Book Description

This edited anthology, another fine work from Greenwood Press, should be of acute interest to those responsible for managing or studying outdoor recreation in the US. Unlike most works on this subject, which are written by those active in the field, the contributors to this book are largely political scientists. Their perspectives about policy relevant to the recreational use of public lands are new and make a significant contribution. . . . The 19 contributors examine important topics such as planning for recreational uses of natural resources, citizen participation in outdoor recreation policy making, the measurement of service provision and data needs, bureaucratic value structures, and economic/financial concerns. . . . A must for any collection addressing natural resources management. Choice This book includes chapters by some of the leading analysts in outdoor recreation research. Experts in the fields of natural resource management, geography, economics, political science, forestry, and leisure sociology address current issues in outdoor recreation policy. The underlying themes of all chapters are the preservation/use dilemma inherent in outdoor recreation policy and the management of natural resources. Extremely comprehensive and current, the volume focuses on the economic, social, attitudinal, and demographic considerations pertinent in today's outdoor recreation policy formulation. The first section of the book defines the dimensions of the preservation/use dilemma as well as key concepts in outdoor recreation research. The next two sections focus upon the measurement of the benefits of recreational resources and the financing of maintenance and management of natural resource areas. Another section includes chapters on the assessment of public preferences and the outdoor recreation demands/needs of various constituencies. The fifth section of the book includes chapters which focus upon federal agencies' approaches to the implementation of recreation resource policies. The final section includes chapters which describe management techniques that may be utilized in attempting to balance the demands of preservation and use. Accessible to a wide audience, the book makes valuable reading for policymakers, administrators, and scholars in the areas of recreation and natural resources.