2008 Current Issue Topic
Recreational Impacts on the Natural Environment
"Recreational Impacts on the Natural Environment"
Pennsylvania is blessed with a rich diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants. More than 10,000 species of plants and animals are known to exist in the Commonwealth. As inventory efforts continue, it is estimated that the total number of known plants and animals in Pennsylvania will reach 20,000 species. This diversity of species contributes to Pennsylvanians' well being by providing important recreational, economic, and biological benefits to the Commonwealth.
Recreation, whether active or passive, is vitally important to everyone and offers physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. The amount of time and money people spend on recreation is rising, along with the diversity of recreational opportunities.
Webster's defines recreation as refreshment in body or mind, as after work, by some for of play, amusement or relaxation and includes games, hobbies, sports, and other activities. For our purposes, we will narrow the focus to outdoor activities within a natural setting. Examples for Pennsylvania include hunting, fishing, hiking, and backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, rafting and kayaking, bird watching, and cultural observations/explorations. These may be low or high-tech, low or high impact, and require little or strenuous physical exertion. No matter the form of recreation, humans are consumers and leave behind some trace upon the earth. This "trace" often grows considerably as the number of people using that resource increases and can negatively impact vital natural resources.
Recreation is important to the economy. Consider these statistics for Pennsylvania. In 2005, the PA Fish & Boat Commission sold more then 825,963 fishing licenses and 580,650 trout/salmon and Lake Erie fishing permits. Fishing has a tremendous impact on Pennsylvania's economy, generating an economic effect of over $1.65 billion. More than 2.5 million people boat on Pennsylvania waters each year. During 2005, 350,599 boats were registered in Pennsylvania. The Fish & Boat Commission estimates that boating has total economic impact of $1.7 billion per year. Hunting is also vital to Pennsylvania's economy, with an economic impact of $4.8 billion annually, according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Much of that comes from white-tailed deer hunting, which is the favorite pursuit of many of the state's sports enthusiasts. In 2005 alone, the PA Game Commission generated over $35 million on license fees. Hunting and fishing retail sales generate over $1 billion each year.
How might recreation impact natural resources? One impact often gives rise to more, creating a cascading effect that may become difficult for land managers to control. Changes in water quality and alteration of surface flows impact water. Compaction and erosion often degrades soils. Non-native flora and fauna can be introduced into the ecosystem, causing shifts in the balance from native to non-native species. The frequency of wildfire can change, causing shifts in the flora and fauna of an area. Recreation leads to an increase in the use of energy, especially fossil fuels, leading to air and water pollution. Noise pollution may alter natural range and habitat especially critical to sensitive species. And, hoe do we manage human waste that is a by-product of our lifestyle?
There are only a few of the potential impacts. And, all are intertwined. A prime example: as soils are disturbed they may erode with resulting debris creating runoff into nearby streams, thus changing the water quality. The change in water quality may have serious repercussions for native species that rely on cleaner water. Non-native species may out-compete native species if they can tolerate the sediment load while the native do not. This, of course, is a simplified version of a possible chain of events. In reality, the impacts are far more extensive and complicated.
Some questions to ponder:
What is your favorite recreational activity? How do you think the activity impacts natural resources? How might you reduce any negative impacts that directly or indirectly result from the pastime?
What might be the impact of limiting certain recreational activities? Is preservation (no use) better then conservation (managed use)? How can we manage use in order to minimize negative impacts?
In the face of increasing demand for both traditional and new forms of recreation, how can we balance out need to enjoy the natural world with maintaining the quality of the environment?
Although recreation can add significantly to both local and state economics, are there options through preservation and conservation to off-set the losses due to decreased recreation?
Learning Objectives: "Recreational Impacts on the Natural Environment"
GOAL
Students will analyze long term and short term environmental, social, and economic factors relative to recreational impacts upon natural resources and their management.
ACTIVITIES
1. Students will analyze the availability of natural resources and the diversity of biotic communities, focusing upon factors that invite outdoor recreational users.
2. Students will research and identify recreational impacts upon natural resources, focusing upon their environmental implications.
3. Students will examine unique challenges for natural resource managers in Pennsylvania, due to its humidity, potential for drought, and growing human population and focusing on management concerns in the face of increasing recreation.
4. Students will identify key stakeholders in the business of recreation and tourism, including values and positions each holds toward outdoor recreation and natural resources.
5. Students will describe interconnectedness between socio-economic, technological, and ecological aspects of recreation.
OUTCOME
Students will be able to recommend action relative to a natural resource management challenge that will:
1. Minimize adverse impacts to natural resources.
2. Build consensus among key stakeholders.
3. Accommodate diverse audiences.
4. Contribute positively to the economic impact of a specified geographical region.
Outcomes and Indicators: "Recreational Impacts on the Natural Environment"
I. Biotic communities and environmental factors
* Identifying, comparing and contrasting the flora, fauna, of the following life zones: forest & woodlands (maple-beach-birch forest, oak-hickory forest, and oak-pine forest): waterways (streams, lakes, rivers), riparian systems, grasslands, and wetlands.
