In the past 25 years, Palm Beach County has acquired more than 31 million acres of public preserves consisting of numerous native habitats that are home to threatened and endangered flora and fauna. Both endemic habitats and plant species benefit from expansion and connectivity through the adoption of native plants in surrounding areas. The next step in conserving these protected, larger areas is to identify ways to connect them in order to reduce their isolation and improve their likelihood of continued ecosystem health. This study aims to perform an analysis using a GIS database of Palm Beach County's Eastern urban areas to determine additional vegetation that currently exists on public lands and private preserves and to analyze and classify the vegetation for its potential conservation role, either as ; preserves, buffers, corridors or clusters connecting and enhancing existing natural areas. / by Corrie Rainyn. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

A l’instar des autres disciplines, notamment celles relatives à l’informatique, le développement technologique et l’avènement de nouvelles techniques ont permis de faire évoluer une certaine manière de connaître et d’appréhender le droit. Cette recherche vise plus particulièrement le droit relatif aux espaces naturels et tente d’apporter, par l’utilisation des systèmes d’information, une aide à la décision portant sur des problèmes juridiques posés par la diversité́ des instruments de protection de la nature et des acteurs concernés par cette protection. Elle propose l’élaboration d’une méthodologie collaborative et l’expérimentation de deux outils analytiques visant à faciliter l'aide à la décision en matière de protection des espaces naturels, à savoir une base de données juridiques Jurisbase et une cartographie juridique Juriscarto. / Like other disciplines, particularly those related to computing, the development of high technologies and the emergence of new technics allowed the development of a certain knowledge and understanding concerning law. This research focuses on law related to natural areas. It aims at providing, through the use of information systems, a decision support to legal problems posed by the diversity of instruments used to protect natural areas, and the diversity of actors involved in such a protection. This research proposes the development of a collaborative methodology and the experiment of two analytical tools aiming at facilitating the decision making process in the protection of natural areas, namely a legal database Jurisbase, and legal mapping Juriscarto.

Five interpretive programs designed for use by educators, naturalists, or interpreters working at ecotourism destinations. Topics covered include environmentally responsible behavior, on-site recycling programs, renewable energy systems, and plant and animal species conservation.

Many natural areas and systems within urban landscapes are small or narrow. Landscape ecology studies within forested and agricultural landscapes have found that small natural areas that are protected from development or resource extraction through land use planning are significantly affected by adjacent land use changes. Some eventually lose the values for which they were protected. Studies also indicate that natural area boundary structures and functions are important determinants of the extent to which external threats affect adjacent natural areas. Few studies have empirically tested whether small or narrow urban natural areas that are protected from development through municipal land use planning are significantly affected by adjacent land use changes. However, municipal planners and forest managers are concerned that activities of residents living adjacent to the forest edge, commonly referred to as residential encroachment, may be degrading the social values, and ecological forms and functions of their woodlands. Studies have recorded evidence of human impacts within suburban forest edges, indicating that both recreation and yard-related activities are occurring and that these activities occur at significantly higher frequencies in the forest edge than in the interiors of these forests. However, no study has differentiated residential encroachment activities from those of other recreationists. In addition, although a number of municipalities have developed policies to address these activities, little is known about these policies, the extent to which they are implemented, or their effectiveness in protecting their small or narrow forested natural areas from residential encroachment activities. The principal research questions answered in this research are: 1) Do municipalities within Southern Ontario have policies for protecting natural areas from the activities of residents living adjacent to suburban forest edges? 2) To what extent are they implementing these policies? 