and be easy to use within an air quality regulation context. Ozone exposure–response indices developed within an ambient air context have great potential for improving risk assessment in natural forest areas and enhancing scientific literacy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many national parks around the world are major tourist attractions. While increases in national park tourism provides business opportunities, there are several economic, social and ecological aspects that need to be monitored in order to sustain high quality visitor experiences. This paper reports findings from visitor surveys at Fulufjället National Park, Sweden--one year prior to and one year after the national park designation in 2002. The purpose is to monitor short term changes in park use. Data from on site visitor counters show a 40% increase in the number of visitors, while follow-up mail surveys reveal several changes in visitor characteristics, use patterns, expenditures and attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depreciative behaviors in urban-proximate recreation settings are a major cause of concern due to detrimental impacts of these behaviors on park resources and visitor experiences. Managers are often faced with the question of what level of visitor use can be accommodated in a park or recreation area so that the quality of park resources and visitor experiences do not deteriorate to unacceptable levels. This issue is often addressed through indicator-based planning/management frameworks. While harmful effects of litter and graffiti have received some research attention, little is known about the point at which their presence begins to affect visitors. This study identifies litter and graffiti as important indicators of quality and examines visitor evaluations of a range of litter and graffiti at Georges Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. During the first phase, 695 completed questionnaires were collected in summer 2000, yielding information on the most and least enjoyable aspects of visitor experiences. Litter and graffiti emerged as quality indicators of park resources and visitor experiences. A second visitor survey was conducted in summer 2002. A visual litter evaluation method designed by Keep America Beautiful was adapted and combined with a norm measurement method to measure visitor evaluations of litter and graffiti. The study plan resulted in 223 completed questionnaires. Findings indicated that visitors were able to specify norms for various evaluative dimensions of the amount of litter and graffiti, thereby providing managers with a visitor perspective for managing depreciative behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]