2018/02/09 by Bond, Traci, Filous, Andrew, Hansen, Jackson +1
#park information #parks #visitors
paper · doi:10.21973/n31m2k
Humans not only interact with the environment, but also completely transform it. Even as our species advances, we still utterly depend on ecosystems for food, water, fuel, materials and much more. To preserve these and other services in the face of a growing human population and growing human demands, the National Park System was created to set aside open public spaces for preservation of resources and species. In our democratic society, the continuance of this conservation hinges on people choosing to do so. This study was conducted in Point Reyes National Seashore to gain insight on public perceptions and incentives for visiting. We found that people are traveling from all around the world and where people are coming from significantly impacts incentives for visitation. In addition, distance travelled as well as visitor age had a marked effect on use of park information. Both relationships are integral in future park planning and information dissemination. Understanding the perceptions, incentives, and interactions of visitors serves as a window into the future of conservation of Point Reyes and the natural environment everywhere.