Final Exam Study Guide for Outdoor Recreation Management | FOR 3544, Study notes of Forestry

Download Final Exam Study Guide for Outdoor Recreation Management | FOR 3544 and more Study notes Forestry in PDF only on Docsity! FOR 3544 Final Exam Study Guide I. Basic Management Strategies and Alternatives 1) Define, give examples of and distinguish between indirect and direct management actions. - Direct seen as limiting choice—Direct actions directly impact behavior - Indirect actions impact decision factors, not the behavior itself 2) Identify and explain factors that should be considered in choosing among indirect and direct management actions to address a management issue. Be able to describe circumstances when direct would be preferred too indirect and vice versa. - Direct—Law Enforcement, Use limitations - Indirect – Site design, Information/education, Interpretation 3) What does the term “depreciative behavior” mean? Be able to define the 5 types of depreciative behaviors and describe which ones information and education programs would most likely to be effective at addressing? Why? Type of Behavior Effectiveness of Education Illegal Low Careless Moderate Unskilled High Uninformed Very High Unavoidable Low 4) What are the different levels of moral development and how might information and education programs be designed to reach visitors at various stages of moral development? - Moral Development— - Pre-Conventional o Fear of punishment o Maximize pleasure/minimize pain - Conventional o What significant others think o What society thinks - Post-conventional o Justice and fairness o Self respect - Move up as grow….toddlers are pre-conventional, gain as mature (at least in most cases for most things) to at least conventional….many don’t reach post-conventional…think of others when act - Use these theories to develop messages aimed at different stages of moral development - Also, direct techniques get at pre-conventional 5) Why is use rationing controversial and generally considered a management practice of “last resort” o Because the lands “belong” to the public, and although they are viewed as public, limiting the amount of carrying capacity should be used by managers only when it is the last possible option in their management practices. Sensitive habitat, native species, native American ruins, Public lands… to be used by public….however, when use impacts natural resources or experience too much (i.e., carrying capacity) it is the manager’s job to act 6) What are the five basic practices to ration and allocate recreation use? How does each of the five basic rationing/allocation practices work? What are the advantages and disadvantages to agencies and visitors of each of the five basic rationing/allocation practices? o Reservations….for those who can plan ahead (some occupations cannot do this) o Lottery…doesn’t benefit anyone (unless long-term planning required) o First come, first served…..favors those who live nearby with flexible work schedules, doesn’t cost them much to try o Pricing…can impact those who cannot pay (entrance fees often charged, so not always a rationing tool) o Merit…prove you have the skills, need to be able to invest time and money into gaining/proving skills o Acceptability varies by area, and issue o Need to try to be as fair as possible…maybe use multiple methods (some reservation, some first come) o Lotteries that advantage those on waiting list for longest II. Influence of Visitor Use-Related Factors on Impacts 1) Identify and explain/give examples of characteristics of visitor use (besides amount of use) that influence the degree, type and distribution of recreation-related impacts to the environment - Amount of use doesn’t directly impact the site - Large group/ size, - Mode of travel, hikers vs. bikers, horseback riders, anglers, - Behavior/ loud, hatchets to trees, bonfire instead of campfire. - Be able to give specific examples for each visitor use characteristic to Demonstrate how it affects amount and severity of impacts - Horses are more impactful then hikers. 2) Plot/draw/graph and explain the curvilinear relationship between amount of visitor use and impacts o Dispersal camping—low but can quickly go to high as suggested on the graph. o Majority of damage is done pretty earlier in the establishment of the trail/campsite - What does the curvilinear relationship mean? o -Impact increases as use increases, however lightly used sites = rapid change in ground cover vegetation. o -Highly used = no substantial change 3) Explain the management implications of the curvilinear relationship between amount of visitor use and impacts - Management implications of the curvilinear relationship-- there is a quick reduction in vegetation loss when the establishment of campsite happens. Once a campsite has been established, the next course of action for managers is then containment. Managers must contain the # of campsites in area this can be done by establishing the 4 strategies, close to camping, at large, dispersal camping, establishment, - the curve tells you—dispersal impact occurs really quickly on the curvilinear graph, this