Carena J. van Riper

Effects of Place Identity, Place Dependence, and Experience-Use History on Perceptions of Recreation Impacts in a Natural Setting

It is generally accepted that recreation use in natural environments results in some degree of negative social and environmental impact. Environmental managers are tasked with mitigating the impact while providing beneficial recreation opportunities. Research on the factors that influence visitors’ perceptions of environmental and social conditions is necessary to inform sound environmental management of protected natural areas. This study examines the effect of prior experience with the setting and two dimensions of place attachment (i.e., place identity and place dependence) on visitors’ perceptions of three types of recreation impacts (i.e., depreciative behavior, environmental impacts, and recreation conflict). Principal components analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to test the study hypotheses using data collected from 351 visitors through on-site questionnaires (response rate of 93 percent). The results show that prior experience exhibited a moderate and significant direct positive effect on place identity, place dependence, and visitors’ perceptions of recreation impacts. Contrary to study hypotheses and prior research, neither place dependence nor place identity exhibited a significant effect on the dependent variables. The results show that prior experience causes visitors to be more sensitive to depreciative behaviors, environmental impacts, and recreation conflict. These findings raise concerns over potential visitor displacement and deterioration of site conditions. Implications for resource managers are discussed, which include education, modifying visitor use patterns, and site design strategies.

Capturing multiple values of ecosystem services shaped by environmental worldviews: a spatial analysis.

Two related approaches to valuing nature have been advanced in past research including the study of ecosystem services and psychological investigations of the factors that shape behavior. Stronger integration of the insights that emerge from these two lines of enquiry can more effectively sustain ecosystems, economies, and human well-being. Drawing on survey data collected from outdoor recreationists on Santa Cruz Island within Channel Islands National Park, U.S., our study blends these two research approaches to examine a range of tangible and intangible values of ecosystem services provided to stakeholders with differing biocentric and anthropocentric worldviews. We used Public Participation Geographic Information System methods to collect survey data and a Social Values for Ecosystem Services mapping application to spatially analyze a range of values assigned to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the park. Our results showed that preferences for the provision of biological diversity, recreation, and scientific-based values of ecosystem services varied across a spatial gradient. We also observed differences that emerged from a comparison between survey subgroups defined by their worldviews. The implications emanating from this investigation aim to support environmental management decision-making in the context of protected areas.

A model integrating social-cultural concepts of nature into frameworks of interaction between social and natural systems

Existing frameworks for analysing interactions between social and natural systems (e.g. Social-Ecological Systems framework, Ecosystem Services concept) do not sufficiently consider and operationalize the dynamic interactions between peoples values, attitudes and understandings of the human-nature relationship at both individual and collective levels. We highlight the relevance of individual and collective understandings of the human-nature relationship as influencing factors for environmental behaviour, which may be reflected in natural resource management conflicts, and review the diversity of existing social-cultural concepts, frameworks and associated research methods. Particular emphasis is given to the context-sensitivity of social-cultural concepts in decision-making. These aspects are translated into a conceptual model aiming not to replace but to expand and enhance existing frameworks. Integrating this model into existing frameworks provides a tool for the exploration of how social-cultural concepts of nature interact with existing contexts to influence governance of social-ecological systems.

Australian residents' attitudes toward pro-environmental behaviour and climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef

Climate change and associated environmental impacts are increasingly important issues. Effective communication with residents of coastal communities is critical to mitigate and adapt to changing conditions; however, this can be a challenging feat without an understanding of attitudes toward pro-environmental behaviour. Drawing on three dimensions of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this paper: (1) explores the Australian publics perceptions of climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef; (2) segments respondents into homogenous groups based on their environmental attitudes; and (3) profiles the emergent segments using managerially-relevant indicators. Study findings illustrate that respondents can be organised into five distinct segments according to their attitudes toward pro-environmental behaviour that could potentially stem climate change-related impacts. These segments perceive a variety of threats to the health of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem, underestimate the performance of behaviours that help to mitigate impacts and face a variety of internal and external constraints on behavioural engagement.

Incorporating Sociocultural Phenomena into Ecosystem-Service Valuation: The Importance of Critical Pluralism

Abstract Ecosystem‐services scholarship has largely focused on monetary valuation and the material contributions of ecosystems to human well‐being. Increasingly, research is calling for a deeper understanding of how less tangible, nonmaterial values shape management and stakeholder decisions. We propose a framework that characterizes a suite of sociocultural phenomena rooted in key social science disciplines that are currently underrepresented in the ecosystem‐services literature. The results from three example studies are presented to demonstrate how the tenets of this conceptual model can be applied in practice. We consider the findings from these studies in light of three priorities for future research: (1) complexities in individual and social functioning, (2) the salience and specificity of the perceived benefits of nature, and (3) distinctions among value concepts. We also pose a series of questions to stimulate reflection on how ecosystem‐services research can adopt more pluralistic viewpoints that accommodate different forms of knowledge and its acquisition.

