The Effects of Local Ecological Knowledge, Minimum-Impact Knowledge, and Prior Experience on Visitor Perceptions of the Ecological Impacts of Backcountry Recreation
Authors:
- Ashley D’antonioADAshley D’antonio
- Christopher MonzCMChristopher Monz
- Peter NewmanPNPeter Newman
- Steve LawsonSLSteve Lawson
- Derrick TaffDTDerrick Taff
- 20 July 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Environmental Management
- Vol. 50 (4) , 542-554
Abstract
An on-site visitor survey instrument was developed to examine visitor perceptions of resource impacts resulting from backcountry hiking activities. The survey was conducted in the Bear Lake Corridor of Rocky Mountain National Park, CO and examined visitor characteristics that may influence visitor perceptions of specific resource conditions. Findings indicate that visitors are more perceptive of recreation-related resource impacts that are the result of undesirable behavior and, while visitors do perceive resource impacts, visitors tend to be more affected by crowding. Factors such as local ecological knowledge and knowledge of minimal-impact practices positively influence visitor perceptions of resource impacts. These findings support the use of visitor education on ecological knowledge and minimum-impact as a means of increasing visitor awareness of recreation impact issues.Keywords
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