How do Outdoor Recreationists Perceive the State of the Environment and Do Interpretive Programs Make a Difference?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2023-11632Keywords:
influences of interpretation, protected areas, outdoor recreation, ecological integrity, Niagara Glen Nature Reserve (NGNR)Abstract
Environmental interpretation provides visitors with positive experiences in nature while managing their impacts. Existing research has concentrated on the influence of interpretive programs on visitor knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. Little empirical research exists on how visitors perceive their environment. In this research we examine the effect of environmental interpretation on visitors’ perceptions of the environment. The study took place in the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, Canada. A survey is administered to visitors on self-guided experiences and visitors receiving two different interpretive programs. Perceptions are compared to ecological data. Visitors rated conditions higher than ecological data, regardless of participation in an interpretive program. There was no significant influence of an interpretive program on perceptions. Findings from this pilot study highlight the need for interpretive programs to examine their effectiveness of achieving its outcomes as well as the benefits of using a reference such as ecological data.
References
Alazaizeh, M. M., Jamaliah, M. M., Mgonja, J. T., & Ababneh, A. (2019). Journal of Sustainable Tourism Tour guide performance and sustainable visitor behavior at cultural heritage sites. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1658766
Alessa, L., Bennett, S. M., & Kliskey, A. D. (2003). Effects of knowledge, personal attribution and perception of ecosystem health on depreciative behaviors in the intertidal zone of Pacific Rim National Park and Reserve. Journal of Environmental Management, 68, 207–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-4797(03)00068-9
Andreasen, J. K., O’neill, R. V, Noss, R., & Slosser, N. C. (2001). Considerations for the development of a terrestrial index of ecological integrity. Ecological Indicators, 1, 21–35.
Beaumont, N. (2001). Ecotourism and the conservation ethic: Recruiting the uninitiated or preaching to the converted? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(4), 317–341.
Bennett, N. J. (2016). Using perceptions as evidence to improve conservation and environmental management. Conservation Biology, 30(3), 582–592. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12681
Boon, P. I., Fluker, M., & Wilson, N. (2008). A ten-year study of the effectiveness of an educative programme in ensuring the ecological sustainability of recreational activities in the Brisbane Ranges National Park, South-Eastern Australia. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16(6), 681–697. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580802397053
Bruno, N., & Pavani, F. (2018). Perception: A Multisensory perspective. Oxford Scholarship Online. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198725022.001.0001
Burger, J. (2003). Assessing perceptions about ecosystem health and restoration options in three east coast estuaries. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 83(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022505300319
Butler, J. R., & Hvenegaard, G. T. (2002). Interpretation and environmental education. In Parks and Protected Areas in Canada: Planning and Management (pp. 179–203).
Clayton, S., Litchfield, C., & Geller, S. E. (2013). Psychological science, conservation, and environmental sustainability. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 11(7), 377–382.
Cole, D. N., Hammond, T. P., & Mccool, S. F. (1997). Information Quantity and Communication Effectiveness: Low-Impact Messages on Wilderness Trailside Bulletin Boards. Leisure Sciences, 19, 59–72.
Cook, C. N., Wardell-Johnson, G., Keatley, M., Gowans, S. A., Gibson, M. S., Westbrooke, M. E., & Marshall, D. J. (2010). Is what you see what you get? Visual vs. measured assessments of vegetation condition. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47(3), 650–661. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01803.x
Curado, G., Manzano-Arrondo, V., Figueroa, E., & Castillo, J. M. (2014). Public Perceptions and Uses of Natural and Restored Salt Marshes. Landscape Research, 39(6), 668–679. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2013.772960
Dean, S. N. (2020). National Park Interpretation and Place-Based Education: An Integrative Literature Review. Journal of Experiential Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825920979626
Gelcich, S., & O’Keeffe, J. (2016). Emerging frontiers in perceptions research for aquatic conservation. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26, 986–994. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2714
Gordon, D. R., Parrish, J. D., Salzer, D. W., Tear, T. H., & Pace-Aldana, B. (2005). The Nature Conservancy’s Approach to Measuring Biodiversity Status and the Effectiveness of Conservation Strategies. The Nature Conservancy. http://www.conservationgateway.org/documents/principles-in-conservation-chapter-03.pdf
Groulx, M., Lemieux, C. J., Lewis, J. L., & Brown, S. (2017). Understanding consumer behaviour and adaptation planning responses to climate-driven environmental change in Canada’s parks and protected areas: a climate futurescapes approach. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 60(6), 1016–1035. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2016.1192024
Hill, D., & Daniel, T. C. (2008). Foundations for an Ecological Aesthetic: Can Information Alter Landscape Preferences? Society and Natural Resources, 21, 34–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920701655700
Hill, J., Woodland, W., & Gough, G. (2007). Can visitor satisfaction and knowledge about tropical rainforests be enhanced through biodiversity interpretation, and does this promote a positive attitude towards ecosystem conservation? Journal of Ecotourism, 6(1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.2167/joe166.0
Io, M.-U. (2013). Testing a model of effective interpretation to boost the heritage tourism experience: A case study in Macao. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(6), 900–914. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.750328
Jones, C., Shipley, N., & Ul-Hasan, S. (2017). Bringing parks back to the people: Revisiting the dual mandate and core values of the National Park Service. The George Wright Forum, 34(1), 45–52.
