Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: Minimal-impact interpretation is widely used to reduce the ecological impacts of visitors to protected areas. We tested whether verbal appeals and/or role-model demonstrations of minimal-impact behavior by a trained guide reduced noise, litter, and trampling impacts on hiking trails in a subtropical rainforest. Interpretation did reduce impacts significantly. Different interpretive techniques were more effective for different impacts. The experimental groups were mature, well-educated professionals; interpretation may differ in effectiveness for different visitors. Interpretation by skilled guides can indeed reduce visitor impacts in protected areas, especially if role modeling is combined with verbal appeals.
Source: AMBIO
DOI: 10.1579/07-r-393.1
Authors: Carolyn Littlefair, Ralf Buckley
Institution: National Parks and Wildlife Service
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2115286383