Strategies and decision-making for direct visitor use management in Western Canadian parks

Protected areas are instrumental in preserving the ecological and geographical diversity that define our nation. Park managers face a challenge in protecting natural ecosystems while at the same time providing recreational opportunities. To mitigate negative impacts from visitor use managers are beginning to rely more heavily on direct strategies that restrict or limit human use. Coupled with the pressure to limit human use, there is a greater requirement for park managers to base management decisions on science and public input. This study aimed to determine the direct management techniques that are being implemented in backcountry areas of Western Canadian protected areas. The goals of my research were to determine what types of direct management strategies and tactics British Columbia and Alberta protected areas are using, to identify alternative types of direct strategies and tactics that could be useful for human use management in protected areas, and finally to identify the nature and range of factors and processes that influence management strategy decision-making.The findings reveal that Western Canadian Parks rely heavily on strategies that restrict the character of visitor use and visitor access. Rationing use techniques were also common in the case studies. It appears that decision-making was significantly influenced by public input/consultation and scientific information. Other important factors that played a role in decision-making were stakeholder input, professional judgement, and park management plans.