Recreation Ecology - PowerPoint Presentation

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Recreation Ecology

Glyn BissixSlide2

Glyn Bissix, Kate Rive

& Darren Kruisselbrink

Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Knowledge and Adherence to Minimal-impact Techniques on the Cape Split Trail.Slide3

Journal Publication

Rive, K.; Bissix, G. & Kruisselbrink, D. (In Press)

Identifying Key Messages to Encourage Minimal Impact on the Cape Split Trail.

Liesure/Loisir: The Journal of the Canadian Association of Leisure Research. Volume 33 (2009), No. 2.Slide4

Presentation Outline

Purpose

The Location

Theoretical FrameworkThe MethodologyThe ResultsConclusions

Future Research

Acknowledgements:

The authors are indebted to

Jeffrey Marion and Melissa Daniels of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for permission to use the Leave No Trace questionnaire developed by them and for Dr. Marion’s continued assistance throughout the study.Slide5

Purpose

This study’s general purpose was to provide resource managers guidance in developing indirect management strategies for the Cape Split Trail and trail systems like it, and suggest additional direction for future research.

This study identified the present level of Leave No Trace (LNT) knowledge of users and potential users of the

Cape Split Trail in Nova Scotia, CanadaIt also assessed respondents’ environmental ethic and their corresponding self-reported behavior when engaged in recreation on the trail.Slide6

Cape

Split

Nova

Scotia

Canada

Study LocationSlide7

The

Cape Split Trail

It provides a useful context for this study as it has experienced extensive (unmanaged) recreational impact over several decades

It is currently a provincial park reserve; it has an extensively used trail situated within “1200 acres (405 hectares) of the Blomidon Peninsula”, located at the easterly tip of North Mountain, Nova Scotia

Visitors seek its unique combination of biological and geological features as well as its isolation. The terrain is diverse, from steep basalt cliffs to flowered meadows and sheltered streams hosting a diverse range of species.

Situated adjacent to the highest tides in the world where the Bay of Fundy meets the Minas Basin.

Full provincial park designation, while likely providing more active management, is also likely to create even greater demand and amplify the need to address ecological impacts. Slide8

Cape SplitSlide9

Cape Split Development ConceptSlide10

The Theoretical Framework - Assumptions

Minimal impact knowledge levels, user behaviour and severity of impact is inter-reliant.

The deficiency of one factor, such as minimal impact knowledge levels substantially affects other factors such as appropriate user behaviour and impact severity.

The Little SplitSlide11

Need for Theoretical Explication

The need for understanding the efficacy of minimal impact educational campaigns is supported by

1) the continued demand for high quality outdoor recreation spaces that positively impact quality of life,

2) the need to better understand the relationship between outdoor recreation user knowledge and their ecological impacts, and 3) the requirement for a cost effective management approach to protect backcountry recreation spaces. Slide12

The Applied Theoretical Underpinnings of LNT

The LNT program acknowledges the impact of outdoor recreation on the ecological community (soils, vegetation, water, wildlife and people) and prescribes strategies to significantly reduce these impacts.

Its theoretical proposition: If you have the following knowledge you will minimize ecological and social

impact. The seven principles are:

Plan ahead and prepare

Camp and travel on durable surfaces

Pack it in, pack it out

Properly dispose of what you cannot pack out

Leave what you find

Minimize use and impact of fires

Respect wildlife and others. Slide13

How would you go about studying the effectiveness of minimal impact education?Slide14

Methodology

Respondents represented either current or potential users of the Cape Split Trail.

Five groups from three distinct populations were sampled;

users of the Cape Split Trail; members of a nature appreciation society--the Blomidon Naturalists Society;

and three undergraduate classes drawn from Recreation Management, Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies at the same university.

Other than the trailhead group, all respondents were selected through purposive sampling based on convenient access to appropriate populations. Slide15

Survey Design

Substantially based on a question bank developed by Marion and Daniels (2001)

Previously validated and tested by LNT staff, advocates, and agency partners (Daniels, 2004)

Knowledge-based questions that gave useful insights into attitudes, beliefs and behavior (Weisburg, H.,

Krosnick

, J. & Bowen, B., 1989), and also provided links between knowledge and corresponding actions

The resulting set of questions were screened and validated through a two stage process by a panel of local experts; the second stage involved a modified Delphi technique (Dick, 2000; Dunham, 1996).

A parallel sampling technique was used to collect and compare data from various groups (

Mitra

& Lankford, 1999) Slide16

Survey Analysis

In total 219 surveys were completed.

The survey results were analyzed to identify differences in the knowledge levels and self-reported adherence to the seven LNT minimal impact principles.

Percentage and mean response values of the sample populations rather than more sophisticated statistical tests were determined adequate to reveal the differing knowledge and behavior of the canvassed segments (Mitra

& Lankford, 1999; Veal, 1997).

Without an existing standardized interpretative protocol, author judgment served to determine the satisfactory level of knowledge and self-reported behavior.

Threshold levels were based on the perceived consequences, in the collective minds of the authors, of insufficient knowledge and inappropriate behavior. Slide17

The Results & DiscussionSlide18
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Conclusions

Substantial room for improvement in knowledge, ethics and behaviour

Need for focused and targeted LNT type education as well as more generalized messages for the general public

Focus educational efforts on weaknesses identified in Table 4.Results suggest priorities for on-site LNT messagesWeaknesses raise the question as to whether Indirect Management Methods would be sufficient to protect the Cape Split environment.Slide22

Table 4:

Key LNT Educational Needs

Durability

Human WasteDirty Dish Water

Respecting Others

Plan Ahead

Campfire Alternatives

Encourage “Camp & Travel on Durable Surfaces

Encourage proper disposal of human waste

Provide facts on how to properly dispose of dirty dishwater

Promote respect for other wilderness visitors

Encourage users to plan ahead

Promote refrain or

lessen

impact from campfiresSlide23

Recommendations for Future Research

Apply questionnaire to several popular hiking locations.

Identify and survey other potential user groups such as Outdoor Equipment Store patrons and employees.

Survey and observe actual user behaviour as participant observer (Ellis, 2005).Design, apply and evaluate the effectiveness of LNT messages on site.Slide24

Questions and Comments