The prevalence and significance of displacement for wilderness recreation management and research

Abstract

The concept of visitor displacement has important implications for wilderness management and research. Research on actual displacement of wilderness visitors is extremely limited, but this displacement likely follows patterns found for general recreationists: visitors employ a variety of coping responses and displacement is prevalent. Understanding if and when visitors are displaced is useful for anticipating and responding to resource impacts, impacts to visitor experiences, and needs to improve regional management strategies. Displacement implications extend beyond evaluation of on-site experiences to also serve as an indicator of the condition of a visitor's relationship with the resource or agency. Management and research must be more prepared to respond to use and user displacement as an indicator of changing relationships with wilderness and other wildlands.

Citation

Schneider, Ingrid E. 2007. The prevalence and significance of displacement for wilderness recreation management and research. International Journal of Wilderness. 13(3): 23-27.