No Limits of Acceptable Change: A Proposed Research Framework for Informing Visitor Use Management in the Context of Cultural Resources

Zachary D. Miller, Wayne Freimund, Stefani A. Crabtree and Ethan P. Ryan
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Zachary D. Miller: Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Wayne Freimund: Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Stefani A. Crabtree: Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Ethan P. Ryan: Department of Anthropology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Cultural resources are commonly defined as resources that provide material evidence of past human activities. These resources are unique, as they are both finite and non-renewable. This provides a challenge for traditional visitor use management since these resources have no limits of acceptable change. However, with nearly every national park in the US containing cultural resources, coupled with ever-growing visitation, it is essential that managers of parks and protected areas have the ability to make science-informed decisions about cultural resources in the context of visitor use management. We propose a framework that can help provide context and exploration for these challenges. Drawing on previous literature, this framework includes risk-based approaches to decision making about visitor use; visitor cognitions related to cultural resources; emotions, mood, and affect related to cultural resource experiences; creating and evaluating interpretive programs; deviant visitor behaviors related to cultural resources; and co-management.

Keywords: cultural resource management; national parks; visitor use management; anthropology; archeology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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