Visitors' relationship to the resource: comparing place attachment in wildland and developed settings

Abstract

Emotional/symbolic and functional place attachments were measured on the Green and Colorado Rivers in Canyonlands National Park and at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Although Canyonlands and Mount Rushmore represent very different recreational settings, it was possible to measure both types of attachment by using 12 place attachment statements. In Canyonlands, river users on the Green and Colorado Rivers demonstrated different motives for taking a river trip and different levels of acceptance for potential management actions, based on respondents’ level of agreement with place attachment statements. Compared to river users with relatively high agreement on the Colorado River, Green River users with relatively high levels of agreement indicated a stronger desire for wildland experiences.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 4: Wilderness visitors, experiences, and visitor management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Warzecha, Cynthia A.; Lime, David W.; Thompson, Jerrilyn L. 2000. Visitors'' relationship to the resource: comparing place attachment in wildland and developed settings. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 4: Wilderness visitors, experiences, and visitor management; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-4. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 181-184