Visitor-limiting permit programs in national forests and parks: an exploration of their design and implementation
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Date
2022-06
Authors
Darby, Morgan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
With visitation to public lands on the rise, visitor-limiting permit programs are becoming an
increasingly necessary management strategy to mitigate biophysical and social visitor impacts.
While these types of programs have been implemented by public land managers since the 1960s,
little holistic research has been conducted regarding how such programs can be designed and
implemented to best meet the needs of the land unit. This study specifically looks at land-based
visitor-limiting permit programs within national parks and forests to explore the ways in which
these programs are being designed and the resulting implications of their implementation. This
exploratory process began with gathering data regarding the design of the 64 relevant permit
programs identified; as a result of this research, nine key program characteristics, or components
universal to all visitor-limiting permit programs, were defined. Interviews were then conducted
with managers of 15 of these programs. The data produced focuses on managers’ experiences with
implementation as it relates to the design of their program. The product of this project is a
functional guide for designing and implementing visitor-limiting permit programs. This study is a
foundational step toward supporting further research in this area of visitor use management.
Description
123 pages
Keywords
National Parks, National Forests, Visitor permits, Visitor management