3) What encroachment activities, if any, are occurring in Southern Ontario municipal forest edges? and 4) Are municipal boundary-related policies effective in limiting edge-resident encroachment activities? Using a mixed method approach, the research incorporates qualitative and quantitative data collection to answer these questions. The content analysis of official and secondary plans and social surveys of key informants within six Southern Ontario municipalities identify boundary-related policies for protecting municipal natural areas from residential encroachment activities. They also determine the extent to which the study municipalities implement these policies. Field studies in 40 forests within these municipalities used unobtrusive measurements of encroachment behaviour to describe encroachment activities under two implemented municipal boundary demarcation policies, and other boundary treatments The three research methods, together with a literature review, were used to determine whether Ontario municipal policies are effective in limiting edge-resident encroachment activities within municipal forest edges. The content analysis and interviews indicated that, in general, municipal policies were insufficient to address the edge-resident encroachment issue. Policies had been established, but not at a sufficiently authoritative policy level (i.e. the official plan level) to support their implementation by staff. In addition, policies were missing explicit goals, objectives and strategies to direct their implementation, and the municipalities had not integrated their disparate policy components into an integrated course of action through time and space. The municipalities were successful in implementing policies to prevent edge resident encroachment within natural areas adjacent to newly developing subdivisions. However, they had infrequently implemented their policies for preventing encroachment within natural areas adjacent to established subdivisions. Furthermore, all the municipalities were not frequently implementing their policies to remediate existing encroachments within natural areas adjacent to newly developing or established subdivisions. The unobtrusive measurement of encroachment behaviour confirmed that residential encroachment activities generated a housing effect zone of impact within municipal forest edges. The distribution of the evidence of encroachment was significantly biased to the forest border. Encroachment traces were highly prevalent within study forests, occurring in over 94% of sites and covering 26 to 50% of the sampled area. Encroachment traces were particularly intense in the first 8 metres from the forest border; but extended a mean maximum extent of 16 metres from the forest border, with 95% of the evidence of encroachment lying within 34 metres. Boundary type significantly affected the mean frequency, intensity and maximum extent of encroachment. Mean frequencies, intensities and extents of all encroachment, and of most encroachment categories, were generally higher in sites with boundary types that allowed edge residents ready access to the forest edge. Conversely, sites with boundary treatments that had barriers to entry, such as fences or grass strips, tended to have lower encroachment levels. Sites with multiple barriers, such as those with fences, grass strips and paths, tended to have the lowest mean frequencies, intensities and mean maximum extents of encroachment. While sites with implemented municipal post and fence policies had significantly lower mean frequencies, intensities and, in the case of fences extents of encroachment, they were not significantly different from those of sites under some of the boundary types not subject to municipal policies. They were also significantly higher than those of sites with fences and grass strips (with or without pathways). Sites with municipal posts had significantly lower mean intensities of encroachment than sites with other boundaries that enabled residents to enter the forest edge, and had significantly lower mean frequencies of waste disposal traces than fenced sites. Sites with fences also had significantly lower mean intensities of encroachment than sites with no boundary demarcation, or sites with fences and gates, and were particularly effective in reducing the incidence of yard extension encroachments, and mean maximum extents of encroachment. Despite the effectiveness of these boundary demarcation policies, and that of some of the other boundary treatments evaluated, none of the boundary treatments was effective in eliminating encroachment traces. A buffer of between 10 and 20 metres in width would be required to segregate the mean maximum extent of encroachment activities from sensitive forest edges, depending on the boundary demarcation policy, or type. The research concludes that current municipal policies are insufficient to meet the complexity and scope of the encroachment activities occurring. Some preventative policies have been developed and are regularly implemented within natural areas adjacent to new subdivisions. However, implemented boundary demarcation policies are insufficient to eliminate, or minimize residential encroachment. Wider more complex boundary policies that limit different types of encroachment and include elements that reduce access, spatially separate, and encourage informal residential surveillance (such as fences, grass strips and pathways) can further reduce encroachment levels. Few municipalities have established boundary demarcation policies to prevent encroachment within natural areas adjacent to established subdivisions, and study municipalities infrequently implement policies and bylaws to mitigate existing encroachments within these areas. Yet interviewees, and the results of the unobtrusive measurement of encroachment in study forest edges, indicate that encroachment activities are highly prevalent within these municipal forests. Policies at all levels, and particularly at the official plan level, are required to protect natural areas from edge resident encroachment, and other forms of post development impacts on natural areas. These policies are required to support the more rigorous enforcement of encroachment bylaws, and the negotiation, and implementation of effective buffers and boundary demarcation treatments. In consideration of these results and conclusions, the dissertation describes the implications for municipal planning policy and urban and regional planning theory, and provides recommendations for future research.

