Most of my work is centered around understanding visitor use in U.S. National Parks. Currently, I have several projects around the country from North Dakota (Theodore Roosevelt National Park), to Arkansas (Buffalo National River), to Georgia (Cumberland Island National Seashore), to the Arizona (Grand Canyon National Park). I uses several different field research techniques to understand how to best balance use with conservation. As National Park sites continue to see increased visitation, my work becomes more important. One of the primary questions I try to understand through my research is what experiential and ecological thresholds exist that can help to maintain the visitor experience while protecting the resources of parks and protected areas.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Resource recreation management
Parks and protected areas management
Human dimensions of natural resources
Effectiveness of educational programs/interpretation