Kim, A. K., Airey, D., & Szivas, E. (2011). The Multiple Assessment of Interpretation Effectiveness: Promoting Visitors’ Environmental Attitudes and Behavior. Journal of Travel Research, 50(3), 321–334. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287510362786
Knapp, D. (1996). The relationship between environmental interpretation and environmental education. A Sense of Place: Proceedings of the National Interpreters Workshop, 56.
Madin, E. M. P., & Fenton, D. M. (2004). Environmental Interpretation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: An Assessment of Programme Effectiveness. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 12(2), 121–137.
Manning, R. E. (2003). Emerging Principles for Using Information/Education in Wilderness Management. International Journal of Wilderness, 9(1), 20–28.
Marion, J. L., & Reid, S. E. (2007). Minimising visitor impacts to protected areas: The efficacy of low impact education programmes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(1), 5–27. https://doi.org/10.2167/jost593.0
McNamara, K. E., Prideaux, B., & Ceer, F. (2010). Reading, learning and enacting: Interpretation at visitor sites in the Wet Tropics rainforest of Australia. Environmental Education Research, 16(2), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620903486412
Moscardo, G. (2014). Interpretation and tourism: holy grail or emperor’s robes? International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 8(4), 462–476. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-08-2014-0071
Moscardo, G., & Pearce, P. L. (1986). Visitor centres and environmental interpretation: an exploration of the relationships among visitor enjoyment, understanding, and mindfulness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 6, 89–108.
Munro, J., Morrison-Saunders, A., & Hughes, M. (2008). Environmental interpretation evaluation in natural areas. Journal of Ecotourism, 7(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.2167/joe137.0
Orams, M. B. (1996a). A Conceptual model of tourist-wildlife interaction: The case for education as a management strategy. Australian Geographer, 27(1), 39–51.
Orams, M. B. (1996b). Using interpretation to manage nature-based tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 4(2), 81–94.
Ormsby, A. A., & Forys, E. A. (2010). The Effects of an Education Campaign on Beach User Perceptions of Beach-Nesting Birds in Pinellas County, Florida Beach User Perceptions of Birds. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 15(2), 119–128. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200903428366
Papageorgiou, K. (2001). A combined park management framework based on regulatory and behavioral strategies: Use of visitors’ knowledge to assess effectiveness. Environmental Management, 28(1), 61–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002670010207
Parrish, J. D., Braun, D. P., & Unnasch, R. S. (2003). Are We Conserving What We Say We Are? Measuring Ecological Integrity within Protected Areas. BioScience, 53(9), 851. https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2003)053[0851:AWCWWS]2.0.CO;2
Patel, A., Rapport, D. J., Vanderlinden, L., & Eyles, J. (1999). Forests and societal values: comparing scientific and public perception of forest health. The Environmentalist, 19, 239–249.
Pendleton, L., Martinà, N., & Webster, D. G. (2001). Public perceptions of environmental quality: A survey study of beach use and perceptions in Los Angeles County. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42(11), 1155–1160.
Petrosillo, I., Zurlini, G., Corlia, M. E., Zaccarelli, N., & Dadamo, M. (2007). Tourist perception of recreational environment and management in a marine protected area. Landscape and Urban Planning, 79, 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.02.017
Petursdottir, T., Aradottir, A. L., & Benediktsson, K. (2013). An Evaluation of the Short-Term Progress of Restoration Combining Ecological Assessment and Public Perception. Restoration Ecology, 21(1), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00855.x
Powell, R. B., & Ham, S. H. (2008). Can Ecotourism Interpretation Really Lead to Pro-Conservation Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour? Evidence from the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16(4), 467–489. https://doi.org/10.2167/jost797.0
Ren, Q., & Folta, E. (2016). Evaluating Environmental Interpretation with Mixed Method. Journal of Interpretation, 21(2), 5–19.