Many natural areas and systems within urban landscapes are small or narrow. Landscape ecology studies within forested and agricultural landscapes have found that small natural areas that are protected from development or resource extraction through land use planning are significantly affected by adjacent land use changes. Some eventually lose the values for which they were protected. Studies also indicate that natural area boundary structures and functions are important determinants of the extent to which external threats affect adjacent natural areas. Few studies have empirically tested whether small or narrow urban natural areas that are protected from development through municipal land use planning are significantly affected by adjacent land use changes. However, municipal planners and forest managers are concerned that activities of residents living adjacent to the forest edge, commonly referred to as residential encroachment, may be degrading the social values, and ecological forms and functions of their woodlands. Studies have recorded evidence of human impacts within suburban forest edges, indicating that both recreation and yard-related activities are occurring and that these activities occur at significantly higher frequencies in the forest edge than in the interiors of these forests. However, no study has differentiated residential encroachment activities from those of other recreationists. In addition, although a number of municipalities have developed policies to address these activities, little is known about these policies, the extent to which they are implemented, or their effectiveness in protecting their small or narrow forested natural areas from residential encroachment activities. The principal research questions answered in this research are: 1) Do municipalities within Southern Ontario have policies for protecting natural areas from the activities of residents living adjacent to suburban forest edges? 2) To what extent are they implementing these policies? 3) What encroachment activities, if any, are occurring in Southern Ontario municipal forest edges? and 4) Are municipal boundary-related policies effective in limiting edge-resident encroachment activities? Using a mixed method approach, the research incorporates qualitative and quantitative data collection to answer these questions. The content analysis of official and secondary plans and social surveys of key informants within six Southern Ontario municipalities identify boundary-related policies for protecting municipal natural areas from residential encroachment activities. They also determine the extent to which the study municipalities implement these policies. Field studies in 40 forests within these municipalities used unobtrusive measurements of encroachment behaviour to describe encroachment activities under two implemented municipal boundary demarcation policies, and other boundary treatments The three research methods, together with a literature review, were used to determine whether Ontario municipal policies are effective in limiting edge-resident encroachment activities within municipal forest edges. The content analysis and interviews indicated that, in general, municipal policies were insufficient to address the edge-resident encroachment issue. Policies had been established, but not at a sufficiently authoritative policy level (i.e. the official plan level) to support their implementation by staff. In addition, policies were missing explicit goals, objectives and strategies to direct their implementation, and the municipalities had not integrated their disparate policy components into an integrated course of action through time and space. The municipalities were successful in implementing policies to prevent edge resident encroachment within natural areas adjacent to newly developing subdivisions. However, they had infrequently implemented their policies for preventing encroachment within natural areas adjacent to established subdivisions. Furthermore, all the municipalities were not frequently implementing their policies to remediate existing encroachments within natural areas adjacent to newly developing or established subdivisions. The unobtrusive measurement of encroachment behaviour confirmed that residential encroachment activities generated a housing effect zone of impact within municipal forest edges. The distribution of the evidence of encroachment was significantly biased to the forest border. Encroachment traces were highly prevalent within study forests, occurring in over 94% of sites and covering 26 to 50% of the sampled area. Encroachment traces were particularly intense in the first 8 metres from the forest border; but extended a mean maximum extent of 16 metres from the forest border, with 95% of the evidence of encroachment lying within 34 metres. Boundary type significantly affected the mean frequency, intensity and maximum extent of encroachment. Mean frequencies, intensities and extents of all encroachment, and of most encroachment categories, were generally higher in sites with boundary types that allowed edge residents ready access to the forest edge. Conversely, sites with boundary treatments that had barriers to entry, such as fences or grass strips, tended to have lower encroachment levels. Sites with multiple barriers, such as those with fences, grass strips and paths, tended to have the lowest mean frequencies, intensities and mean maximum extents of encroachment. While sites with implemented municipal post and fence policies had significantly lower mean frequencies, intensities and, in the case of fences extents of encroachment, they were not significantly different from those of sites under some of the boundary types not subject to municipal policies. They were also significantly higher than those of sites with fences and grass strips (with or without pathways). Sites with municipal posts had significantly lower mean intensities of encroachment than sites with other boundaries that enabled residents to enter the forest edge, and had significantly lower mean frequencies of waste disposal traces than fenced sites. Sites with fences also had significantly lower mean intensities of encroachment than sites with no boundary demarcation, or sites with fences and gates, and were particularly effective in reducing the incidence of yard extension encroachments, and mean maximum extents of encroachment. Despite the effectiveness of these boundary demarcation policies, and that of some of the other boundary treatments evaluated, none of the boundary treatments was effective in eliminating encroachment traces. A buffer of between 10 and 20 metres in width would be required to segregate the mean maximum extent of encroachment activities from sensitive forest edges, depending on the boundary demarcation policy, or type. The research concludes that current municipal policies are insufficient to meet the complexity and scope of the encroachment activities occurring. Some preventative policies have been developed and are regularly implemented within natural areas adjacent to new subdivisions. However, implemented boundary demarcation policies are insufficient to eliminate, or minimize residential encroachment. Wider more complex boundary policies that limit different types of encroachment and include elements that reduce access, spatially separate, and encourage informal residential surveillance (such as fences, grass strips and pathways) can further reduce encroachment levels. Few municipalities have established boundary demarcation policies to prevent encroachment within natural areas adjacent to established subdivisions, and study municipalities infrequently implement policies and bylaws to mitigate existing encroachments within these areas. Yet interviewees, and the results of the unobtrusive measurement of encroachment in study forest edges, indicate that encroachment activities are highly prevalent within these municipal forests. Policies at all levels, and particularly at the official plan level, are required to protect natural areas from edge resident encroachment, and other forms of post development impacts on natural areas. These policies are required to support the more rigorous enforcement of encroachment bylaws, and the negotiation, and implementation of effective buffers and boundary demarcation treatments. In consideration of these results and conclusions, the dissertation describes the implications for municipal planning policy and urban and regional planning theory, and provides recommendations for future research.

