Community Perceptions of Recreation Management and Experiences in the Oregon State University Research Forests

Graduation date: 2016Access restricted to the OSU Community, at author's request, from January 15, 2016 - January 15, 2018Strategic planning for forests subjected to multiple uses is important for management that sustains and balances these many uses. In the wildland urban interface where forests are in the backyards of members of the public who avidly recreate in them, it is also important to include the community in the planning process. This thesis utilized elements of participatory action research to achieve the dual goals of a community-informed recreation management plan for the Oregon State University Research Forests, and the contribution of user perspectives regarding recreation management approaches and experiences to the literature. Through focus group discussions regarding recreation in the forest with the community, this research sought an in-depth understanding of recreation users' interests, experiences, and preferences. First, this thesis considers users' preferences for a direct or indirect approach to recreation management as indicated by the actions they recommend managers utilize. From this investigation it was found that users preferred an indirect approach to management in the Research Forests. User satisfaction with current social and resource conditions in the forest, familiarity with indirect\ud management actions, and feasibility of an indirect approach may have contributed to participants' preferences. Second, in this thesis the users' experiences of conflict in the Research Forests are considered along with the recommendations they make for a management response. Interpersonal conflicts characterized by resource damage and concerns for safety were most prevalent in participant discussions of conflict experiences. In addition to education and trail building, participants recommended that establishing zones for expected recreation opportunities designed for a primary use may mitigate conflicts in the Research Forests. This descriptive understanding of the preferences and experiences of recreationists in the Research Forests may be beneficial to managers in creating and sustaining satisfactory recreation opportunities for Forest visitors, and will be used as part of the Forests' strategic planning process