* Analyzing natural ecological factors of each community to determine its suitability for river/aquatic recreational, terrestrial recreation, and aerial recreation.
II. Recreation in Pennsylvania's climate
Analyze the current and potential recreational impacts upon an area by:
* Identifying factors that attract recreation/tourism to an area, including proximity/access to travel, quality of destination site, amenities, suitability for intended purpose, safety.
* Analyze values and attitudes toward tourism from the perspective of various stakeholders: local residents, local businesses, local and regional land managers, state agencies, federal agencies.
III. Recreational impacts upon natural resources
Assess known and potential environmental impacts created by recreation by:
* Examining land usage and soil patterns following recreational activity or anticipated to be caused by future activity.
* Analyzing historic and contemporary cultural attitudes toward ecological, social, and technological concerns.
* Examining current and predicted water quality and quantity issues.
* Considering wildlife needs and concerns of wildlife managers.
* Examining relationships between the native and no-native vegetation of an area.
* Evaluating data to estimate and recommend a future management plan for a selected site.
Reference Materials List
The following resources are available on the 2008 Current Issue Topic Reference Materials CD. The resources are provided as pdf documents for ease of reviewing. Students are required to know only what is provided on the CD. The web sites are provided only for your information and reference.
Biotic communities and environmental factors
1. Major Natural Resources Issues Facing
Pennsylvania
http://www.connectoutdoors.state.pa.u/McKinstry_GovernorsOutdoorNRIssues_lite.pdf
2. Snapshot 2002 Biodiversity in
Pennsylvania - Required pp. 1 - 10, 14 - 20, and 24 - 32
http://www.pabiodiversity.org/snapshotweb.pdf
3. Pennsylvania's Wildlife Action Plan
4.2 Pennsylvania's Valuable Wild
Resources
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=496&q=164293&pp=12&n=1
21.1 Location and Condition of Thicket/Shrub land Habitats
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?A=496&Q-166225
4. Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership
What is Biodiversity?
http://www.pabiodiversity.org/whatisbiodiversity.html
5. What is an Invasive Plant?
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/wildplant/invplants.aspx
6. Invasive Hitchhikers - fact sheets
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/invasivefactsheets/index.aspx
* 6.1 - Hiking
* 6.7 - Fishing
* 6.2 - Horseback riding
* 6.8 - Hunting
* 6.3 - ATV riding
* 6.9 - Wildlife Watching
* 6.4 - Biking
* 6.10 - Trail Maintenance
* 6.5 - Birding
* 6.11 - Camping
* 6.6 - Boating
* 6.12 - Leased Campsites
7. Low-Impact Recreational Practices for
Wilderness and Backcountry - Required pp.1-14, FYI pp. 15-97
http://leopold.wilderness.net/pubs/183.pdf
8. The State of Canada's Environment -
1996
Chapter 1 - Understanding Connections
- Highlights
http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/SOER/1996report/Doc/1-5-2-2-1.cfm
A holistic View of People and the Environment - Chap. 1
http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/SOER/1996report/Doc?1-5-2-5-1.cfm
Chapter 11 - Human Activities - Highlights
http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/SOER/1996report/Doc/1-7-4-2-1.cfm
9. Camping Tips: Advice for Low Impact
Campers
http://tntn.essortment.com/campinglowimpa_rhah.htm
10. Minimal Impact Means Bushwalking
Softly
http://parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/planning/softly.pdf
Recreation in Pennsylvania's Natural Environment
11. DCNR State Forest Resources Management
Plan - Recreation
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/FORESTRY?sfrmp/recreation.htm
12. Protecting the Trails, Environment and
Rights of Others
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/atv/etiquette.sapx
Recreation impacts upon natural resources
Economic impacts
13. Economic Impacts of Biodiversity -
Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership
http://www.pabiodiversity.org/economic.html
Historic and Cultural impacts
National Park Service (History & Culture, includes cultural features, both historical and prehistoric)
14. Gettysburg National Military Park -
http://www.nps.gov/gett/naturescience/index.htm
14.1 - Environmental Factors
14.2 - Natural Features & Ecosystems
14.3 - Prairies & Grasslands
15. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation
Area -
http://www.nps.gov/dewa/naturescience/index.htm
15.1 - Management
Ecological impacts
16. Leave No Trace
http://www.Int.org/programs/Int7/index.html (LNT principals)
17. Wildlife Diversity Program
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/lib/pgc/pdf/wildlife_diversity_program.pdf