dispersal method only works with low usage. - At the top part of the curve (past inflection point) with Moderate use, you must go to containment: 1 or 2 nights of use can quickly establish a campsite. What does it suggest about the effectiveness of use limits as a means to address impacts? - Low use can Limit the Destruction of vegetation and expansion of campsites, - High use levels will level off, but destruction will still occur and containment must be used III. Vegetation and Soil Impacts 1) Define and be able to explain the difference between resistance and resilience Resistance: ability to be damaged or withstand trampling affects 9) Identify and explain the four standard camping management strategies Jeff Marion presented in class. For each, describe a situation when it (or some combination) would be the most effective/appropriate strategy. Describe advantages and disadvantages of each approach with respect to effectiveness at protecting resources and effects on visitor experience (e.g., freedom, solitude, etc.). - Area Closure to Camping— visitors are restricted from camping in sensitive resource areas or in areas that are too close to developed areas, trails, water resources, or attraction features. Cultural sites, Sensitive wildlife habitats, Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species - At-Large (unregulated) Camping—camping is unregulated: visitors may camp in any location they choose. o Advantages—Maximizes visitor freedom in site selection. o Disadvantages—Jeopardizes visitor solitude and resource protection at higher use levels. o Problems— o Poor site selection o Social—too close to other sites o Resource – fragile rather than resistant o Campsite expansion o Campsite proliferation - Dispersed Camping—visitors are instructed to camp on the most resistant surfaces available that show no obvious signs of previous camping use. Dispersal from popular areas may also be promoted to reduce problems with crowding or conflicts o Advantages—provides greater visitor freedom in site selection and promotes solitude. When successful, avoids impact by dispersing use to a level that prevents formation of permanent campsites o Disadvantages—Visitors tend to resist dispersing very far. Considerable off-trail searching may be necessary to locate an appropriate site. Selecting, using, and renaturalizing a pristine site requires greater knowledge and effort. - Established/Designated site camping (Containment)—visitors are encouraged or required to camp on existing sites or within designated areas. Sites or areas may be selected for their environmental resistance and/or to promote visitor solitude. - Established Sites-- o Advantages—Retains some visitor freedom in site selection and ensures solitude. Minimizes area of disturbance and aggregate impact more than “at-large” camping strategy. o Disadvantages—permits more sites and greater impact than under designated site camping. Visitors may create new sites or camp on closed sites. - Designated sites – visitors are required to use only designated campsites. The minimum number of sites needed for a specified level of overnight visitation are selected, based on their environmental resistance and solitude potential. Sites that fail to meet criteria or are unnecessary are closed to use. o Advantages—minimizes resource impacts while maximizing visitor solitude o Disadvantages—restricts freedom in campsite selection, sites will become highly altered. - 10) Identify specific situations when use limits may be justified. o This could go back to the theory allowing a certain carrying capacity in the area. If all sites are taken, then (like the swamp) it has to be regulated o Endangered species locations 11) Define/explain/give examples of containment and dispersal strategies for managing backcountry camping Dispersal--visitors are instructed to camp on the most resistant surfaces available that show no obvious signs of previous camping use. Dispersal from popular areas may also be promoted to reduce problems with crowding or conflicts - Advantages—provides greater visitor freedom in site selection and promotes solitude. When successful, avoids impact by dispersing use to a level that prevents formation of permanent campsites - Disadvantages—Visitors tend to resist dispersing very far. Considerable off-trail searching may be necessary to locate an appropriate site. Selecting, using, and renaturalizing a pristine site requires greater knowledge and effort. Containment-- visitors are encouraged or required to camp on existing sites or within designated areas. Sites or areas may be selected for their environmental resistance and/or to promote visitor solitude. - Established Sites-- o Advantages—Retains some visitor freedom in site selection and ensures solitude. Minimizes area of disturbance and aggregate impact more than “at-large” camping strategy. o Disadvantages—permits more sites and greater impact than under designated site camping. Visitors may create new sites or camp on closed sites. - Designated sites – visitors are required to use only designated campsites. The minimum number of sites needed