•We analyzed the social network structure for ecoregion-scale planning.•Despite shared concern about wildfire, organizations comprised distinct networks.•Organizations with different goals and ...geographic foci comprised distinct networks.•Social network ties among organizations were stronger at the sub-ecoregion scale.•Network analysis can quantify social capacity for landscape planning.
Management of ecological conditions and processes in multiownership landscapes requires cooperation by diverse stakeholder groups. The structure of organizational networks – the extent to which networks allow for interaction among organizations within and across ideological and geographic boundaries – can indicate potential opportunities for cooperation on landscape-scale problems. In the arid landscapes of the western United States, where increasingly large wildfires burn irrespective of property boundaries and land designations, organizations involved in the restoration of forests and the protection of property from wildfire could benefit from working together to share information and coordinate strategies. We investigated patterns of interaction among organizations concerned with increasingly uncharacteristic wildfire risk in the Eastern Cascades Ecoregion of Oregon for evidence of structural conditions that create opportunity for cooperation. Through social network analysis of interview data, we found that despite sharing concern about wildfire risk in an area with a common set of ecological conditions, organizations with forest restoration and fire protection goals comprised distinct networks, as did organizations that focused on different geographic areas of the ecoregion. When interpreted through the lens of social capital and organizational theory these findings raise questions about the extent to which the structure of the organizational network reflects capacity to address wildfire risk in fire-prone forests on the ecoregion-scale. This study provides insights on the utility of a structural approach for investigating social capacity for landscape-scale planning.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract
The United States Forest Service 2012 Planning Rule prioritizes making lands resilient to climate change. Although researchers have investigated the history of “resilience” and its multiple ...interpretations, few have examined perceptions or experiences of resource staff tasked with implementing resilience. We interviewed Forest Service staff in the Southwestern Region to evaluate how managers and planners interpret resilience as an agency strategy, execution of resilience in management, and climate change’s impact on perception of resilience. Interviewees identified resilience as a main driver of agency response to land management but, when applying the concept, experienced barriers including ambiguity; scale; management specificity versus broad, adaptive landscape approach; and lack of metrics or examples. Interviewees found restoring ecosystem function to promote resilience while planning for future changed landscapes difficult. They desired landscape-scale collaboration to understand how to operationalize the resilience directive. Our findings revealed obstacles and opportunities for resilience in a managerial context.
Moving Beyond the “I” in Motivation Grimm, Kerry E.; Needham, Mark D.
Journal of travel research,
07/2012, Volume:
51, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Much research has examined why volunteer tourists volunteer abroad. However, little work has explored (1) if and how destination and organization attributes motivate volunteers or (2) manager ...perceptions of volunteer motivations. We identified attributes that pulled conservation volunteer tourists to the country, organization, and volunteer project. We compared these motivations and reasons for volunteering abroad with manager and volunteer coordinator perceptions of volunteer motivations. To collect data, we engaged in participant observation and conducted interviews with 36 volunteer tourists, 2 managers, and 3 volunteer coordinators at an Ecuadorian conservation volunteer project. Volunteers listed a range of motivations for their choices (e.g., reserve mission, price). Managers and coordinators correctly identified some motivations for volunteering abroad and selecting the destination, organization, and project (e.g., travel, price). However, they mentioned fewer reasons than volunteers and overlooked several major factors, especially altruistic and project-specific reasons. We discuss implications for managers and organizations, tourism theory, and future research.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Recent attention to mangroves' social‐ecological benefits has increased funding for restoration projects. Despite such proliferation, little is known about the mangrove restoration funding landscape. ...To examine multiscale funding flows and relationships to restoration organizations and their project characteristics, we analyzed 115 surveys completed by the Caribbean and Latin American project managers. We categorized funder types by scale and type (e.g., International NGO) and projects as supported by in‐country, out‐country, or both funders. We identified relationships between funder type/scale and organization/project characteristics (e.g., size, inclusion of community information), which we illustrate using Sankey diagrams. Most funders were from the Global North (n = 165/275), primarily in the United States (n = 65) or broadly at the international scale (n = 59); however, Mexican funders were also prevalent (n = 35). Projects were mostly funded by out‐country (n = 43), then both (n = 36) and in‐country (n = 26). While similarities existed among funder type/scale and organization/project characteristic trends, notable exceptions existed (e.g., foreign government supported larger projects), which we detail and contextualize. We conclude with recommendations for funders and organizations, which include ways funders can better support projects using best practices (e.g., community engagement) and managed by smaller organizations, as well as ways organizations can better target funding based on their organization and project characteristics.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Knowledge coproduction is increasingly advocated as a way to address complex socioecological issues, such as catastrophic wildfires. In turn, attention has been paid to boundary organizations to ...foster knowledge coproduction. Despite this growing interest, little research has examined the interplay between knowledge coproduction, boundary organizations, and scientists. We interviewed scientists involved with the Southwest Fire Science Consortium (SWFSC) to examine (1) relationships between their engagement with SWFSC and knowledge coproduction in their own work and (2) SWFSC’s role in fostering participation in knowledge coproduction. Overall, scientists more engaged with SWFSC reported involvement in a wider variety of knowledge coproduction activities. However, some knowledge coproduction activities, especially those requiring greater time investment or facing institutional barriers (e.g., research collaboration) were less common among all participants. Most scientists involved in knowledge coproduction believed that SWFSC increased their participation in these activities outside the boundary organization context, in part because SWFSC provided opportunities to interact with and understand the needs of managers/practitioners, as well as build research collaborations. Findings indicate that boundary organizations, such as SWFSC, can foster knowledge coproduction, but that they may need to further explore ways to address challenges for knowledge coproduction activities that involve greater time commitment or institutional challenges.
