1. Forest Recreation Management Elements of Forestry Kenneth Williams Fisheries Extension Specialist Langston University Aquaculture Extension Program

2. Recreation What is a quality outdoor recreational experience for you?

3. Forest Management as Recreation Sociology 4 – categories Anticipation – engages imagination and develops enthusiasm Planning – preparation for event, getting supplies together Participation – the activity from departure to return Recollection – remembering and telling about the experience, embellishing

4. What is recreation? Requires commitment Self-rewarding, a pleasant experience of itself Requires free choice Occurs during non-obligated time.

5. Forest Recreation Management Extends from small urban centers, large commercial forest lands and very large national forest land holdings.

6. Forest Recreation Management Must handle large numbers of people over extended periods of time without altering the resource base.

7. Forest Recreation Management Forest and wildlife managers usually know more about their subject of specialization. Not so much is known about recreation users

8. Forest Recreation Management Recreation management is often a reaction to a problem rather than a systematic planning. Most visible of the multiple–use functions of the forest

9. Forest Recreation Management The product of forest recreation is the satisfaction of individual users. (Are we happy campers?)

10. 3 Management Elements The resource Development of services to offer or enhance the recreational experience. The recreational consumer

11. Forest Recreation Management Recreation is a sub-system of all the other multiple uses of the forest May coexist with 1 or more of the following uses - timber harvest, wildlife management, water shed protection or range management

12. How do you manage for recreation? Must enhance recreational opportunities while protecting resource. Keep people away from sensitive areas – Site hardening – Zoning

13. How do you manage for recreation? Not much time or money spent managing the resource base. Ex. Fertilization Not much time or money spent directly manipulating visitors.

14. People Management Activities Enforcement of regulations Dispersal in areas of concentrated use (campgrounds etc.) Dissemination of information – environmental education

15. Master Planning or Management by Design The goal is periodic manipulation of the resource base. – Access to roads and trails – Proper roads and trails provide views and access to high quality landscape features – Can also be directed to avoid highly environmentally sensitive areas or areas of social congestion or hazards – Campgrounds and visitors center along roads enhance the outdoor experience.

17. Area Master Planning Develop program objectives Zone areas for specific recreational opportunities Carefully develop access transportation system Develop sites for the type of recreational use specified in master plan objectives.

18. Master Planning Although some change may be possible, the existing situation is mostly a given fact. Planning should only proceed if a problem exists. However, it is an ongoing process. New recreation areas that are being created require careful planning. Need planning just to maintain current levels of use.

19. District or Forest Level Planning Coordinating document – overall targets for the forest in all areas of use. Resource inventory targets areas with the highest potential for a specific product such as timber production or recreation. Trade-offs and resource conflicts will occur.

20. Recreational Opportunities Spectrum (ROS) Recreational opportunities classed from 1 – most primitive to 6 – urban with all levels in between creating a continuum of activities.

21. ROS Descriptions Urban – hiking or biking trails through city parks and residential areas. Many buildings and paved roads. Rural – land between cities, farmland and small communities. large campgrounds and trailheads on paved roads. Many people, convenient day hikes.

22. ROS Descriptions Roaded natural - improvements limited to roads, trails and a few structures. May see timber harvest preparations and other people. Can take substantial day hikes.

23. ROS Descriptions Roaded modified – May see large clearcuts and other logging activity, more chances t o get away from other people, no facilities provided. You are on your own/

24. ROS Descriptions Semi-primitive – No roads, more isolated from human activity. Recreational activity dependant on the natural scene.

25. ROS Descriptions Primitive – Most remote parts of the forest, little influenced by people. Environment dominates and dictates recreational opportunities. Safety and comfort depend on woodsmanship.

26. Limits Of Acceptable Change (LAC) Management tool that reviews resource allocations to prevent uses that would harm recreational visitors experience opportunities. Depends on clear management objectives.

27. Management By Objectives It means establishing goals or outputs. Used to sort out the most desirable options.

28. Management By Objectives For Forest Recreation Resource capability Institutional constraints Existing situation User preferences coordination } = Recreation program objectives

29. Management By Objectives

30. Social Succession Any changes in area development may and often do cause changes in social and management control norms. If the shift in norms is too great, social succession occurs. Ex. Campground becomes site for loud, drunken parties. Campers are driven away.

31. Compatible??

32. Social Succession Displacement is usually caused by a failure to manage by objectives. Displacement is movement away from an unacceptable situation. It can be caused by cumulative subtle changes, such as increased car access, foot bridges over streams etc.

33. Social Succession [other types of movement] Active migration – people seek a destination suitable to their goals or values. Ex. A white-water canoeist seeks streams that will test their skills.

34. Social Succession [other types of movement] Passive migration – people select a location because it is convenient. Ex. Langston lake is convenient to campus.

35. Social Succession [other types of movement] Movements for diurnal requirements of an activity – Ex. People move to different locations on a lake to fish depending on time of day.

36. Area Planning Process Inventory area – Social, recreational use, history, economics, legal and political restraints etc. Determine band of operation – use management by objectives Establish program objectives – Experiences to be provided, where and when – Hazards and environmental impacts Develop and evaluate concept plans – Look at different ways of accomplishing objectives

37. Area Zoning Typically, more modern forms of recreational travel tend to invade and displace more primitive modes. Ex. Snow mobiles displace snow shoeing and cross country skiing. If no zone limits imposed then the snowmobilers displace everyone else.

38. Compatible??

39. Area Zoning Wilderness is also an example of displacement. Because of incremental development, roads, trailheads etc. in some areas, it may no longer be a class 1 wilderness experience.

40. Carrying Capacity Syndrome Carrying capacity – amount of use a site is able to maintain at any particular time and also over time.

41. Carrying Capacity Syndrome Why is it an issue? Growing demand for recreational space in some areas outstrips existing facilities and resources. Heavily used, depleted or deteriorating recreational sites are already a problem.

42. Recreational Carrying Capacity Use that can be supported over a specific period of time by an area developed at a certain level without causing excessive damage to the physical environment or the experience of the visitor. Capacity may be expressed in design units such as picnic tables, campsites or restroom facilities.

43. Management Plans Final plans may never be reached. Changes may be needed regularly as public demands are dynamic and fluctuating. Also recreational population is increasing.

44. THE END