USDA Igniting Research for Outdoor Recreation: Linking Science, Policy
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United States Department of Agriculture Igniting Research for Outdoor Recreation: Linking Science, Policy, and Action NITIATIVE I ISM R OU T & EATION R EC R Forest Pacific Northwest General Technical Report April D E E R Research Station PNW-GTR-987 2020 P Service A U R T LT MENT OF AGRICU In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Editors Steven Selin is a professor, West Virginia University, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, PO Box 6125, Morgantown, WV 26506-6125; Lee K. Cerveny and Dale J. Blahna are research social scien- tists, and Anna B. Miller was a postdoctoral research fellow, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 400 N 34th Street, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103. Cover photos clockwise from top left: African-American women’s walking group in forest near Tacoma, Washington; photo by Trina Baker. Hiker at Olympic National Park, Washington; photo by Keith Routman. Cross-country skier at Mount Hood, Oregon; photo by Jason Blake. Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, Seattle, Washington; photo by Carmen Martinez. Igniting Research for Outdoor Recreation: Linking Science, Policy, and Action Steven Selin, Lee K. Cerveny, Dale J. Blahna, and Anna B. Miller, Editors U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Portland, Oregon General Technical Report PNW-GTR-987 April 2020 Abstract Selin, Steven; Cerveny, Lee K.; Blahna, Dale J.; Miller, Anna B., eds. 2020. Igniting research for outdoor recreation: linking science, policy, and action. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-987. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, For- est Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 257 p. Public lands provide opportunities and settings for people to experience nature and the outdoors. These outdoor experiences are important for human health and well-being and result in visitor spending that benefits local communities. This report shows that new research, tools, and frameworks are needed to help us find new ways to conceptualize outdoor recreation and enhance the ability of public land managers to provide outdoor experiences while protecting natural and cul- tural resources. The report originated from a set of 17 working papers that were developed as part of an initiative among researchers, managers, and policymakers to “ignite the science of outdoor recreation.” These papers were presented at a 2018 science workshop in Golden, Colorado, that convened 88 outdoor recreation profes- sionals to explore high-priority issues, information needs, and research directions. Their intent was to stimulate further questions, catalyze new thinking about recre- ation, and prompt institutional changes in how outdoor recreation and tourism are planned and managed on public lands. Keywords: Outdoor recreation, tourism, public lands, research. Contents 1 Prologue Lee K. Cerveny, Dale J. Blahna, Steven Selin, and Stephen F. McCool 2 Charting a Path Forward 3 Crosscutting Themes of Working Papers 4 What to Sustain? 5 Our Approach 6 References 7 Part I: Why “Reignite” Outdoor Recreation Research and Practice? 9 Chapter 1: The Shifting Outdoor Recreation Paradigm: Time for Change Dale J. Blahna, Francisco Valenzuela, Steven Selin, Lee K. Cerveny, Mike Schlafmann, and Stephen F. McCool 9 Introduction 10 What Is a “Paradigm Shift?” 