Pub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100944
Xiao Xiao , Peizhe Li , Steven Lawson
The US National Park Service (NPS) preserves the natural and historical legacy of the country. However, visitation and awareness about NPS units are disproportionate to the demographics of the American public. To bridge this gap, the NPS implemented educational, cultural, and recreational programs, but their effectiveness and outreach to different socio-economic groups are not fully documented in the literature. This study used a nationwide general population survey data (n = 1,334) to investigate the awareness about NPS initiatives among different racial/ethnic groups and identified factors associated with awareness about NPS programs. Results indicated that public awareness of NPS education and recreation programs was generally low, particularly among Black respondents. Visitation status, spatial accessibility, education, age, and annual household income were important factors influencing awareness of NPS programs. Study findings highlighted the importance of NPS initiatives and identified strategies to enhance the relevance of NPS stewardship with the changing American demographic.
{"title":"A nationwide assessment of awareness about US national parks","authors":"Xiao Xiao , Peizhe Li , Steven Lawson","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100944","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100944","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The US National Park Service (NPS) preserves the natural and historical legacy of the country. However, visitation and awareness about NPS units are disproportionate to the demographics of the American public. To bridge this gap, the NPS implemented educational, cultural, and recreational programs, but their effectiveness and outreach to different socio-economic groups are not fully documented in the literature. This study used a nationwide general population survey data (n = 1,334) to investigate the awareness about NPS initiatives among different racial/ethnic groups and identified factors associated with awareness about NPS programs. Results indicated that public awareness of NPS education and recreation programs was generally low, particularly among Black respondents. Visitation status, spatial accessibility, education, age, and annual household income were important factors influencing awareness of NPS programs. Study findings highlighted the importance of NPS initiatives and identified strategies to enhance the relevance of NPS stewardship with the changing American demographic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"52 ","pages":"Article 100944"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145049584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100943
Sarah Grocutt, Colin Wood
Background
There is little research on women who undertake solo pilgrimage walking.
Purpose
This study examined the experiences of women who undertake solo pilgrimage walking, and to consider its impact on their wellbeing.
Methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with eight solo female walkers who had walked between 200 and 1662 km on the via Francigena pilgrimage route. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore the data and draw tentative conclusions.
Findings/conclusions
The study finds that the walkers were seeking solitude, seeking adventure, seeking connection to others, and seeking connection to themselves. The study concludes that solo pilgrimage walking improved participants’ sense of wellbeing by building identity and resilience, and that the search for community was an important part of solo pilgrimage walking experience.
Implications
The study highlights that and that solo pilgrimage walking can be seen as a source of wellbeing as it appears to be a means to release tension, process grief and engage in physical movement that creates a meditative and reflective state.
{"title":"Walking with purpose – Eight solo women's pilgrimage hiking and wellbeing experiences on the via Francigena","authors":"Sarah Grocutt, Colin Wood","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100943","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100943","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There is little research on women who undertake solo pilgrimage walking.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study examined the experiences of women who undertake solo pilgrimage walking, and to consider its impact on their wellbeing.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology/approach</h3><div>Interviews were conducted with eight solo female walkers who had walked between 200 and 1662 km on the via Francigena pilgrimage route. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore the data and draw tentative conclusions.</div></div><div><h3>Findings/conclusions</h3><div>The study finds that the walkers were seeking solitude, seeking adventure, seeking connection to others, and seeking connection to themselves. The study concludes that solo pilgrimage walking improved participants’ sense of wellbeing by building identity and resilience, and that the search for community was an important part of solo pilgrimage walking experience.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>The study highlights that and that solo pilgrimage walking can be seen as a source of wellbeing as it appears to be a means to release tension, process grief and engage in physical movement that creates a meditative and reflective state.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"52 ","pages":"Article 100943"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100945
Emily A. Shirilla
Cultural landscapes are increasingly at risk of damage due to growing recreation tourism activity. This is especially true for public parks and protected areas due to their popularity for hiking, camping, rock climbing, and other activities. Rockshelters often hold valuable archaeological artifacts telling of past peoples and their lifestyle. These cultural landscapes hold contemporary importance to culturally affiliated Indigenous descendant communities as well as recreationists. In Kentucky's Red River Gorge Geological Area, hundreds of cultural sites have been impacted by visitors who may or may not be aware of the full consequences of their activities. This paper presents a review of histories of use in this area. It defines human impacts by developing a risk assessment model that investigates the relationship between destructive impacts to rockshelter sites and patterns in tourist behavior. The model is informed by Forest Service site data and consists of a series of geographic information system-derived variables assessing the impacts of distance and visibility on rockshelter disturbance. This model can be used to inform future heritage and conservation planning.