There are 78 protected areas in Peru covering 22 million hectares corresponding almost 17 percent of national territory. This article reviews essential aspects of protected natural areas studying scopes, purposes, types, categories and levels such as: requirements for setting, amendment and repeal; activities allowed and forbidden within them; institutional management, among others. Finally, this work concludes with some brief thoughts on legal and institutional challenges of the Sistema Nacional de Áreas NaturalesProtegidas por el Estado (SINANPE) (National System of State ProtectedNatural Areas). / En el Perú existen setenta y ocho áreas protegidas de nivel nacional, que en su conjunto cubren más de veinte y dos millones de hectáreas que equivalen casi al diecisiete por ciento del territorio nacional. El presente artículo, tras abordar los alcances, objetivos, tipos, categorías y niveles de las áreas naturales protegidas, pasa revista a los más trascendentes aspectos que las envuelven, tales como los requerimientos para su establecimiento, modificación y derogación; las actividades permitidas y prohibidas dentro de ellas; su gestión institucional; entre otros. Finalmente arriba a unas concisas reflexiones sobre los retos legales e institucionales que el Sistema Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (Sinanpe) debería afrontar.

M. Tech. Tourism and Hospitality Management / This study was aimed at analysing the perceptions of visitors to Groenkloof Nature Reserve (GNR) with regard to sustainable business practices at the reserve. The study basically utilized three major methods of data gathering (viz. behavioural observation, interviews and questionnaires) to obtain all information required for such analysis.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is titled “Exploring the efficacy of community-based natural resource management in Salambala Conservancy, Caprivi Region, Namibia”. Salambala was one of the first four conservancies to be registered in Namibia following the development of legislation which enabled local people on communal lands to obtain conditional rights for the consumptive and non-consumptive use of wildlife in their defined area, and thereby to benefit from wildlife. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), an approach to natural resource management which rests on sustainable development, is the theoretical basis for this study. Characteristics of CBNRM, a brief history of its implementation and impacts in southern Africa and key principles for sustainable CBNRM initiatives shall be discussed. The study includes a discussion on the history and development of Salambala, but focuses specifically on two issues, (i) whether Salambala is a sustainable community-based resource management initiative as per the principles required for sustainable CBNRM, and (ii), whether it is meeting its own stated aims and objectives. This study demonstrates that Salambala Conservancy is adhering to the principles required for sustainable CBNRM and that it is, on the whole, achieving its aims and objectives. It is thus delivering benefits to the community which, currently, outweigh the costs of living with wildlife, and wildlife numbers are increasing. In addition, the vast majority of local people surveyed have support for the initiative. However, there are a few critical issues which must be addressed, such as human-wildlife conflict and the need to increase benefits through, for example, further tourism development, if Salambala is to continue on this path. The methodology used during the study included interviews, the use of questionnaires on a sample of the population and extensive documentary analysis of both CBNRM and the history of Salambala’s development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is getiteld “’n Ondersoek na die doeltreffendheid van gemeenskapsbaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur in die Salambala bewaar-area in die Caprivi streek in Namibië”. Salambala was die eerste van vier bewaar-areas wat in Namibië geregistreer is nadat spesifieke wetgewing ontwikkel is. Hierdie wetgewing het plaaslike inwoners in staat gestel om voorwaardelike regte op gemeenskaplike grond te bekom om die natuur te verbruik (bv. vir jag doeleindes) of te gebruik (bv.vir toerisme), en so baat te vind by die natuur. Gemeenskapsgebaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur (GGNHB), ‘n benadering tot natuurlike hulpbronbestuur wat berus op volhoubare ontwikkeling, is die teoretiese basis van hierdie studie. Kenmerke van GGNHB, ‘n kort historiese oorsig van die implementering en impak daarvan in suidelike Afrika, asook sleutel beginsels vir volhoubare GGNHB sal bespreek word. Die studie sluit ook ‘n bespreking in van die geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van