Roberts, M., Mearns, K., & Edwards, V. (2014). Evaluating the effectiveness of guided versus non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Koedoe, 56(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe
Sharp, R. L., Cleckner, L. B., & Depillo, S. (2016). The impact of on-site educational outreach on recreational users’ perceptions of aquatic invasive species and their management. Environmental Education Research, 23(8), 1200–1210. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2016.1174983
Shultis, J. D., & Way, P. A. (2006). Changing Conceptions of Protected Areas and Conservation: Linking Conservation, Ecological Integrity and Tourism Management. Journal of Sustainable Tourism , 14(3), 223–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580608669056
Skibins, J. C., Powell, R. B., & Stern, M. J. (2012). Exploring empirical support for interpretation’s best practices. Journal of Interpretation Research, 17(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/Retrieved from www.interpnet.com
Tarannum, F., Kansal, A., & Sharma, P. (2018). Understanding public perception, knowledge and behaviour for water quality management of the river yamuna in India. Water Policy, 20(2), 266–281. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2018.134
Tubb, K. N. (2003). An evaluation of the effectiveness of interpretation within Dartmoor National Park in reaching the goals of sustainable tourism development. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 11(6), 476–498. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580308667217
Varga, S., & Kor, P. (1993). Reconnaissance Survey of the Niagara Gorge Area of Natural and Scientific Interest.
Wurtzebach, Z., & Schultz, C. (2016). Measuring Ecological Integrity: History, Practical Applications, and Research Opportunities. BioScience, 66(6), 446–457. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biw037
Zeppel, H. (2008). Education and conservation benefits of marine wildlife tours: Developing free-choice learning experiences. Journal of Environmental Education, 39(3), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEE.39.3.3-18
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)
Journal Publishing Copyright Agreement for Authors
PLEASE REVIEW OUR POLICIES AND THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT, AND INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS BY CHECKING THE ‘AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS COPYRIGHT NOTICE’ CHECKBOX BELOW.
I understand that by submitting an article to Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, I am granting the copyright to the article submitted for consideration for publication in Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership to the Copyright Owner. If after consideration of the Editor of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, the article is not accepted for publication, all copyright covered under this agreement will be automatically returned to the Author(s).
THE PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
Assignment of Copyright
I hereby assign to the Copyright Owner the copyright in the manuscript I am submitting in this online procedure and any tables, illustrations or other material submitted for publication as part of the manuscript in all forms and media (whether now known or later developed), throughout the world, in all languages, for the full term of copyright, effective when the article is accepted for publication.
Reversion of Rights
Articles may sometimes be accepted for publication but later be rejected in the publication process, even in some cases after public posting in “Articles in Press” form, in which case all rights will revert to the Author.
Retention of Rights for Scholarly Purposes
I understand that I retain or am hereby granted the Retained Rights. The Retained Rights include the right to use the Preprint, Accepted Manuscript, and the Published Journal Article for Personal Use and Internal Institutional Use.
All journal material is under a 12 month embargo. Authors who would like to have their articles available as open access should contact Sagamore-Venture for further information.
In the case of the Accepted Manuscript and the Published Journal Article, the Retained Rights exclude Commercial Use, other than use by the author in a subsequent compilation of the author’s works or to extend the Article to book length form or re-use by the author of portions or excerpts in other works.
Published Journal Article: the author may share a link to the formal publication through the relevant DOI.
Author Representations
- The Article I have submitted to the journal for review is original, has been written by the stated author(s) and has not been published elsewhere.
- The Article was not submitted for review to another journal while under review by this journal and will not be submitted to any other journal.
- The Article contains no libelous or other unlawful statements and does not contain any materials that violate any personal or proprietary rights of any other person or entity.
- I have obtained written permission from copyright owners for any excerpts from copyrighted works that are included and have credited the sources in the Article.
- If the Article was prepared jointly with other authors, I have informed the co-author(s) of the terms of this Journal Publishing Agreement and that I am signing on their behalf as their agent, and I am authorized to do so.