{"title":"Sheltered in place: Risk assessment modeling and proposed action in the Red River Gorge","authors":"Emily A. Shirilla","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cultural landscapes are increasingly at risk of damage due to growing recreation tourism activity. This is especially true for public parks and protected areas due to their popularity for hiking, camping, rock climbing, and other activities. Rockshelters often hold valuable archaeological artifacts telling of past peoples and their lifestyle. These cultural landscapes hold contemporary importance to culturally affiliated Indigenous descendant communities as well as recreationists. In Kentucky's Red River Gorge Geological Area, hundreds of cultural sites have been impacted by visitors who may or may not be aware of the full consequences of their activities. This paper presents a review of histories of use in this area. It defines human impacts by developing a risk assessment model that investigates the relationship between destructive impacts to rockshelter sites and patterns in tourist behavior. The model is informed by Forest Service site data and consists of a series of geographic information system-derived variables assessing the impacts of distance and visibility on rockshelter disturbance. This model can be used to inform future heritage and conservation planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"52 ","pages":"Article 100945"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study quantifies the economic impact of the Peaks of the Balkans (PoB) Trail, a 192 km transnational hiking trail in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, on rural mountain regions in the post-pandemic Anthropocene. Using Hubert Job's Value-Added Analysis (VAA), the research integrates electronic visitor counting (2024) and expenditure surveys (2023) to estimate visitor numbers, spending patterns, and primary and secondary local income effects. Results show approximately 43,075 hikers annually, with an average daily expenditure of EUR 73.93 per person. The trail generates an estimated EUR 25.48 million in gross annual turnover, contributing EUR 16.28 million in local income effects and supporting the equivalent of 1380 full-time jobs. The findings highlight the PoB Trail's role in driving rural economic development through tourism revenue, job creation, and infrastructure improvements. Building on the adapted methodology, a transferable and cost-efficient model is presented for evaluating the economic effects of long-distance trails on rural communities in emerging economies.The case of the PoB trail exemplifies how long-distance trail destinations can transform local economies while promoting regional cooperation and resilience in the post-pandemic Anthropocene, offering insights into evolving hiker mobilities driven by an intensified desire for nature-based experiences during that period and reinforcing the significance of long-distance trails as both economic assets and a form of movement heritage.
{"title":"Economic impacts of trail destinations: The case of the Peaks of the Balkans trail","authors":"Simon Reuter , Tessa Kemmerling , Theresa Schmalenbach , Claudia Brözel","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study quantifies the economic impact of the Peaks of the Balkans (PoB) Trail, a 192 km transnational hiking trail in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, on rural mountain regions in the post-pandemic Anthropocene. Using Hubert Job's Value-Added Analysis (VAA), the research integrates electronic visitor counting (2024) and expenditure surveys (2023) to estimate visitor numbers, spending patterns, and primary and secondary local income effects. Results show approximately 43,075 hikers annually, with an average daily expenditure of EUR 73.93 per person. The trail generates an estimated EUR 25.48 million in gross annual turnover, contributing EUR 16.28 million in local income effects and supporting the equivalent of 1380 full-time jobs. The findings highlight the PoB Trail's role in driving rural economic development through tourism revenue, job creation, and infrastructure improvements. Building on the adapted methodology, a transferable and cost-efficient model is presented for evaluating the economic effects of long-distance trails on rural communities in emerging economies.The case of the PoB trail exemplifies how long-distance trail destinations can transform local economies while promoting regional cooperation and resilience in the post-pandemic Anthropocene, offering insights into evolving hiker mobilities driven by an intensified desire for nature-based experiences during that period and reinforcing the significance of long-distance trails as both economic assets and a form of movement heritage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"52 ","pages":"Article 100928"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100934
Tim de Kruiff , Thomas Lundhede , Frank Søndergaard Jensen , Christian Gamborg , Jette Bredahl Jacobsen
Grazing and browsing by large herbivores is increasingly being used as a management tool to promote biodiversity. While research has explored their ecological impact, less attention has been given to their effects on the recreational value of nature areas. Given the importance of outdoor recreation for societal welfare, it is crucial to understand how the presence of large herbivores affect recreationists and whether potential negative effects can be mitigated. In a discrete choice experiment among nearly 2900 respondents in Denmark, we investigate the impact of the presence of herbivores and fences on the recreational value of forests. Based on multinomial and mixed logit models, we show that the tree species type, stand age structure, herbivore species, dog access, the number of access roads through a fence and distance significantly influence willingness to travel, whereas the type of access point and fence height are only of limited importance. Herbivore species differ in their impact, with red deer being the most preferred and domesticated livestock least favored. Using a latent class model, we show a minority (11 %) of respondents strongly preferring to visit a forest without large herbivores and fences, while the majority show a positive preference. The results also show that allowing dogs to the forest is crucial for approximately 15 % of respondents. In conclusion, we find that the presence of herbivores and related consequences for access and fencing leads to an aggregated welfare loss for a minority of the population, whereas the majority experience a welfare gain.
