Sense of Community and the Bears Ears National Monument

Michael R. Cope (), Jaimi Mueller, Carol Ward, Scott R. Sanders and Elizabeth Long-Meek
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Michael R. Cope: Sociology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Jaimi Mueller: Public Policy & Administration, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
Carol Ward: Sociology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Scott R. Sanders: Sociology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
Elizabeth Long-Meek: Sociology Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: This paper used the communities bordering the Bears Ears National Monument, located in rural Southeastern Utah, USA, as a case study to better understand the impact that potential changes in land management have on gateway communities. Our case study is concerned with capturing changes in the sense of community based on discussions concerning potential changes to the community. We employ “psychological sense of community” measures to assess the effect on community residents. Survey data from three gateway communities are modeled using bivariate regressions and ordinary least squares regressions with control variables to assess the four components of PSC against opposition to the proposed changes to the Bears Ears National Monument. We find that potential changes to the land designation significantly affect the respondents’ psychological sense of community. Because public protected areas and gateway communities are linked socioeconomically, environmentally, and culturally, changes in land designations can significantly impact those who live there.

Keywords: sense of community; gateway community; Bears Ears National Monument; rural; land designation; land management; land use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:12:p:1976-:d:1525885

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