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Overview
This paper provides an overview of visitor use management (VUM) within the National Park Service (NPS) and describes the use of the interagency VUM framework and the associated role and applicability of social science. Social science is a particularly important contribution to informed and legally defensible decision making for managing visitor use. Proactively managing visitor use supports the ability of NPS to encourage access, improve visitor experiences, and protect resources. To guide its work in VUM, NPS is currently utilizing the first iteration of the framework, known as the Visitor Use Management Framework, Edition One (IVUMC 2016), which was developed by the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council. The framework is a flexible process for managing use that builds on lessons learned from previous approaches, and is shared by the six agencies that are members of the council (Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, and US Fish and Wildlife Service). Successful implementation of the framework depends on public input, relevant data, and professional judgment.
The value of VUM
Recreation is fundamental to American culture. It connects people with nature and history, builds healthier minds and bodies, enhances bonds between family and friends, contributes to the quality of life and resiliency of local communities, and inspires and rejuvenates our spirits (Driver 1976; Driver et al. 1999; Daniel 2010). Additionally, recreating in public spaces helps visitors to develop an understanding and sense of belonging to a real place and, thus, to act as citizen stewards of our collective natural and cultural heritage (Vagias and Powell 2010; Larson et al. 2011; Marchand 2015). As described by Richardson et al. in this volume, recreation and tourism also contribute greatly to local and regional economies.
Every year, people seek out public lands and waters to pursue a variety of recreational experiences. Planning for and managing this use is at the heart of the NPS mission to preserve in an unimpaired condition natural and cultural resources and values for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. To ensure that people continue to benefit from expanding recreational uses, visitors, managers, and citizens need effective ways to sustainably manage those uses so these special places and...