{"title":"Rewilding and forest recreational value: A choice experiment analysis of the impact of large herbivores and fences in nature management","authors":"Tim de Kruiff , Thomas Lundhede , Frank Søndergaard Jensen , Christian Gamborg , Jette Bredahl Jacobsen","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100934","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100934","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grazing and browsing by large herbivores is increasingly being used as a management tool to promote biodiversity. While research has explored their ecological impact, less attention has been given to their effects on the recreational value of nature areas. Given the importance of outdoor recreation for societal welfare, it is crucial to understand how the presence of large herbivores affect recreationists and whether potential negative effects can be mitigated. In a discrete choice experiment among nearly 2900 respondents in Denmark, we investigate the impact of the presence of herbivores and fences on the recreational value of forests. Based on multinomial and mixed logit models, we show that the tree species type, stand age structure, herbivore species, dog access, the number of access roads through a fence and distance significantly influence willingness to travel, whereas the type of access point and fence height are only of limited importance. Herbivore species differ in their impact, with red deer being the most preferred and domesticated livestock least favored. Using a latent class model, we show a minority (11 %) of respondents strongly preferring to visit a forest without large herbivores and fences, while the majority show a positive preference. The results also show that allowing dogs to the forest is crucial for approximately 15 % of respondents. In conclusion, we find that the presence of herbivores and related consequences for access and fencing leads to an aggregated welfare loss for a minority of the population, whereas the majority experience a welfare gain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"52 ","pages":"Article 100934"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100937
Andrea Mannberg , Maria Johansson , Eeva Latosuo
Snow and avalanche safety is a male dominated field. The aim of this paper is to increase the knowledge on the gendered conditions and the prerequisites this poses for snow and avalanche safety professionals, and to shed light on why relatively few women enter and stay in the industry. Our analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative data from a survey sent out to avalanche professionals in North America, Continental Europe, and Scandinavia. We inductively coded and categorized responses to open-ended questions into themes based on patterns and commonalities, using a content analysis. We find that avalanche work requires a wide skill set - skills that are traditionally associated with men as well as skills that are traditionally associated with women, and that our participants think that increased diversity at large would benefit the industry. However, our data also reveal persisting cultural and structural gender barriers that make it more difficult for women and non-binary individuals to enter and thrive in the industry compared to men. We discuss management implications that can help make the industry better for all.