Connecting human–nature relationships to environmental behaviors that minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species

Management of aquatic invasive species (AIS) is widely recognized as a global conservation concern driven by myriad factors, particularly individual behaviors. A burgeoning literature focused on the human dimensions of AIS has begun to provide insight into the complexities of behavior change; however, most studies are bound to specific geographic locales and have prevented resource management agencies from making regionally valid statements about the anthropogenic factors contributing to biological invasions. We examined stakeholders’ awareness and knowledge of AIS transmission in an evaluation of educational outreach campaign logos and illustrated how human–nature relationships were related to behaviors relevant to AIS reduction at two case study sites. Drawing from a thematic analysis of data from semi-structured interviews with organisms-in-trade hobbyists and recreational water users in the state of Illinois, we observed high awareness of environmental impacts and modes of transmission by the two groups. Both awareness advanced through AIS outreach and a diversity of human–nature relationships were helpful for understanding reported environmental behaviors. Specifically, stakeholders’ views of their relationships with nature affected decisions to engage in activities that contributed to social-ecological change. Results also revealed preferences for national rather than state-level outreach campaign logos, which carry implications for designing communication strategies that will minimize the likelihood of biological invasions in freshwater ecosystems.

Bridging managers’ place meanings and environmental governance of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

ABSTRACT This article bridges managers’ place meanings and environmental governance to provide insight on the factors that shape decisions concerning the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Marine Park. Drawing on a thematic analysis and open coding of data from 34 semistructured interviews, we investigated the perspectives of managers from three agencies charged with protecting the GBR. We observed that a plurality of place meanings converged on five themes: (i) stewardship of the environment, (ii) utilization and access to natural resources, (iii) individualized experience, (iv) intergenerational connections, and (v) spirituality in place. Results revealed that these themes were complemented by formal and informal policy instruments that comprised our governance framework. Informal policy instruments played a particularly important role in the co-creation of knowledge, facilitated negotiations between managers and their constituencies, and increased public involvement in decision making.

Human-Nature Relationships and Normative Beliefs Influence Behaviors that Reduce the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Human behaviors that contribute to the spread of aquatic invasive species are influenced by myriad social psychological factors that vary across contexts and populations. Understanding such behavior is crucial for forming successful management strategies that minimize environmental impacts while generating support and cooperation among stakeholders. We identify several reasons why recreational anglers and boaters make decisions that benefit the environment. Specifically, our study addresses the following objectives: (1) examine reported behaviors that minimize the spread of aquatic invasive species, (2) test the effects of social normative beliefs on reported behaviors, and (3) determine the role of human-nature relationships in explaining behavioral patterns. Drawing on a path model of the decisions made by respondents who completed an on-site survey at two nature-based case study sites in Illinois, we observed that reported behavior was positively influenced by normative beliefs about those behaviors and human-nature relationships. Specifically, the Participant in Nature and Partner with Nature orientations were positively and negatively correlated with norms, respectively. In turn, norms positively predicted reported stewardship behaviors. These findings advance research on the human dimensions of aquatic invasive species by providing insights on the role of stable psychological processes that shape behavior, while informing management decisions aimed at minimizing biological invasions in freshwater ecosystems.

Accounting for Gender in a Study of the Motivation-Involvement Relationship

ABSTRACT The effects of gender on involvement in high-risk recreation have received limited research attention despite mounting evidence suggesting the learned interactions between people and places likely vary for men and women. The purpose of this study was to provide insights into how gender influenced the motivation-involvement relationship among whitewater recreationists on a Wild and Scenic River in California. Our results revealed the motivations of Risk, Escape, Learning, and Achievement/Stimulation positively influenced involvement in rafting activities. Although gender did not influence all dimensions of involvement, we found that identity expression varied between subgroups. Specifically, men were more likely to ascribe meaning to rafting than women because this activity allowed them to affirm and express their individual character. The implications emanating from this study advance theoretical understanding of the factors that influence enduring involvement and inform natural resource management decisions about maintaining the desired benefits of activities sought by nature-based recreationists.

Perceptions of the 2007 International Symposium on Society and Resource Management Student Forum

The International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM) is the official meeting of the International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR), and is the largest international gathering of researchers and practitioners interested in the application of social science to environmental and natural resource issues. While a primary goal of ISSRM and IASNR is the development and exchange of information, an important secondary goal is professional development, particularly as this applies to graduate students. To further this latter goal, a Student Forum was organized and conducted at the 13th ISSRM in Park City, UT. This article reports the findings of a survey of Student Forum participants conducted to evaluate the session. Data on graduate student participation and participants, importance–performance analysis of the programmatic components of the forum, and measures of social capital generated by the forum suggest that the Student Forum was successful and should be continued.