Title: Applying Social Science to Outdoor Recreation Management
1Applying Social Science to Outdoor Recreation
Management
2Todays presentation
- What is social science?
- How does social science apply to outdoor
recreation management? - Case study Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland
Area
3What is social science?
- Science that studies society and the
relationships of individuals within society. - Generally includes
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Political Science
4Why is social science different from other types
of science?
- Non-laboratory settings common
- Quasi experimental designs common
- Qualitative methods frequently used
5Social science research methodologies
- Qualitative data collection
- Interviews
- Observations
- Focus group sessions
- Quantitative data collection
- Surveys
- Counts (e.g., of users, recreational license
holders, etc)
6How is social science related to outdoor
recreation research?
- Study sociology and psychology in recreational
settings. - Research topics can include
- Interactions between recreating individuals
- Factors that motivate individuals to recreate
- Environmental impacts of individuals on areas
used for recreation
7How is social science research in recreation
implemented?
- Identify issue (i.e., research question)
- Identify user groups
- Assess setting for research
- Identify most suitable data collection methods
- Conduct research
- Identify how to apply results to setting
8Case study Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and
Wetland Area (ELODWA)
9(No Transcript)
10- 7 Public Areas
- 3 state wildlife management areas
- 2 state parks
- 1 state natural area
- 1 TNC preserve
11History of collaboration
- Early 1980s
- High visitor-caused impacts to dune ecosystem
- Fragmented ownership
- State county agencies
- NGOs
- Private property owners
- Funding needed for dune education and protection
- Ontario Dune Coalition
- Informal committee structure
12The Coalitions primary concern
- How can environmental impacts from visitor use be
minimized?
13Early efforts
- Identified areas with erosion
- Identified and implemented visitor management
strategies
14Visitor management
15Visitor management
16Visitor management
17Interpretive Program
Signage
18Interpretive Program
Guidebook and brochures
19Interpretation Program
Dune Steward Program
20The Coalitions next concern
- Are our management strategies working?
21Three approaches to evaluation
- Visitor use study
- Visitor survey
- Photomonitoring study
22Purposes of Visitor Use Study
- To assess trends in visitor use.
- To identify locations where use is concentrated.
- To identify factors that influence visitor use
(e.g., weather). - To create a strategy for monitoring use in the
future.
23Methods
- Review existing data
- Assess each property open to the public
- Based on access points and observed use,
designate Zones -
24Indirect Count Method
- For each zone, collect
- Full counts on randomly selected days
- Daily spot counts
- Weather data
- An equation was calculated for each zone in each
public area. For example
Visitor Use a b1(Day) b2(Spot Count)
25Developing a monitoring protocol
- Data found to be significant in determining total
visitor use - Day of the week (weekend, weekday)
- Daily spot count
26Results
Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Area
Estimated number of visitors
27Results
Public areas within ELODWA
Estimated number of visitors
28Results
Sandy Pond Natural Area
Estimated number of visitors
29Purpose of visitor survey
- To identify visitor demographics.
- To identify interpretive media used by visitors.
- To identify if the ELODWAs interpretive message
was being successfully communicated to visitors.
30Visitor survey
- 2-page on-site survey completed in 1997 and
2003/04 - 1997 93 visitors surveyed
- 2003/04 359 visitors surveyed
31Demographic Results
- 93 of respondents from NY
- 40 from Jefferson or Oswego Counties
- Group composition
- Family (44)
- Friends (23)
- Family Friends (23)
- Alone (10)
- Repeat visitors 80
- Length of stay/visit 5 hours
32Results
33Results
- Small interpretive signs
- 91 (2003/04) had seen the signs.
- 93 (of the 91 above) indicated that signs
encouraged them to stay out of the dunes. - Approval of signs
- 83 yes, 16 neutral, 1 no
34Results
35Results
- Is message getting across?
- Used open-ended questions
- 78 (2003/04) and 94 (1997) stated that beach
grass anchors sand. - 93 (2003/04) and 98 (1997) were able to
identify one visitor behavior that causes erosion
36Purposes of Photomonitoring
- To identify changes in vegetative cover on dunes.
- To identify changes in dune profile.
37Photomonitoring
- 35 sites throughout ELODWA between 1997 and 2005
- 5-point scale of changes in dune appearance
- 0 no change
- 1 less than 25 vegetation cover change on
exposed sand - 2 25 to 50 vegetation cover change
- 3 over 50 vegetation coverage change
- 4 complete vegetation coverage increased
dune profile
38Results
- Ratings of 2 to 4 in 74 of sites
Rating 4, Sandy Pond Natural Area
39Results
- Ratings of 2 to 4 in 74 of sites
Rating 2, Black Pond WMA
40Results
- 9 slight change (rating of 1)
- 17 had no change (rating of 0)
Rating 1, Black Pond WMA
41Outcomes of study
- Data collection protocol established
- Interpretive message is getting across to most
visitors - Positive changes in dune vegetation and profile
- Future management strategies
- Refocus of ELODWA staff on remote zones
- Staffing increased in Lakeview
- Additional efforts needed at Deer Creek
- Similar study proposed for Salmon River
42In conclusion
- Social science is useful for land use management
because - Its focused on both the users the environment.
- It can be used to identify management strategies
that take into account users. - It can provide balance between the needs of users
and of the environment.
43Any questions?