{"title":"Exploring the gendered landscape of the avalanche safety industry – barriers, benefits and potential drawbacks of professional diversity","authors":"Andrea Mannberg , Maria Johansson , Eeva Latosuo","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100937","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100937","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Snow and avalanche safety is a male dominated field. The aim of this paper is to increase the knowledge on the gendered conditions and the prerequisites this poses for snow and avalanche safety professionals, and to shed light on why relatively few women enter and stay in the industry. Our analysis is based on quantitative and qualitative data from a survey sent out to avalanche professionals in North America, Continental Europe, and Scandinavia. We inductively coded and categorized responses to open-ended questions into themes based on patterns and commonalities, using a content analysis. We find that avalanche work requires a wide skill set - skills that are traditionally associated with men as well as skills that are traditionally associated with women, and that our participants think that increased diversity at large would benefit the industry. However, our data also reveal persisting cultural and structural gender barriers that make it more difficult for women and non-binary individuals to enter and thrive in the industry compared to men. We discuss management implications that can help make the industry better for all.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 100937"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144907260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100938
Erin Vaughn, John Quinn
Parks, preserves, and other greenspaces provide diverse amenities to humans and habitats for wildlife and biodiversity. However, anthropogenic disturbances, including noise, from outdoor recreation can negatively impact biodiversity. Soundscape analyses using passive acoustic monitoring provides a scalable assessment of the drivers and impacts of noise on biodiversity along recreation trails. While there is acoustic data on the effects of roads on wildlife, there is less work on the effects of noise from recreation trails. To address this gap we collected acoustic data and calculated acoustic indices at Conestee Nature Preserve, a peri-urban recreational space, to evaluate the biophony at locations on recreational trails and away from trails. Acoustic index values differed between locations with and without foot traffic indicating an influence of recreation on the wildlife, biodiversity, and the acoustic environment more broadly. These data demonstrate that acoustic monitoring provides actionable insight for recreation managers interested in the biodiversity value and impacts of walking rails. In addition, these data suggest that trail use management should consider mechanisms to protect acoustic environments preferred by wildlife and humans.
{"title":"The acoustic footprint of recreation: Analyzing trail impacts on wildlife soundscapes","authors":"Erin Vaughn, John Quinn","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100938","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100938","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parks, preserves, and other greenspaces provide diverse amenities to humans and habitats for wildlife and biodiversity. However, anthropogenic disturbances, including noise, from outdoor recreation can negatively impact biodiversity. Soundscape analyses using passive acoustic monitoring provides a scalable assessment of the drivers and impacts of noise on biodiversity along recreation trails. While there is acoustic data on the effects of roads on wildlife, there is less work on the effects of noise from recreation trails. To address this gap we collected acoustic data and calculated acoustic indices at Conestee Nature Preserve, a peri-urban recreational space, to evaluate the biophony at locations on recreational trails and away from trails. Acoustic index values differed between locations with and without foot traffic indicating an influence of recreation on the wildlife, biodiversity, and the acoustic environment more broadly. These data demonstrate that acoustic monitoring provides actionable insight for recreation managers interested in the biodiversity value and impacts of walking rails. In addition, these data suggest that trail use management should consider mechanisms to protect acoustic environments preferred by wildlife and humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 100938"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144907259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100940
Mina Kim , Lori Pennington-Gray , Tammi L. Richardson
Water recreationists have a unique connection to water quality, given their direct interaction with aquatic environments during leisure pursuits. Growing concerns about water quality have prompted a body of research focused on understanding how environmental conditions and risk perceptions influence environmental attitudes and conservation behaviors. Yet, the question remains—do water-based recreationists act beyond activity-specific conservation behaviors? To address this gap, this study examines whether water-based recreationists in South Carolina support stricter water management policies and participate in political consumerism behaviors (boycotting and buycotting). We collected data through survey questionnaires and employed multiple and logistic regressions for data analysis. The results showed that risk perceptions are a key driver of all three conservation behaviors. Furthermore, age appeared to be positively related to their support for water management policies, while negatively associated with boycotting and buycotting behaviors. Our findings contribute to identifying the drivers of these underexplored conservation behaviors.
{"title":"What drives public support and political consumerism behaviors among water-based recreationists? The case of South Carolina","authors":"Mina Kim , Lori Pennington-Gray , Tammi L. Richardson","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water recreationists have a unique connection to water quality, given their direct interaction with aquatic environments during leisure pursuits. Growing concerns about water quality have prompted a body of research focused on understanding how environmental conditions and risk perceptions influence environmental attitudes and conservation behaviors. Yet, the question remains—do water-based recreationists act beyond activity-specific conservation behaviors? To address this gap, this study examines whether water-based recreationists in South Carolina support stricter water management policies and participate in political consumerism behaviors (boycotting and buycotting). We collected data through survey questionnaires and employed multiple and logistic regressions for data analysis. The results showed that risk perceptions are a key driver of all three conservation behaviors. Furthermore, age appeared to be positively related to their support for water management policies, while negatively associated with boycotting and buycotting behaviors. Our findings contribute to identifying the drivers of these underexplored conservation behaviors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 100940"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144895174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100936
Noah D. Cohen , M. Dylan Spencer
One of the best examples of balancing conservation with recreation-based tourism is the United States National Park System. With millions of visits per year in many parks, incidents of disorder are inevitable. Despite the limited amount of past literature examining more formal crime within national parks, to date, no studies have examined incidents of disorder or how these might affect recreation in these public spaces. This study examines over 74,000 incidents of disorder from 2000 to 2023 across four national parks using citation data from the Central Violations Bureau. These incidents were categorized and analyzed descriptively and longitudinally using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. The study finds that disorder is infrequent relative to visitation, with traffic-related citations comprising approximately 66 % of all incidents. In contrast, only about 5 % of citations were directly related to conservation or natural resources. These findings provide an empirical foundation for informing low-cost, prevention-oriented park management strategies.
