Kurzbeschreibung
(Deutsch)
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Im Hinblick auf eine Reduktion der Konflikte zwischen verschiedenen Freizeitaktivitäten sowie zwischen Erholung und Naturschutz im Wald werden die kritischen Verhaltensweisen von Erholungssuchenden analysiert, Massnahmen zur Beeinflussung dieser Verhaltensweisen entwickelt und mittels Interventionsexperimenten empirisch getestet.
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Partner und Internationale Organisationen
(Englisch)
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AT, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RS, SE, SK, UK
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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Considering the constantly increasing frequency and diversity of leisure activities in outdoor areas the question arises how recreational conflicts and ecological impairment of nature can be reduced. The project 'Management of leisure activities: Influencing social and ecological use conflicts in outdoor areas through interventions' is conducted by Benjamin Freuler and approaches this issue in a social psychological framework, combining a set of different, mainly quantitative research methods, in particular an e-mail-based survey among all local Swiss German foresters to assess the current conflict situation (conducted in 2005) and two case studies containing experimental interventions, which tend to influence and assess attitude and behaviour (change) of forest visitors. The first intervention program was implemented in summer 2005 in cooperation with local authorities ('Conflict Resolution Üetliberg'). Our aim was to evaluate the social effects and acceptance of these interventions. We conducted the first of two surveys among forest visitors just before the beginning of the interventions. The second survey was then delivered in autumn 2006 to the same people to asses changes of the conflict level. A first evaluation report has been presented to the working group of the city in November 2006 and was published online. The results show that the chosen steering efforts (separate biketrail, sign posts, media communication and interdiction of bike transport by train) where well accepted by all parties and did actually diminish the number of bikers using illegal or multi-use trails for downhilling. This effect was perceived as an improvement by forest visitors and, thus, reduced self-reported conflicts between hikers and bikers significantly. In winter 2005/06 we conducted the second case study 'Snowshoeing in Canton Schwyz', involving the Cantonal Forest Office and local actors. Visitor observation, a survey and track registration were used to assess effects of on-site communication and steering efforts. The results indicate that snowshoe walkers overrate the ecological responsibility of their (self-reported!) behaviour if compared with the observed actual behaviour. However, the gap between self-perception and actual behaviour can bridged and the latter be influenced positively by appropriate information, ecological education, rationales and appeals. Finally it revealed to be necessary to combine on-site interventions with communication and education, which is provided before the start of the recreation activity (at home, at school etc.) because recreationists mostly do not like changing their plans once they started the outdoor activity. Moreover efforts must be reinforced continuously to avoid a decrease of once achieved positive effects. Research and results formed the basis for the PhD-thesis 'Management von Freizeitaktivitäten: Interventionen zur Beeinflussung von sozialen und ökologischen Nutzungskonflikten im Outdoorbereich', which was accepted by the University of Zurich in autumn 2007.
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