Magazines as wilderness information sources: assessing users' general wilderness knowledge and specific leave no trace knowledge

Abstract

The Leave No Trace (LNT) educational program has the potential to provide wilderness users with useful minimum impact information. For LNT to be effective, managers need to understand who is most/least aware of minimum impact practices and how to expose users to LNT messages. This study examined LNT knowledge among various user groups at an Eastern wilderness area and assessed which types of magazines they read on a regular basis.Findings indicate that readers of outdoor recreation (consumptive) and equine sports magazines had lower LNT scores than did readers of outdoor recreation (nonconsumptive) and environmental magazines. The implications of placing LNT messages in “offsite” publications are examined.

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

Confer, John J.; Mowen, Andrew J.; Graefe, Alan K.; Absher, James D. 2000. Magazines as wilderness information sources: assessing users'' general wilderness knowledge and specific leave no trace knowledge. 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. 193-197