11 Current Outdoor Recreation Paradigm 15 Challenges for Paradigm Shift 17 Conclusions 18 References 23 Chapter 2: Agency Capacity for Effective Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Lee K. Cerveny, Steven Selin, Dale J. Blahna, Noelle Meier, James R. Barborak, and Stephen F. McCool 23 Purpose 23 Problem Statement 24 Dimension of the Problem: Elements of Agency Capacity 24 Societal Capacity 25 Organizational Capacity 26 Individual Capacity 26 Elements of Organizational Capacity 26 Financial Resources 27 Human Resources 27 Physical and Material Resources 27 Information Resources 28 Management 29 Case Study in Organizational Capacity: Recreation in the U.S. Forest Service 33 New Approaches: Adaptive Capacity and Capacity Building 36 Compelling Questions 36 Conclusions 37 References 41 Chapter 3: Recreation Opportunities and Human Connections on Public Lands: Constraints That Limit Recreation Participation José J. Sánchez, Lee K. Cerveny, Dale J. Blahna, Francisco Valenzuela, and Mike Schlafmann 41 Purpose 41 Problem Statement 42 Dimensions of the Problem 43 Barriers and Challenges 44 New Conceptual Approaches 46 Compelling Questions 46 Synthesis 47 References 51 Chapter 4: Language in the Recreation World Melanie Armstrong and Monika M. Derrien 51 Purpose 51 Problem Statement 54 Dimensions of the Problem and New Conceptual Approaches 58 Compelling Questions 59 Conclusions 60 References 63 Part II: What Is the Nature of Outdoor Experiences? 65 Chapter 5: Rethinking “Outdoor Recreation” to Account for the Diversity of Human Experiences and Connections to Public Lands Dale J. Blahna, Lee K. Cerveny, Daniel R. Williams, Jeffrey D. Kline, Matthew Helmer, Stephen F. McCool, and Francisco Valenzuela 65 Purpose 65 Problem Statement 67 Dimensions of the Problem 68 Barriers and Challenges 71 New Conceptual Approaches and Opportunities 76 Compelling Questions 77 Synthesis and Conclusions 78 References 85 Chapter 6: Nature, Outdoor Experiences, and Human Health Kathleen L. Wolf, Monika M. Derrien, Linda E. Kruger, and Teresa L. Penbrooke 85 Purpose 86 Dimensions and Definitions 87 How Might Recreation Contribute to Human Health? 88 Recreation or Active Living? 90 Human Health Across All Landscapes? 90 Challenges, Barriers, and Opportunities 90 Lifestyle Trends 91 Spanning Disciplines 91 Equity 92 Programs 92 Stewardship 94 New Conceptual Approaches 94 Duration and Dosage 95 Landscape Context 95 Biodiversity and Complexity 95 Targeted Therapies 95 Measures and Metrics 96 Economic Valuation 96 Compelling Questions 96 Conclusions 97 References 101 Chapter 7: Technology and Outdoor Recreation in the Dawning of the Age of Constant and Instant Digital Connectivity Francisco Valenzuela 101 Purpose 101 Problem Statement 103 Dimensions of the Problem 106 Barriers and Challenges 108 New Conceptual Approaches 109 Compelling Questions 110 References 115 Chapter 8: Public Lands, Tourism, and Community Connections Lee K. Cerveny, José J. Sánchez, Matthew Helmer, and Adam Milnor 115 Purpose 116 Problem Statement 118 Barriers and Challenges 122 New Conceptual Approaches 125 Compelling Questions 126 Conclusions 127 References 133 Chapter 9: Global Dimensions: Trends, Lessons, and Collaborative Learning Matthew Helmer, Anna B. Miller, James R. Barborak, Stephen McCool, and Yu-Fai Leung 133 Purpose 133 Problem Statement 134 Dimensions of the Problem: Keeping Up With Increasing International Tour- ism on U.S. Public Lands 135 Barriers and Challenges 136 Ideas for Addressing the Problem: Learning From Others 142 Synthesis: Visions for the Future of Global Sustainable Recreation 143 Compelling Questions 144 References 149 Part III: How? Conceptual Approaches 151 Chapter 10: Laying the Foundation Stephen F. McCool, Steven Selin, and Francisco Valenzuela 151 Our Challenge: Developing and Disseminating Knowledge to Enhance Society’s Relationship With Its Natural Heritage 154 What We Are About 155 The Importance of Vision 155 How Will We Approach This Vision? 157 Identifying the What 157 Conclusions 158 References 161 Chapter 11: A Systems Thinking Approach for Thinking and Reflecting on Sustainable Recreation on Public Lands in an Era of Complexity, Uncertainty, and Change Stephen F. McCool and Jeffrey D. Kline 161 Purpose 161 Problem Statement 163 Dimensions of the Problem 165 Barriers and Challenges 167 Systems Thinking: A New Conceptual Approach 169 Compelling Questions