PDF: Wilderness Recreation Use Estimation: A Handbook of Methods and Systems
Citation
Watson, A. E., Cole, D. N., Turner, D. L., & Reynolds, P. S. (2000). Wilderness Recreation Use Estimation: A Handbook of Methods and Systems (Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-56). Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
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Summary
Documented evidence shows that managers of units within the U.S. National Wilderness
Preservation System are making decisions without reliable information on the amount, types, and
distribution of recreation use occurring at these areas. There are clear legislative mandates and
agency policies that direct managers to monitor trends in use and conditions in wilderness. This
report is specifically designed as a convenient resource for wilderness managers and others who
have the responsibility of monitoring and describing visitor use in wilderness. It is a comprehensive
manual on estimation techniques and procedures that are essential to appropriately and accurately
measure visitor use-related characteristics and conditions. Guidelines enable the manager to
evaluate options and decide on a use estimation system that meets the needs of a specific area and
set of circumstances. This handbook provides, in a single source, all relevant information on setting
objectives, making decisions about what to monitor, developing a sampling plan, collecting the
needed information, and computing basic statistics to provide input into management decisions. The
user should have mathematical abilities at least through algebra; knowledge of statistics and
calculus would be helpful.
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