Management implications
-
Long-term monitoring and categorization of disorder incidents in national parks can help managers anticipate trends and adapt strategies to reduce routine infractions.
-
Analysis of longitudinal trends using ARIMA models can help identify temporal and spatial hotspots for disorder, enabling park managers to allocate resources more effectively to these areas.
-
Educating park visitors about the consequences of disorder and their role in preserving natural environments can foster a culture of stewardship, enhancing both conservation and recreation experiences.
-
The study's insights can guide preparedness plans for future crises (e.g., surges in visitation, environmental stressors), ensuring park management remains resilient and effective in balancing recreation and conservation.
{"title":"Recreation and disarray: Analysis of disorder in U.S. national parks","authors":"Noah D. Cohen , M. Dylan Spencer","doi":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100936","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jort.2025.100936","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>One of the best examples of balancing conservation with recreation-based tourism is the United States National Park System. With millions of visits per year in many parks, incidents of disorder are inevitable. Despite the limited amount of past literature examining more formal crime within national parks, to date, no studies have examined incidents of disorder or how these might affect recreation in these public spaces. This study examines over 74,000 incidents of disorder from 2000 to 2023 across four national parks using citation data from the <em>Central Violations Bureau</em>. These incidents were categorized and analyzed descriptively and longitudinally using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. The study finds that disorder is infrequent relative to visitation, with traffic-related citations comprising approximately 66 % of all incidents. In contrast, only about 5 % of citations were directly related to conservation or natural resources. These findings provide an empirical foundation for informing low-cost, prevention-oriented park management strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Management implications</h3><div><ul><li><span>-</span><span><div>Long-term monitoring and categorization of disorder incidents in national parks can help managers anticipate trends and adapt strategies to reduce routine infractions.</div></span></li><li><span>-</span><span><div>Analysis of longitudinal trends using ARIMA models can help identify temporal and spatial hotspots for disorder, enabling park managers to allocate resources more effectively to these areas.</div></span></li><li><span>-</span><span><div>Educating park visitors about the consequences of disorder and their role in preserving natural environments can foster a culture of stewardship, enhancing both conservation and recreation experiences.</div></span></li><li><span>-</span><span><div>The study's insights can guide preparedness plans for future crises (e.g., surges in visitation, environmental stressors), ensuring park management remains resilient and effective in balancing recreation and conservation.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":46931,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management","volume":"51 ","pages":"Article 100936"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2025.100930
Sofie Kjendlie Selvaag , Marianne Evju
Littering in natural areas disrupts ecosystems and diminishes visitor experiences, posing a persistent challenge. This study explored how communication through signage could effectively reduce littering behavior. We tested two signage interventions at six campsites near Røvoltjønnan Lake in Femundsmarka National Park, Norway, using insights from visitor interviews and observations structured by the COM-B and the elaboration-likelihood models. Field experiments conducted in summer 2023 measured effectiveness through waste mapping, visitor surveys, and trail counters. Daily litter at the campsites ranged from 0 to 16 pieces, with an average of 13 pieces during the control period. Treatment period 1 (Sign 1), reduced this to 7 pieces, and treatment period 2 (Sign 2) to 4 pieces. Overall, there was a 59 % reduction in litter at campsites when the signs were implemented compared to the control period. While Sign 2, with larger font size and image, appeared more effective in reducing littering, the difference between the signs was not statistically significant, likely due to limited sample size. Most visitors already exhibited responsible behavior by taking their waste home and expressing a strong belief in the importance of not littering, suggesting that explanations and justifications included in Sign 1 were unnecessary. The signs likely served as reminders, increasing attentiveness and encouraging visitors to take all their waste with them, with some picking up litter left by others. These findings highlight the importance of targeted communication in fostering stewardship and providing actionable insights for park managers to reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainable visitor behavior.
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