Wildland Recreation: Ecology and Management

The authoritative guide to understanding and managing the ecological impacts of recreational activities in wildlands

This third edition provides an updated and thorough examination of the ecological impacts of recreational use on wildlands and the best management practices to employ in places where recreation and preservation of natural conditions are both important – and often conflicting – objectives.

Covering the latest research, this edition provides detailed information about the environmental changes that result from recreational use. It describes spatial patterns of impact and trends over time, then explores the
factors that determine magnitude of impact, including amount of use, type and behavior of use, and environmental durability. Numerous examples, drawn from parks and recreation areas around the world, give readers insight into why certain areas are more heavily damaged than others, and demonstrate the techniques
available to mitigate damage.

The book incorporates both the first–hand experience of the authors and an exhaustive review of the world s literature on the subject. Boxes provide quick access to important material, and further resources are referenced in an extensive bibliography. Essential reading for all park and protected area management professionals, this book is also a useful textbook for upper division undergraduate and graduate students on recreation ecology and
recreation management courses.

Part I Introduction 1

1 Wildland Recreation and Resource Impacts 3

Part II Impacts to Resource Components 21

2 Soil 23

3 Vegetation 49

4 Wildlife 68

5 Water 93

Part III Impact Patterns and trends 113

6 Impact Patterns 115

7 Trends in Wildland Recreation Use and Impacts 130

Part IV Factors Affecting Impacts 153

8 Environmental Durability 155

9 Visitor Use 177

Part V Management and Concepts of Management 207

10 Strategies and Concepts of Management 207

11 Monitoring Recreational Impacts 228

12 Visitor Management 255

13 Site Management 293

14 International Impact Research and Management 328

Part VI Conclusion 347

15 A Lasting Impact 349

Index 357

William Hammitt is Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, and Forest Resources, at Clemson University, South Carolina. His research specialties include the environmental psychology of privacy–solitude, place bonding, visual preferences within wildland settings, and user impacts in wildland recreation areas.

David Cole is Emeritus Scientist at Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Missoula, Montana. He has conducted research in recreation ecology for 40 years, particularly in wilderness areas in the United States.

Christopher Monz is Associate Professor of Recreation Resource Management in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University, Utah. He teaches courses in outdoor recreation management, ecological impacts of recreation, nature–based tourism, interpretation and outdoor education. His research specialty is recreation ecology where he has worked extensively on recreation disturbance to soil and plant communities.