2006 Northeastern Recreation Research (NERR) Symposium, April 9-11

Special Session: “Managing Recreation in the Wildland-Urban Interface”

In 2006, in addition to inviting regular submissions (research and management presentations) addressing issues related to natural resource-based recreation and tourism, the NERR Steering Committee also invites submissions focusing on “issues confronting the management of urban-proximate natural resource recreation areas.” Shifting populations and changing demographics in the United States present managers of natural resource recreation areas near large population centers with a number of challenges. In order to respond to these challenges, managers will need an acute understanding of the groups they are mandated to serve – an understanding best served through innovative research. The 2006 NERR symposium provides an opportunity for managers and researchers to discuss current and emerging issues facing the management of these resources in a relaxed environment. Examples of these issues, among others, include:

· Domestic migration. Over the last decade there has been considerable movement of people within and between geographic regions of the US. Most noticeable has been the migration of people into the wildland-urban interface. The growth in development of these areas presents both the host communities and public land management agencies with new dilemmas. Issues that emerge from these shifting settlement patterns include:

o The impacts of rural residential development, often near or within public lands, including depletion of open space and wildland recreation settings;

o Conflict among existing and new residents concerning appropriate local development and the management of public lands. In the context of public lands, these conflicts center on the ability of managers to negotiate compromises among stakeholders relating to acceptable uses of the resource. Emerging from these conflicts are narratives of displacement, empowerment, and privilege.

o Conflict between humans and wildlife. Development in the wildland-urban interface has brought humans in closer and more frequent contact with various fauna. In addition to concerns for various species stemming from habitat depletion, domestic pet predation and disturbance, and human disturbance, concerns for human safety and livestock/crop damage remain salient.

· Shifting demographies. The growth of racial and ethnic populations exposes managers of natural resource recreation areas to many new perspectives concerning the use of these lands. In some areas of the country, strongest growth among these populations is occurring at the fringes of large urban/economic centers. As minority groups to continue to grow (at rates greater than the White majority), agencies will be required to review existing land management practices in order to remain relevant among these populations.

· The relevance of natural environments to youth and emerging adults. While some natural resource-based recreation environs lie in close proximity to large population enclaves, visitation to these settings does not always reflect the diversity of the host communities. In addition to under-representation among minority populations, shifting leisure patterns among youth (e.g., preferences to electronic media-based activities) raise questions concerning the relevance of public lands and wildland environments for future generations. Given their proximity to large urban centers, these units are uniquely positioned with regard to their potential appeal to large numbers of youth. The question remains, however, how do managers of natural resource recreation areas reach out to this age group?