In 2003, the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration published a study by Brijesh Thapa and Alan R. Graefe titled “Forest Recreationists and Environmentalism.” The purpose of the research was to explore the relationship between participation in outdoor recreation and environmentalism. The researchers divided activities to Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania into three categories: appreciative, consumptive, and motorized. Appreciative activities involved things like hiking and camping. Consumptive activities included hunting and fishing. Motorized activities involved vehicles like snowmobiles or boats. They tested the following three hypotheses in Bald Eagle State Forest in Pennsylvania:
“1) Participants in appreciative activities will exhibit stronger proenvironmental attitudes than participants in consumptive or motorized activities.
2) Participants in appreciative activities will exhibit stronger environmentally responsible behaviors than participants in consumptive or motorized activities.
3) Participants in appreciative activities will exhibit more support for local forest management emphasizing habitat preservation than participants in consumptive or motorized activities.”
These hypotheses were tested using two methods. The first involved interviewing visitors in person. For the second method, researchers left surveys on car windshields for visitors to complete and mail back. Visitors were asked about five aspects of their environmental beliefs: “(a) reality of limits to growth, (b) anti-anthropocentrism, (c) fragility of nature’s balance, (d) rejection of exemptionalism, and (e) possibility of an eco-crisis or ecological catastrophe (Dunlap et al., 1992).” They were asked about their environmentally responsible behaviors using a scale ranging from “Rarely” to “Usually.” Researchers also assessed their opinions of local forest management, to see whether they had a more preservationist or a more utilitarian view of their local wilderness areas. Finally, researchers asked visitors to identify their most important activity in the forest. This data was analyzed and tested for significance.
The demographics of respondents were fairly homogeneous. 87% were male, 99% were white, 28% were ages 41-50, and 21% were 60 or older. The most popular activities were hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. For 34%, appreciative activities were most important, for 51%, consumptive activities were most important, and for 15%, motorized activities were most important.
The opinions of the visitors were also pretty uniform. “There was only one item (‘Despite our special abilities, humans are still subject to the laws of nature’) that received over 90% support (strongly agree combined with moderately agree responses). Approximately 75% indicated support for each of the following statements, ‘Humans are severely abusing the environment,’ ‘Plants and animals have as much right as humans to exist,’ and ‘The balance of nature is very delicate and easily upset.’ Similarly, between 55% to 70% agreed with the idea that ‘We are approaching the limit of the number of people that the earth can support;’ ‘When humans interfere with nature, it often produces disastrous consequences;’ and ‘The earth is like a spaceship with very limited room and resources.’ However, two-thirds of the respondents also agreed with the notion that ‘The earth has plenty of natural resources if we just learn how to develop them.’”
Environmentally responsible behaviors varied more. While most recycled and tried to purchase recycled products, only 28% thought about the amount of packaging they use. The lowest participation was in writing to government about environmental issues and attending meetings about conservation.
In terms of local forest use, most agreed that protection of native species was more important than recreation and that more lands around Bald Eagle State Forest should be set aside as wilderness areas. However, 47% agreed that there should be more fish stocking, and 50% supported more timber harvesting.
The first hypothesis was not rejected. Most respondents that listed appreciative activities as their most important recreation were ecocentric or dualcentric (eco- and techno- centric). The second hypothesis was partially supported. Appreciative recreationists were more likely to participate in recycling, environmental education, and green consumerism, while consumptive recreationists were more likely to be political activists. The third hypothesis was not rejected. Appreciative visitors were most unlike motorized visitors in their opinions of the local forest.
Overall, people participating in appreciative activities had more proenvironmental opinions than other visitors. However, most visitors did hold proenvironmental views and participate in environmentally responsible behaviors. The study says, “If participation in outdoor recreation stimulates or increases environmental concern, proenvironmental behaviors, or both, this holds a promising future for the environmental movement.” This research suggests that enjoyment of outdoor recreation correlates with concern for the environment. The question now is whether correlation equals causation in this case, and if so, whether recreation inspires environmentalism or vice versa.
Taken in Bald Eagle State Forest
Source:
Thapa, Brijesh, and Alan R. Graefe. “Forest Recreationists and Environmentalism.” Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 21.1 (2003): 75-103.
Image Sources: http://www.naturallyamazing.com/americasparks/456.jpg
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By Christine Sandbach