Salambala, met spesifieke fokus op twee kwessies: (i) of Salambala ‘n volhoubare gemeenskapsgebaseerde hulpbron bestuursinisiatief is soos vervat in die beginsels vir ‘n volhoubare GGNHB; en (ii), of dit aan sy verklaarde doelwitte en oogmerke voldoen. Die studie toon aan dat die Salambala bewaar-area voldoen aan die beginsels wat vereis word vir volhoubare GGNHB en dat dit, in die geheel gesien, sy beplande doelwitte en oogmerke bereik. Dit lewer dus voordele aan die gemeenskap wat op die oomblik meer is as die kostes verbonde aan ‘n bestaan na aan die natuur. Verder neem die wildgetalle toe en toon ‘n opname onder die plaaslike bevolking oorweldigende steun vir die inisiatief. Daar is egter ‘n paar kritieke kwessies wat aandag verg, soos die konflik tussen inwoners en die wildlewe, asook die behoefte aan meer voordele wat verkry kan word deur middel van, byvoorbeeld, verdere toerisme-ontwikkeling - sou Salambala voortgaan met hierdie onderneming. Die metodologie wat in die studie gebruik is sluit in onderhoude, die gebruik van vraelyste op ‘n deursnit van die bevolking asook ‘n breedvoerige dokumentêre analise van beide GGNHB en die geskiedenis van die Salambala se ontwikkeling.

O Cerrado é um domínio fitogeográfico tipicamente savânico, com altos valores de diversidade e endemismos e com uma grande pressão antrópica associada. A maior área contínua ainda conservada de Cerrado é a região do Jalapão (TO). Apesar de protegida por Unidades de Conservação de proteção integral, esta é uma região pouco estudada, existindo, assim, uma grande lacuna de conhecimento sobre sua flora e sobre os efeitos das queimadas, que lá ocorrem frequentemente, na diversidade de plantas. O fogo exerce forte influência na constituição biológica e na ecologia do Cerrado. A ausência de queimadas ou a sua presença frequente transformam a fitofisionomia do local, adensando a vegetação ou levando a formações mais campestres, respectivamente. Com a crescente ocupação antrópica, a frequência de fogo tem aumentado no Cerrado. Simultaneamente, as Unidades de Conservação restringem queimas, por vezes naturais, em suas áreas. Diante desse panorama, tornam-se necessários mais estudos sobre a flora e os efeitos do fogo no Jalapão. Esse projeto tem o objetivo de colaborar no conhecimento desses temas. Para o trabalho florístico, áreas de cerrado aberto com solo seco não pedregoso foram percorridas em diferentes períodos do ano e todas as angiospermas em estágio reprodutivo foram coletadas e identificadas. Foram revisados os herbários com as coleções mais significativas, resultando na compilação de uma lista de angiospermas para a região. Para a análise da ação do fogo, áreas de campo sujo na região do Jalapão com diferentes históricos de fogo foram selecionadas, sendo três áreas com frequência bienal de queimas e uma área livre do fogo há dez anos. 15 parcelas de 4m2 foram instaladas em cada área. Todos os indivíduos de hábito herbáceo-subarbustivo foram identificados e contabilizados. Densidade, riqueza e composição de espécies foram avaliadas e comparadas entre as áreas com diferentes históricos de queima. A lista resultou em 528 espécies, distribuídas em 85 famílias. As famílias mais representativas foram Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae e Myrtaceae. O número de espécies encontradas quase dobra o número de registros nessas fisionomias para a região. A análise da ação do fogo resultou em maiores valores de densidade de indivíduos e riqueza nas áreas com regime de fogo bienal; entretanto, entre os diferentes tratamentos, não houve diferença na composição de espécies. Esses resultados são corroborados pelas evidências levantadas na literatura da necessidade de fogo para reprodução e ocorrência de certas espécies vegetais e dos ganhos obtidos com maior acesso à luz e maior disponibilidade de nutrientes pelo estrato rasteiro, após queimadas. O fogo no Cerrado não deve ser entendido como prejudicial, sendo necessário incluir programas específicos de queimadas controladas para o manejo da biodiversidade em áreas protegidas. / The Cerrado is a savanic phytogeographic domain with high biodiversity and endemism values, under high anthropic pressure. One of the largest, continuous and still conserved areas of Cerrado is the Jalapão region, in the Tocantins State. Despite the existence of protected areas, there is a huge information gap about its flora and about the effects of fires, which are frequent in the region, on its plant diversity. Fire has a strong influence in the biological constitution of Cerrado and on its ecology. The absence or presence of fires may transform the local phytophysiognomy, by controlling the abundance of woody species. Hence, its presence is associated to occurrence of dense formations, while its absence leads to a prevalence of grasslands. With the