Balancing Ecotourism and Resource Protection on Public Lands Alan R. Graefe, Ph.D. The Pennsylvania State University
Recreation and the Environment: A Reciprocal Relationship • Participation in outdoor recreation/tourism is enhanced by an appealing environment • Desire/need for recreation/sports/tourism leads to preservation and protection of natural environments • But a balance is needed: recreation must be managed in harmony with nature
Presentation Overview • Review management processes and frameworks used by public land managing agencies • Examine a case study of a public/private partnership for ecotourism in Pennsylvania
Management Frameworks • Recreation Opportunity Spectrum • Benefits-Based Management • Carrying Capacity/LAC/VIM
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum • Developed by the U.S. Forest Service • Land classification system • Continuum of experiences ranging from primitive to highly developed • ROS matches desired experiences with the appropriate recreation setting
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Primitive
Semi-primitive Non-motorized
Semi-primitive motorized
Rural
Roaded Natural
Urban
Benefits Based Management • Extension of ROS • Focuses on the benefits that result from recreation • Benefits fall into five categories: – – – – –
Physical health Psychological health Social Economic Environmental
Benefits-Based Management Location in time and space •Social Position •Previous Experience •Perceptions, Beliefs, Values, Preferences, Skills, Abilities
Physical-aesthetic characteristics of setting
Opportunities
PARTICIPANTS Constraints Behavior and action
Personal-social relationships
LIFE EXPERIENCES
OUTCOMES
Carrying Capacity Frameworks • Carrying capacity has been one of the most studied topics in the recreation field for over 40 years • Focus is on managing areas to reduce environmental and social impacts • Complex blend of scientific research and value judgments by resource managers
The Carrying Capacity Model
Descriptive
Management Parameters
Impact Parameters Recreation Carrying Capacity
Evaluative
Management Objectives
Evaluative Standards
Carrying Capacity Frameworks
• Limits of Acceptable Change • Visitor Experience and Resource Protection • Visitor Impact Management
Limits of Acceptable Change Set Objectives and Standards
Inventory Conditions
Are Objectives/Standards Being Met? Monitor
Monitor yes
Continue Current Management
no
Change Management
A Problem of Definition: What is a Carrying Capacity Study • An interesting irony – Places with established capacities with no data or studies to back them up – Places that have studies, but still have not determined capacity
• Need to include studies of the impacts of increasing recreational use, not just those called “capacity studies”
Case Study
• Nature Quest is a geotourism enterprise offering educational nature-based experiences in the PA Wilds (north central Pennsylvania), including: natural history and cultural resource interpretation horse-drawn covered wagon rides through the PA Grand Canyon guided (hiking, horseback, biking, and floating) nature tours within the Pennsylvania Wilds (service coupled with Mountain Trail Horse Center and Pine Creek Outfitters),
Problem Statement • Nature Quest wants to expand its operations to become the premiere ecotourism provider in the area • Existing providers (including NQ) are Mom and Pop operations trying to survive in the economically depressed region • State of PA created the PA Wilds as a major marketing campaign, depending on ecotourism and outdoor recreation to assist this region economically • NQ needs assurance from the State that it will be allowed to expand enough to be economically viable • State DCNR supports the concept, but is worried about visitor impacts and the carrying capacity of the state lands
Mission of Nature Quest • to be a vehicle in facilitating spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional involvement with the environment and realizing its dependency on the earth and inclusion as part of the whole • to create a financial cooperative effort for the community at large, the participants, and private enterprises • to influence the value set on open space as an important and profit producing resource
Bottom line: mission is compatible with State’s goals for the area
Public-Private Partnership • Need for public and private sector participation • Multiple state agencies involved – State Forests – State Parks – PA Game Commission – PA Fish and Boat Commission – PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development
Benefits of the Public-Private Partnership • NQ provides benefits to three groups – Local communities – Area visitors/tourists – PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
• Types of benefits include: – – – – – – – –
Skills, equipment, knowledge Stewardship and education Safety Increase use/demand Increased interpretive staff and capability Tourism marketing Recreational opportunities Community and economic development
Challenges of the Public-Private Partnership • • • •
Type of agreement/permits required Interagency coordination How to address carrying capacity What management and impact parameters should be used • What kinds of use restrictions/regulations are appropriate • What about fees and charges
Current Status • • •
Feasibility study complete NQ is seeking funding for lodge development Operating plans and agreements are being negotiated
Stay tuned – only the future will tell
Questions?