Place attachment and management tradeoffs at a forest campground: a conjoint analysis

This study examined recreationists\u27 tradeoffs in their support of management at Henry Rierson Spruce Run Campground in Oregon, and whether tradeoffs differed based on level of attachment to this campground. Data were obtained from onsite surveys of visitors (n = 207). Nine scenarios measured respondents\u27 tradeoffs among three factors (parking, campsites, privacy / screening between campsites) and the influence of three factor levels (less, same, more than now) in their acceptance of management at this campground. Conjoint analysis showed that privacy / screening between campsites was the most important factor to respondents, number of campsites was less important, and parking was the least important factor. The most acceptable management configuration would be to retain the same amount of parking and campsites, but provide more privacy / screening. Cluster analysis segmented respondents into three place attachment groups (low, moderate, high). Highly attached respondents believed that maintaining the status quo and not changing anything would be the most acceptable approach, whereas less attached respondents were supportive of more privacy / screening and less or the same amount of parking. This study provides an understanding of how visitors would prefer management factors to be prioritized when managers cannot offer all factors simultaneously