Managing Outdoor Recreation, 2nd Edition
Interactive Matrices
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Problem: Impacts on Vegetation
Which of the following management strategies would you like to apply to help solve this problem?
Select one of the four strategies to see management practices that might be used to solve your problem. Under each of the practices you will see all of the management actions listed in the book's appendices.
Information/Education
- Promote alternative sites (e.g. within park, other parks)
- Promote alternative times to use site/park (e.g. seasons)
- Inform visitors of current impacts/conditions (e.g. trampled vegetation) at site/park
Rationing/Allocation
- Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by reservation system
- Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by queuing system
- Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by fee system
- Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by lottery system
- Set capacity (for site, park) and allocate access by merit system
- Implement differential fee system (e.g. seasons)
Rules/Regulations
- Set capacity (for site, park) and require a use permit
- Require a reservation for entry/use
- Require a fee for entry/use
- Require special knowledge/skills for entry/use
- Institute a maximum length of stay
- Limit group size
Law Enforcement
- Establish presence of a uniformed ranger
- Require visitors to show a use permit
- Sanction (e.g. fine) visitors for unauthorized use
Zoning
- Zone site/park for lower use
- Zone site/park for no use
Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance
- Set capacity (for site, park) and design visitor facilities (e.g. parking lots) and services accordingly
- Make access to site/park more difficult (e.g. lower-standard roads, trails, transit)
- Improve access (e.g., higher standard roads, trails, transit) to alternative sites/parks
Information/Education
- Inform visitors of the range of recreation areas and opportunities available
- Promote use of low-use areas
Rationing/Allocation
- Not applicable
Rules/Regulations
- Extend time that area is open to visitor use (hours, days, seasons)
Law Enforcement
- Not applicable
Zoning
- Zone alternative areas for higher use
Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance
- Improve attractions, facilities, services in alternative areas
- Develop attractions, facilities, services in new areas
- Improve access to new/alternative areas
Information/Education
- Promote alternative sites (e.g. within park, other parks) to disperse use
- Promote alternative times to use site (e.g. seasons when vegetation is less fragile)
- Promote resistant/hardened sites to concentrate use
- Inform visitors of acceptable and unacceptable recreation activities (e.g. pedestrian use only, no motorized uses)
- Inform visitors of acceptable and unacceptable behavior (e.g. Leave No Trace program, stay on designated trails)
- Educate visitors about why selected behaviors are unacceptable (e.g. walking off-trail can trample fragile vegetation)
Rationing/Allocation
- Not applicable
Rules/Regulations
- Prohibit high-impact uses (e.g. no motorized activities)
- Prohibit high-impact behavior (e.g. no walking off-trail)
- Limit group size
Law Enforcement
- Establish presence of a uniformed ranger
- Sanction (e.g. warn, fine) visitors for inappropriate use/behavior (e.g. walking off-trail)
Zoning
- Zone area for low-impact uses only (e.g., pedestrian use only)
Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance
- Provide facilities/services for low impact uses only (e.g. pedestrian use only)
- Locate/concentrate facilities and services on impact-resistant soil
- Design facilities and services to minimize impact (e.g. install barriers along margins of trail)
- Maintain facilities to minimize impact (e.g., clear waterbars regularly)
Information/Education
- Inform visitors of current conditions (i.e. trampled vegetation)
Rationing/Allocation
- Not applicable
Rules/Regulations
- Not applicable
Law Enforcement
- Not applicable
Zoning
- Not applicable
Facility Development/Site Design/Maintenance
- Locate visitor attractions/facilities (e.g., trails, campsites) on durable vegetation (e.g. vegetation that is resistant to trampling)
- Develop facilities (e.g., viewing platforms, boardwalks) to “shield” fragile vegetation
- Design facilities to concentrate use on naturally resistant vegetation
- Maintain and/or rehabilitate impacted locations (e.g., thin tree canopy to encourage regrowth of trampled understory)
- Close and rehabilitate impacted area
- Re-vegetate area with trampling-resistant vegetation
- Maintain/repair damage to sensitive vegetation