In order for conservation managers to preserve species within an area, an in-depth knowledge of the distributional patterns of focal species within a landscape is required. This is especially true when the species of concern is Threatened or Endangered and conservation of habitat is essential for species preservation. The yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens virens) is one such species that is listed as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act of Canada; the virens subspecies meets the criteria for Endangered. Populations within Canada are limited due the bird’s natural range, which extends north into the extreme southern part of Ontario. Point Pelee National Park is one of two strongholds for this species. However, populations within the park have been declining greatly over the past few years with a 70% rate of decline between 1982 and 2008 (n =10, n=3). This decline is likely due to the lack of natural disturbance such as fire, as well as land use change to agriculture and urbanization that has resulted in a decrease of suitable habitat, outside the park. To examine these hypotheses, habitat suitability modelling is a useful tool. It offers conservation managers insight into current distributions of species, especially species of concern. The purpose of this research was to examine environmental variables relating to three bird species and use these variables to model suitable habitat within the study site (Anders Field Complex). In my study, ArcMap 10 was used to model and map suitable habitat within the Anders Field Complex of Point Pelee National Park, as this is the last known nesting grounds for the yellow-breasted chat within the park. The willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) and the white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus) were also studied as they fill a similar niche and therefore strengthen the results of the study. Environmental variables were modeled to predict suitable habitat and therefore predict potential species distribution. The model used predictors such as vegetation composition of breeding territories and nest patch vegetation composition to identify potential suitable habitat within the study site. Results of the models show that there is likely no suitable habitat (0.04 ha) available for the yellow-breasted chat within the complex. Some suitable habitat was available for the willow flycatcher but seemed limited within the study site (4.1 ha), while an absence of available data on nest scale vegetation characteristics rendered modelling of the white-eyed vireo’s habitat moot. Conditions within the Anders Field Complex have succumbed to succession resulting in mature conditions in vegetation structure and composition, as low dense shrub with high herbaceous cover is being replaced with tall thicket with very little ground cover. Height of vegetation has succeeded the requirements of the yellow-breasted chat. These results show that habitat succession and therefore the loss of suitable habitat is a likely factor influencing chat populations within the Anders Field Complex. There are also factors outside the park likely affecting chat distribution including habitat loss and fragmentation at the landscape scale. Management practices, such as the re-introduction of lost mechanisms or processes within the park should focus on a broad-scale ecological approach that considers novel thinking to restoring ecological integrity. Human induced influences including land use change and introduction of exotic species have forever changed conditions within and surrounding the park, therefore restoration should be mindful to new ecosystems, as restoring to past conditions is likely unproductive. Implementing a disturbance regime such as prescribed burnings, is recommended in order to restore a lost mechanism for the renewal of early-successional habitat. Concentrating on restoration of ecosystems and the re-establishment of a shifting mosaic will provide habitat for a plethora of species including the chat, which is legally mandated by law. However, restoring habitat for the chat will likely not result in the increase of chat abundance within the park until factors outside of the park, including habitat loss and fragmentation are rectified.

In order for conservation managers to preserve species within an area, an in-depth knowledge of the distributional patterns of focal species within a landscape is required. This is especially true when the species of concern is Threatened or Endangered and conservation of habitat is essential for species preservation. The yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens virens) is one such species that is listed as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act of Canada; the virens subspecies meets the criteria for Endangered. Populations within Canada are limited due the bird’s natural range, which extends north into the extreme southern part of Ontario. Point Pelee National Park is one of two strongholds for this species. However, populations within the park have been declining greatly over the past few years with a 70% rate of decline between 1982 and 2008 (n =10, n=3). This decline is likely due to the lack of natural disturbance such as fire, as well as land use change to agriculture and urbanization that has resulted in a decrease of suitable habitat, outside the park. To examine these hypotheses, habitat suitability modelling is a useful tool. It offers conservation managers insight into current distributions of species, especially species of concern. The purpose of this research was to examine environmental variables relating to three bird species and use these variables to model suitable habitat within the study site (Anders Field Complex). In my study, ArcMap 10 was used to model and map suitable habitat within the Anders Field Complex of Point Pelee National Park, as this is the last known nesting grounds for the yellow-breasted chat within the park. The willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) and the white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus) were also studied as they fill a similar niche and therefore strengthen the results of the study. Environmental variables were modeled to predict suitable habitat and therefore predict potential species distribution. The model used predictors such as vegetation composition of breeding territories and nest patch vegetation composition to identify potential suitable habitat within the study site. Results of the models show that there is likely no suitable habitat (0.04 ha) available for the yellow-breasted chat within the complex. Some suitable habitat was available for the willow flycatcher but seemed limited within the study site (4.1 ha), while an absence of available data on nest scale vegetation characteristics rendered modelling of the white-eyed vireo’s habitat moot. Conditions within the Anders Field Complex have succumbed to succession resulting in mature conditions in vegetation structure and composition, as low dense shrub with high herbaceous cover is being replaced with tall thicket with very little ground cover. Height of vegetation has succeeded the requirements of the yellow-breasted chat. These results show that habitat succession and therefore the loss of suitable habitat is a likely factor influencing chat populations within the Anders Field Complex. There are also factors outside the park likely affecting chat distribution including habitat loss and fragmentation at the landscape scale. Management practices, such as the re-introduction of lost mechanisms or processes within the park should focus on a broad-scale ecological approach that considers novel thinking to restoring ecological integrity. Human induced influences including land use change and introduction of exotic species have forever changed conditions within and surrounding the park, therefore restoration should be mindful to new ecosystems, as restoring to past conditions is likely unproductive. Implementing a disturbance regime such as prescribed burnings, is recommended in order to restore a lost mechanism for the renewal of early-successional habitat. Concentrating on restoration of ecosystems and the re-establishment of a shifting mosaic will provide habitat for a plethora of species including the chat, which is legally mandated by law. However, restoring habitat for the chat will likely not result in the increase of chat abundance within the park until factors outside of the park, including habitat loss and fragmentation are rectified.

