The concept of forest health has recently emerged as a focal concept for federal forest policy. At the same time, social and political conflicts over the characteristics of a healthy forest, and over the causes of poor forest health, underscore the lack of a shared understanding of what the term...
The objective of this study was to determine whether visitor
perceptions of ecological impacts at wilderness campsites could be
accurately measured using photographs or written descriptions rather
than actual site evaluations. Photographs and written site descriptions
of 20 campsites were used to measure perceptions of two forms
of campsite impacts...
Studies of crowding in backcountry recreation areas
have generally shown that only a minor part of the total
variance in perceived crowding is explained by density and
interaction. This suggests that users of backcountry areas have
learned ways of coping with people in these settings, where one
of the major...
In response to increasing recreation use, many resource
managers have set use limits or carrying capacities
in an attempt to protect the quality of experiences.
These limits require definitions of quality which involve
evaluative information about appropriate use levels or
use conditions. Two papers are presented examining different
approaches for...
Much of the research on social carrying capacity in
recreation settings has focused on backcountry or
primitive areas where recreationists' perceptions of
social contact are a critical element of a quality
experience. A challenge now facing resource managers and
planners is to apply what has been learned about social
carrying...
Three studies were performed in Oregon wildernesses. The first used wilderness permit and trailhead registration data to evaluate trends in use of Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson, and Eagle Cap Wildernesses from 1976 to 1994. Recreational visitor days were found to have declined, but the number of visits increased dramatically, because...
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...
While resource managers often rely on feedback from recreation users on which to base long-term decisions, displacement (when users dissatisfied with crowding or resource impacts move on to more remote sites) and product shift (users respond to increased densities by changing their definition of the recreation experience) are viewed as...
Criticism of established forestry practices has led to the development of alternative silvicultural methods known collectively as "New Forestry." The primary objective of New Forestry is to address concerns about biological diversity, but it is generally acknowledged that controversy will continue until social concerns are also addressed. Consequently, this dissertation...
Research on campsite selection behavior has given managers of outdoor recreation resources a better understanding of users' needs and preferences. However, researchers have found nagging inconsistencies, not only across settings but also between campers' stated preferences and their actual behavior. This thesis re-examines the campsite selection research in light of...
