Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

 

Interest group evaluations of ecological, social, and management criteria for wilderness campsites Public Deposited

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/9g54xm28d

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Extensive use of wilderness campsites has caused resource deterioration in numerous backcountry locations. Resource managers are responsible for maintaining natural wilderness-like conditions in these areas and providing opportunities for the public to use and enjoy them. This requires that realistic standards for resource impacts be determined and that publicly supported management programs be implemented. This study examines six interest group evaluations of selected criteria for wilderness campsites to help identify ecological and social impact norms and establish appropriate management policies. Two papers are presented in this thesis to address these subjects. The first explores group norms for bare ground and fire ring impacts. Little research has been previously conducted on the norms of organized groups for ecological impacts. This study evaluates normative data and compares similarities and differences among groups. Results indicate that for most groups, all but the most severe impact levels were acceptable. While certain differences exist, agreement rates allow some consolidation of groups for evaluation purposes. Findings also imply that other campsite attributes may be more important to users than the presence of ecological impacts. The second paper examines the role of ecological and social attributes in the campsite selection process and assesses interest group support for management policies which could be implemented to keep impacts within acceptable limits. Results suggest a low level of concern over ecological attributes and that social factors or other campsite features are more important than the condition of the site itself. It appears visitors will continue to camp on impacted sites to achieve other objectives, and continued demand for these sites may make rehabilitation difficult. Visitor support for increased management action was high overall. Findings suggest user groups support controls for site improvement (e.g. closing sites for recovery), as well as management actions which regulate wilderness access (e.g. requiring a permit). Controls on types of uses inside the wilderness (e.g. limiting the use of campfires) were supported at lower levels.
Resource Type
Date Available
Date Issued
Degree Level
Degree Name
Degree Field
Degree Grantor
Commencement Year
Advisor
Committee Member
Academic Affiliation
Non-Academic Affiliation
Subject
Rights Statement
Publisher
Language
Digitization Specifications
  • PDF derivative scanned at 300 ppi (256 B&W, 256 Grayscale), using Capture Perfect 3.0.82, on a Canon DR-9080C. CVista PdfCompressor 4.0 was used for pdf compression and textual OCR.
Replaces

Relationships

Parents:

This work has no parents.

In Collection:

Items