This study critically examines the role of visitor use information in park management planning. Few park planning documents utilise visitor use information. This is thought to result from two problems. Firstly, visitor use studies have been plagued with methodological problems such as unclear objectives, lack of rigour in the survey design and lack of synthesis of information needs. These have resulted in data which are unreliable and at times have no direct implication for management planning. The second problem arises from the lack of understanding of the role visitor use information may play in the planning process. A case study, the Centennial Park User Survey, was undertaken to demonstrate how the inadequacies of existing visitor use studies could be overcome and to provide a base for future planning of Centennial Park. The survey data have assisted Management both in day-to-day decision making and future management planning relating to control of forthcoming events, responding to public comment, traffic management, facility provision, staff changeover, park staff work programmes and rosters, allocation of financial and staff resources, promotion of the Park, provision of interpretative material and re-allocation of users. By comparing the shortcomings of previous studies with the experience of the case study, specific implications for the collection and use of visitor use information in park management planning have been identified.

Providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and maintaining ecological integrity are primary management objectives for protected spaces in the public domain, but as visitation and visitor expectations change, a balance must be maintained between environmental and visitor use that is consistent with management goals. There is an increasing dependence on public participation in protected area management to compensate for an increasing budgetary gap between desired and actual management states. The Investigator explores how science, public perception, and collaborative relationships with stakeholders influence management planning and what the effect has been on management action. How has that balance between visitor use and environmental preservation objectives been affected? Three case study sites were selected in eastern Ontario: a national park, a provincial park, and a municipal forest. For each site, semi-structured interviews with staff and stakeholders were conducted, guiding legislation and supporting documents were analysed, and site observational evidence was collected. The data was analyzed using methodological triangulation and McCracken’s (1988) four-part method of inquiry. The results identified each site’s management goals and the management planning and action utilized to achieve those goals. The integration of environmental science and the role of public perception and participation are described as well as the nature of the management response. The discussion identifies management trends across the three governmental levels, characterising how ecological integrity and visitor use are managed, the impact of funding on management action, and the role and influence stakeholders have achieved at each site. Findings revealed trends from federal to municipal governance, principally: i) operational funding decreases; ii) the influence and dependence on public participation and stakeholder collaboration increases; iii) the importance of environmental preservation objectives decrease while ‘use’ associated objectives increase. Critically however, it was observed that when funding levels are below the threshold required to comply with stated management goals, protected area management becomes more reactive and tends to favour ‘use’ related objectives over environmental preservation objectives despite land managers’ best intentions. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-09-25 08:55:09.118

The purpose of this study was to develop management guidelines to ensure the long term ecological sustainability of the beach and sand dune area of Grand Beach Provincial Park. A qualitative approach was taken including interviews of individuals who use Grand Beach. A literature review was completed describing the history of use at Grand Beach Provincial Park, ecological processes specific to the park, and management guidelines in other jurisdictions in Canada with similar natural features. Aerial imagery provided a temporal look at intensely used areas in the park. Recommendations include: 1) completion of a biophysical study of the park including an inventory of flora and fauna species 2) development of a monitoring plan incorporating the natural environment with the human dimension of the park 3) engagement of park visitors through signage, education and awareness, and 4) engage the scientific community to form partnerships for further research studies in the park.