for a specified level of overnight visitation are selected, based on their environmental resistance and solitude potential. Sites that fail to meet criteria or are unnecessary are closed to use. o Advantages—minimizes resource impacts while maximizing visitor solitude o Disadvantages—restricts freedom in campsite selection, sites will become highly altered. - Explain when it is appropriate to employ a containment strategy and how it works/why it is effective in the situation you describe - By using a containment strategy such as an established fire pit, the campsite falls within the campsite containment. Trying to make sure everyone stays on one campsite. - Explain when it is appropriate to employ a dispersal strategy and how it works/why it is effective in the situation you describe - Is leaving no visible impact of staying in the area. 12) Is it generally a good idea to rotate the use of campsites? Why or why not? - It is not a good idea to rotate campsites because impacts are slowly leveled off when the sites become contained. The recovery rate of vegetation in campsites is slow, therefore rotation would not benefit vegetation V. Monitoring Campsite and Trail Impacts 1) Define the term natural resource monitoring; what is the difference between inventory and monitoring? Explain why campsite and trail monitoring is an important part of outdoor recreation management. - Natural Resource Monitoring—The systematic collection and analysis of resource data at regular intervals, in perpetuity, to predict or detect natural and human-induced changes, and to provide the basis for appropriate management response. - Natural Resource Inventory—The process of acquiring, managing, and analyzing information on protected area resources, including but not limited to the presence, distribution, and condition of plants, animals, soils, water, air, natural features, biotic communities, and natural processes - Monitoring campsite and trails can give managers a perspective of issues that can affect visitor satisfaction in their park and resource impacts, changes in conditions of areas. Monitor for knowing what is going on. 2) Identify and explain the relevance of campsite indicators that are commonly included in monitoring programs. Common Campsite Indicators— - Campsite Density (#, #/unit area) – Legal and illegal campsites - Informal Trails (#)—from firewood gathering, travel to other sites or water source. - Site Size (sqft) - Vegetation Loss (%, sqft) - Vegetation Composition Change—(# of non-native species) - Soil Exposure (%, sqft) - Fire Sites (#) - Trees with exposed roots (#) - Tree Stumps (#) - Damaged Trees (#) - Human waste Sites (#) - Litter/ Trash (volume) - Shoreline Disturbance (lineal length, sqft) 3) List common campsite monitoring approaches discussed in class (hint: photographic, condition class, rating system, measurement). For each approach, explain the specific advantages and disadvantages. - Photographic systems—Aerial photography, photographs from permanent photopoints, stereo photographs o Advantages—rapid, provides photographs for direct visual comparisons o Disadvantages—Variable photographic quality, can’t cover all areas of site, difficult to obtain accurate quantitative data, aerial photos useful only when tree cover is absent - Condition Class System—Descriptive statements that characterize a range of site degradation from low to high o Advantages—Rapid and easy to apply, provides a useful summary of general site conditions o Disadvantages—Ordinal data limits summary and analysis capabilities, no information on the condition of individual indicators, low accuracy. o Assessment Time—About 2 minutes for one staff. - Rating System—Separate assessments of multiple indicators with categorical ratings. o Advantages – Fairly rapid and easily applied, provides information on a variety of indicators o Disadvantages—Yields ordinal data, low accuracy due to rapid assessments and use of categories - Measurement Systems—Separate assessments of multiple indicators with measurements o Advantages- provides more accurate ratio level information on a variety of indicators, minimizes measurement error o Disadvantages – more time-consuming, particularly during reassessments 4) Define and explain: Accuracy vs. Precision, Sensitivity Compare and contrast geometric figure, fixed radial transect and variable radial transect measurement methods o Accuracy – refers to how close measures are to the true value o Precision – refers to how close repeated measure of an attribute are to each other and to the sensitivity of the measurement method o Sensitivity – how large must a change be for it to be identified confidently as a real change in resource conditions 1. Geometric figure – the campsite is divided up into different geometric shapes whose areas are calculated, the areas are then added together. Most likely the least accurate but the fastest method. 2. Fixed radial transect method— 3. Variable Radial Transect method— 5) Describe staffing and staff management issues outdoor recreation managers must address as part of the process of conducting monitoring fieldwork