Defining and Managing the Quality of Wilderness Recreation Experiences

Abstract

There is a substantial body of scientific literature on defining and managing the quality of wilderness experiences. Two conceptual frameworks derived from this literature—carrying ca- pacity and the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)—suggest that wilderness recreation experiences can be defined through indicators and standards of quality, and that wilderness recreation should be managed to ensure that standards of quality are sus- tained over time. This paper briefly describes the conceptual frame- works of carrying capacity and ROS; reviews the growing literature on wilderness-related indicators and standards of quality, and wilderness recreation management; and suggests a number of issues that warrant further research and management attention. The Wilderness Act, along with the organic legislation creating the four federal wilderness management agencies, prescribes multiple objectives of wilderness. One of the principal objectives of this legislation is to provide outdoor recreation opportunities. Passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964 marked the beginning of a period of intensive research on outdoor recreation in wilderness and related areas, and this research has given rise to a substantial body of scientific literature on defining and managing the quality of wilder- ness experiences. While the literature on wilderness recreation is diverse, several conceptual frameworks have evolved that help inte- grate and synthesize information from recreation research. Two traditional frameworks are carrying capacity and the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS). Both of these frameworks suggest that wilderness and related outdoor recreation experiences can be defined through indicators and standards of quality, and that wilderness recreation should be managed to ensure that standards of quality are sustained over time. This paper uses the above conceptual frameworks and approaches to review and synthesize the literature on defin- ing and managing wilderness and related outdoor recreation experiences. The conceptual frameworks of carrying capac- ity and ROS are briefly reviewed in the first section to trace the evolution and contemporary emphasis on indicators and standards of quality and related wilderness recreation man- agement practices. The next two sections review the growing literature on wilderness-related indicators and standards of quality and wilderness recreation management. A final section suggests a number of issues that warrant further research and management attention. This paper takes an expansive approach to reviewing the literature on management of wilderness and related areas for recreation experiences. Studies included in this review focus on both designated wilderness areas and areas that might be described as wilderness with a lower case w. The intent is to identify principles, concepts and patterns that can be synthesized from the growing scientific literature on defining and managing wilderness-related recreation experiences.