The purpose of this study was to develop management guidelines to ensure the long term ecological sustainability of the beach and sand dune area of Grand Beach Provincial Park. A qualitative approach was taken including interviews of individuals who use Grand Beach. A literature review was completed describing the history of use at Grand Beach Provincial Park, ecological processes specific to the park, and management guidelines in other jurisdictions in Canada with similar natural features. Aerial imagery provided a temporal look at intensely used areas in the park. Recommendations include: 1) completion of a biophysical study of the park including an inventory of flora and fauna species 2) development of a monitoring plan incorporating the natural environment with the human dimension of the park 3) engagement of park visitors through signage, education and awareness, and 4) engage the scientific community to form partnerships for further research studies in the park.

During the vegetation period of 2018, grass areas in the Koliště Municipal Park in Brno were monitored in order to verify the effect of the selected maintenance management on their condition. Two experimental habitats were selected in the park according to the type of maintenance, namely mulched grass and mowed with harvesting. The data and results show that mulching has a positive effect on grassland quality. The unsuitable height of mowing in the mowed grass was negatively affected by the appearance and health of the grass area.

Managing outdoor recreation requires that managers do the following: (1) consider the user experience, environmental and cultural resources, and type and intensity of management actions; (2) specify desired conditions to be maintained, monitor conditions, and take appropriate action if unacceptable impacts occur; (3) adapt to new conditions and information; and (4) exercise good judgment based on their professional experience and the best information available to them. Social science studies of visitors and studies of significant recreation resources like campsites are important sources of information for managers and are commonly used in parks and protected areas to support planning and decision-making. The studies presented here are designed to enhance our understanding of how visitors evaluate the acceptability of impacts to recreation resources and how we can more effectively analyze large campsite resource condition datasets to get meaningful results. A better understanding of impacts to cultural and environmental resources, the people who visit parks, and how they evaluate the acceptability of impacts will enable managers to make more informed decisions. This is an important part of the adaptive management of parks and protected areas.

No description available.

Attaining the ‘appropriate’ balance between human use of national parks and their protection is a topic of considerable public, scientific and business interest and is thus an important focus for research. An increasingly affluent and mobile western society has made tourism the world’s largest industry; an industry with a significant reliance on the attractions of protected areas such as national parks and their wildlife. Regional communities have benefited from protected areas through local tourism expenditure and government recognition of the economic and social values realized from protected areas. High levels of visitation, and the management of this human use require effective management. But tensions arise when park managers invoke policies and management prescriptions to mitigate the adverse affects of human use. These actions and the way they are implemented can have an alienating impact on local communities, particularly those with a direct business dependency on park tourism. This thesis explores the notion that truly sustainable management of national parks can only be achieved if park managers and communities living adjacent to parks work together in a partnership to meet each other’s needs and through this process, foster the long-term environmental, social and economic benefits that can be derived from these parks. This thesis documents how a local community perceives its park managers and thereby the impact that park management has on local communities. It then seeks to identify the opportunities for park managers and communities to improve the way they view each other and the skills, attitudes and approaches necessary to create the environment for a sustainable relationship and can deliver sustainable outcomes for both parties. / Three methods were employed to progress this research; an extensive review of literature and theory on relevant aspects of the people and parks relationship; the use of a case study of communities adjacent to parks on the Ningaloo Coast; and, qualitative and quantitative surveys to inform those case studies. A resident perception survey of the Exmouth and Coral Bay communities was conducted in August 2005. At the same time key stakeholder representatives were interviewed. Secondary quantitative data on the areas economy and demographics was also collected to triangulate aspects of the primary data. The Ningaloo coast community’s perception of park management has been adversely affected by a recent (2004) management planning process for Ningaloo Marine Park that culminated in significant constraints being placed on recreational fishing access. Both the planning process and the decision have been the focus of community anger. Currently the levels of trust and respect within the community for the park agency and its management performance are low. Despite evidence that the parks of the Ningaloo coast make important social and economic contributions to the local communities of this area, the local community holds negative perceptions of the social and economic impacts of park management, and are influenced strongly by the local community’s attitudes, perceptions and feelings towards the park agency. The park agency’s inability to consult, involve and communicate with the local community (to the satisfaction of the local community) contributes to these attitudes, feelings and perceptions. / Key findings include; the prevailing norms and belief systems within the park agency reinforce the classic managerial paradigm; park management fails to accommodate broader social and economic measures, which diminishes trust and undermines attempts to foster community involvement and stewardship; ineffectual leadership, poor communication and outmoded approaches to planning and community engagement, local apathy to involvement in park planning and a lack of community education in regard to the promotion of park values, programs and activities compound this situation. The Ningaloo coast has the potential to provide an exceptionally bright future for its local communities, based largely on the inherent natural and cultural values of Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park and other associated reserves. Whether the potential to develop community stewardship of the parks of the Ningaloo coast is fully met depends largely on the willingness of park management to relinquish some of its power, establish a suitable governance model in order to work collaboratively with the community and communicate effectively with it in order to achieve sustainable futures for both the park and the community.