Visitor Evaluations of Management Actions at a Highly Impacted Appalachian Trail Camping Area |
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Authors: | Melissa L Daniels Jeffrey L Marion |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Forestry (0324), U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Tech Field Station, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA;(2) Department of Forestry (0324), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA |
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Abstract: | Protected area management involves balancing environmental and social objectives. This is particularly difficult at high-use/high-impact
recreation sites, because resource protection objectives may require substantial site management or visitor regulation. This
study examined visitors’ reactions to both of these types of actions at Annapolis Rocks, Maryland, a popular Appalachian Trail
camping area. We surveyed visitors before and after implementation of camping policies that included shifting camping to designated
newly constructed campsites and prohibiting campfires. Survey results reveal that visitors were more satisfied with all social
and environmental indicators after the changes were enacted. An Importance-Performance analysis also determined that management
actions improved conditions for factors of greatest concern to campers prior to the changes. Posttreatment visitors were least
satisfied with factors related to reduced freedom and to some characteristics of the constructed campsites. Although there
was evidence of visitor displacement, the camping changes met management goals by protecting the camping area’s natural resources
and improving social conditions. |
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Keywords: | Adaptive management Camping policies Campsite impacts Importance-performance Visitor preferences |
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