Getting From Sense of Place to Place-Based Management: An Interpretive Investigation of Place Meanings and Perceptions of Landscape Change

TLDR

The study investigates how local community members attribute meanings to the Niobrara National Scenic River and perceive its landscape. The authors conducted 25 in‑depth interviews and used iterative qualitative analysis to interpret participants' perspectives. The analysis produced a holistic Web of River Meanings that elucidates attitudes toward landscape change—especially river development—expands sense‑of‑place theory, and offers a meanings‑based framework for local planning.

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article presents the findings of an interpretive investigation of the meanings that local community members attribute to the Niobrara National Scenic River in north central Nebraska and their perceptions of the river landscape. Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed through an iterative qualitative analysis process. A holistic and integrative Web of River Meanings emerged from the analysis. The model provides insight into participants' perceptions of and attitudes toward landscape change, and in particular the highly contentious issue of river development, which proved to be a common theme in the interviews. The study findings expand on current conceptualizations of sense of place and place attachment. The findings also have implications for local planning and management by providing a more sophisticated meanings-based framework for understanding contentious management issues.