Abstract
The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is increasingly turning to partnership tools such as stewardship agreements (SAs) to accomplish land management objectives. In these arrangements, nonagency ...partners (partners) often bring resources, capabilities, and preferences that can influence management processes and activities. We explored the nature of partner influence in SAs through interviews with USFS and partner staff in four SA case studies in Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Interviewees perceived that partners influenced project prioritization; implementation pace, scope, and approach; and SA participants’ ways of working. Influence was linked to partners’ involvement in SA project selection; contribution of resources, expertise, and capabilities; and assumption of some project implementation responsibilities. USFS-partner relationships also appeared to encourage partnership-oriented approaches beyond the original project. Our research suggests SA partners are uniquely influential in the implementation of USFS management activities and recommends additional exploration of SAs in the context of collaborative implementation.
Agroecology is gaining increasing attention as a solution to maintaining robust ecosystem services for rural communities and down-stream users in tropical regions. The incorporation of trees into ...working landscapes is one specific agroecology practice, which to be effective must be driven by regional values and preferences. Using an exploratory study from rural Costa Rica, we illustrate how a photo-based survey approach can assist in determining landowner preferences for tree configurations that could be incorporated into private-property landscape design. We also examined landowner motivations and community-identified barriers to maintaining tree cover on private property. Through the photo-based survey, which was deployed online in 2020, we found that landowners were more interested in the incorporation of large tree configurations (e.g. wide riparian buffer zones; large, forested patches) over smaller ones (e.g. small, forested patches; isolated trees). While preferred tree configurations supported landowner-identified values (e.g. habitat provisioning; watershed protection), barriers most likely inhibited the actual implementation of such configurations, including limited space and financial resources. To overcome such barriers, a diversified approach including involvement by government and local NGOs may increase accessibility of preferred tree configurations among small landholders interested in conservation. Photo-based surveys are effective tools for increasing dialogue with local communities, which can generate a deeper understanding of potential challenges and landowner interest in tree incorporation, thus informing regional agroecology recommendations and policy.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
This article examines motivations of people visiting an alpine ski area in the summer season and their norms regarding acceptable and unacceptable trail conditions and densities of use at this area. ...Data were obtained from on-site surveys of summer visitors (n = 422) at the Whistler Mountain ski area in British Columbia, Canada. Cluster analysis of several reasons for visiting revealed three groups ranging from a group who rated all motivation factors as most important to a group who only considered the alpine scenery as important. Norms were measured using evaluations of photographs depicting increasing trail widths and densities of sightseers/hikers and mountain bikers. Compared to the other two groups, the group who only considered the scenery important had lower normative acceptance of increasing densities of use and wider trails and had more norm crystallization or consensus about acceptable and unacceptable conditions. Research and management implications are discussed.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although much research has discussed why tourists volunteer abroad, little work has explored the role of promotional material (e.g., internet websites) in volunteer decisions. We examined if ...promotional material played a motivating role in volunteer tourists' decision to select specific organizations or conservation projects, and if so, what in the material influenced their choices. We also identified types of promotional material used and how volunteers accessed this information. To collect data, we engaged in participant observation and conducted interviews at a conservation volunteer project in Ecuador with 36 volunteer tourists, 2 managers, and 3 volunteer coordinators. Findings revealed that volunteers almost exclusively used the internet to search for volunteer tourism opportunities. Volunteer decisions to select the organization or project were influenced by both website appearance (e.g., organized, professional) and specific content (e.g., photographs, volunteer comments, project descriptions, buzzwords). We discuss implications for managers and organizations, tourism theory, and future research.
► We examined if and how promotional material motivated volunteer tourists. ► We identified types of promotional material used and how volunteers accessed these. ► Volunteers primarily used internet websites and social media to access information. ► Website appearance and specific content influenced volunteers when making decisions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Restoration is effective for improving ecosystem health and protecting biodiversity. However, restoration initiatives often neglect socioeconomic dimensions that affect local communities. When these ...factors are included, they are often under the purview of managers whose perspectives of public engagement remain understudied. Here, we focused on mangroves and surveyed restoration project managers in Latin America and the Caribbean to explore if and how they have engaged in socioeconomic best practices such as including the community, local knowledge, and social monitoring. We also sought to understand how these activities related to perceptions of project outcomes. Most managers ( n = 182) reported that they engaged in some best practices, such as community engagement in various project stages and incorporating local information. Differences existed as to which types of information were included, which project stages included the community, and how frequently the community was involved. Overall, managers, especially those who engaged the community more frequently and throughout the entire restoration process, believed projects were successful and provided numerous community benefits. However, despite the reported number of benefits, less than half of the respondents conducted social monitoring to assess the actualization of these benefits or other social indicators. We provide suggestions for how mangrove restoration projects, and restoration efforts more broadly, can increase the inclusion of communities, their knowledge, and social monitoring to better assess the achievement of project outcomes.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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