increasing human occupation of Cerrado areas, the frequency of fires hás been growing. At the same time, management of protected areas tends to restrain fires on their territory, even when those occur spontaneously. In this context, studies characterizing the flora and the effects of fires over it in the Jalapão region are of utmost importance. The present work aims to collaborate to the increasing of the knowledge about those subjects. For the floristic survey of the area, fieldwork was conduced during different periods of the year, and all angiosperms occurring in savannah physionogmies with dry, non rocky soils, were collected. Additionally, herbaria with representative collections from Jalapão were visited and its specimen’s identifications reviewed, resulting in a checklist for angiosperms occurring in the region. To evaluate teh effects of fire in plant diversity, “campo sujo“ physionogmies in Jalapão region with different fire history were selected. Three areas had bienal fire history and one área is protected from fire for 10 years. 15 quadrants of 4 m2 were set in each area, and all plants with herbaceous and subshrub habit were collected and identified. Individual density, species richness and composition were analysised and compared in areas with different fire historys. For the checklist 528 species belonging to 85 families were recorded. The most representative families are Fabaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae. Nine species are listed as rare and nine as threatened. This study presents almost twice as many species recorded by previous inventories of those physiognomies in Jalapão. The analyses of fire effects resulted in higher individual density and species richness values in the areas with bienal fire regime. There were no differences in species composition between the evaluated areas. Our results are reinforced by the already current knowledge that some plant species rely on fire occurrence in order to reproduce and even to establish themselves in the environment. Moreover, it is also known that the herbaceous stratum benefits from the increasing in light and nutrient availability promoted after fires. Fire must not be seen as a villain and specific programs that include supervised burns should be adopted in protected areas management plans in order to achieve a holistic conservation of the Cerrado Domain.

The purpose of this study was to answer the following question: What was the perceived value to planners of incorporating information from ecotourists about their perceived needs in the standard system presently being used to plan interpretation? The Ecotourist Needs Assessment (ETNA) process was proposed as an external needs assessment. To exemplify this process, an instrument called Ecotourist Needs Assessment Instrument (ETNAI) was developed to collect input from ecotourists who visited the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. A case resulted from the process. The ETNAI case was used to obtain planners' opinions about whether ETNA had value in the context of data collection and inventory in interpretive planning. The ETNAI case included developing and validating the ETNAI and providing a procedure for implementing ETNAI. Upon completion of the ETNAI case, an interview guide was developed and administered to interpretive planners. Interpretive planners were asked how they currently plan interpretation and collect information to decide interpretive topics. Other questions dealt with their feelings regarding the usefulness of the ETNA and the data collected using the ETNA. The interpretive planners described the current system and provided information about the proposed system (ETNA). Currently, decisions involving interpretation are based on three factors: 1) money, 2) mandates/missions, and/or 3) management. The interpretive planner chose outside (external) groups except during a master planning process when the general public provided input. The outside groups included: professionals, the public, and recreation providers. The current methods used to collect information were informal or considered casual. When contrasted with the proposed method, the interpretive planners felt the ETNA had value. This was reflected in their suggestions for use: As an evaluation tool after an interpretive program is given to a specific audience. As a method to assess the interpretive needs of visitors and specific audiences for interpretation. As a technique to access visitors and the public, both general and specific. As a mechanism to collect data at public meetings. As a systematic routine to develop interpretation, to provide feedback for further development, and to evaluate interpretation embedded in the site system. As a method to effectively determine the distribution of funds. / Graduation date: 1993