# Presentation: 462290

## BUILDING GREATER WILDERNESS ACTIVISM USING PUBLIC SURVEY DATA:

**KEN CORDELL , Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness and Demographic Trends Research Group, Athens GA (****www.srs.fs.fed.us/trends****)**

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**

**Notes:**
This presentation is based on data from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. The data are current up to now and provide a good basis for better understanding the American public’s participation in outdoor recreation and implications for improving the health of Americans.

Ken Cordell is Project Leader and Senior Scientist for the USDA Forest Service’s National Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness and Demographic Trends Research Group and Gary Green is Project Manager for the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, Athens GA.

## Numbers and Diversity are Growing

_**Numbers and Diversity are Growing**_

-  **About ****1 million**** new immigrants per year**
** **_**More people**_**:****	****1990****	****	****248 mm**
**	****	****	****2000****	****	****275 mm**
**	****	****	****2020****	****	****325 mm**
**	****	****	****2050****	****	****404 mm**
**	****	****	****2075****	****	****481 mm**
**	****	****	****2100****	****	****571 mm**
** **_**Getting older**_**:  Median age 35********38 (by 2020)**
** **_**Changing ethnicities**_** by 2050:**
**	****	****Anglo Americans ****	****	****76%********50%**
**	****	****African Americans****	**** ****	****12% ********15%**
**	****	****Hispanic Americans****	****  9% ********21%**
**	****	****Asian Americans****	****	****  4% ********11%**

**Notes:**
The population of the United States is growing rapidly and diversifying. This makes the work of surveying the public all the more important so that the health community and other professions can keep pace with change and be effective in our work.

## FOUR TOPICS

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**
**WHAT THE PUBLIC VALUES IN WILDERNESS**
**SEGMENTING THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY WHO SUPPORTS WILDERNESS PROTECTION**
**LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS**

## NSRE

_***NSRE***_

***NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT***
***SINCE 1960***
_***THE UNITED STATES’ ON-GOING NATIONAL RECREATION SURVEY***_

**Notes:**
No notes necessary for this one. Just indicate this is the Nation’s only on-going federal outdoor recreation survey dating back to 1960.

## MODULES OF QUESTIONS

**MODULES OF QUESTIONS**

**Participation in Recreational Activities**
**Recreation Participation in Coastal States**
**Frequency of Participation in Days**
**Favorite Activities and Constraints**
**Risk Activity Participation**
**Nature-based Trip Taking and Tourism**
**Opinions about Recreation Area Management**
**Environmental Attitudes and Values**
**Values and Objectives for Management of Public Lands**
**Wilderness Values, Knowledge, Visitation, and Prioritiess for Management**
**Knowledge, Objectives, Satisfactions with Congressionally Designated Areas**
**Ownership, Uses, Motivations and Plans for Private Land**
**Wildland-Urban Interface Issues and Attitudes**
**Lifestyles, Demographics and Disabilities**

## NSRE

**A sample of over 60,000+ households, from the Keys to the Artic Wildlife Refuge**
**Includes non-institutionalized individuals 16 years or older**
**Ties back to the first Nationwide Recreation Survey by the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission in 1960 **
**Is the Nation’s on-going recreation survey, the 8th**
**Interagency sponsorship—USFS, NOAA, ERS, EPA, NPS, BLM.**
**Others involved, National Scenic Byways, Heritage, Wilderness, Numerous State Agencies, Bicycle Safety, Pew Wilderness Cntr, NRCS, Montreal Process, .....**

**Notes:**
Now called the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, NSRE, the current survey is an in-the-home interview targeted at 60,000 individuals across all ethnicities and locations throughout the country. NSRE addresses outdoor recreation participation, demographics, household structure, lifestyle interests, environmental attitudes, natural resource values, constraints to participation, and attitudes toward a variety of public issues. A number of agencies have pooled their resources to sponsor this survey.

## FOUR TOPICS

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**
**WHAT THE PUBLIC VALUES IN WILDERNESS**
**SEGMENTING THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY WHO SUPPORTS WILDERNESS PROTECTION**
**LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS**

## PERCENT OF PUBLIC AWARE OF THE NWPS

**Aware of the NWPS****	****	****	****48.3%**
**Not Aware****	****	****	****	****	****50.5%**
**Unsure or Refused****	****	****	**** 1.3%**

## The U. S. National Community Viewpoint  on Wilderness Protection

**The U. S. National Community Viewpoint  on Wilderness Protection**

- 	**Nationally, 58 percent of American’s 16+ favor protecting more of our federal lands as wilderness**
** ****	****Only 5.9% feel we have put too many acres into the NWPS:**
**	****	****-  Not enough, 49.2%**
**	****	****-  About right, perhaps some more, 29.6%**
**	****	****-  Too much, 5.9%**
**	****	****-  Not sure, 15.3%**

## The Values Our National Community Holds Toward Protected Wilderness

**The Values Our National Community Holds Toward Protected Wilderness**

_**Percentage Saying It Is**_

**Protecting air quality****	****	****	****	****58.4****	****	****1.5**
**Protecting water quality****	****	****	****	****55.9****	****	****1.5**
**Protecting wildlife habitat****	****	****	****52.7****	****	****3.1**
**Protecting endangered species****	****	****	****49.8****	****	****5.0**
**Legacy for future generations****	****	****	****49.1****	****	****3.1**
**Preserving unique ecosystems and genetics****	****44.3****	****	****5.1**
**Future option to visit****	****	****	****	****37.5****	****	****7.1**
**Just knowing it is preserved****	****	****	****36.9****	****	****6.4**
**Providing scenic beauty****	****	****	****	****35.4****	****	****5.5**
**Providing recreation opportunities****	****	****27.8****	****	****7.2**
**Providing spiritual inspiration****	****	****	****25.9****	****        16.7**
**Undisturbed area for scientific study****	****	****23.9****	****        11.6**
**Providing income for tourism industry****	****	**** 9.7****	****        33.5**

## FOUR TOPICS

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**
**WHAT THE PUBLIC VALUES IN WILDERNESS**
**SEGMENTING THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY WHO SUPPORTS WILDERNESS PROTECTION**
**LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS**

## Segmenting for more effective 

**Young**
**New England**
**Wind Surfers**
**	****(0.9%)**

**Nature**
**Lovers**
**(27.2%)**

**The Inactives**
**(22.0%)**

**The Urban**
**Beach Boys**
**(3.8%)**

**The Outdoor**
**Musclers (6.2%)**

**The Young Thrill**
**Seekers (8.3%)**

**Hunt-n-Fish**
**Men’s Motor Club**
**(6.3%)**

**The Take it Easies**
**(25.3%)**

**Segmenting for more effective **
**communication and education**

## The Urban Beach Boys (3.8%)

_**The Urban Beach Boys **__**(3.8%)**_

**Diving, Surfing, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Sailing, Saltwater Fishing, and Jet Skiing**
**Active in a lot of activities, except hunting and fresh water fishing**
**Two-thirds white, Asian/Pacific Islanders, under 35, but not foreign born**
**Prominent in the South Atlantic and Pacific Coast regions**
**Regularly like to go to movies, use internet at home, participate in environmental group, invest, and attend classes**
**Strongly advocate environmental protection and  wilderness preservation for option and existence values**

**Notes:**
The Urban Beach Boys (3.8%)--Diving, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, backpacking, snowboarding, saltwater fishing, and water skiing. The are more active than most people in most activities, except hunting. Two-thirds are white, Asian/Pacific Islanders well represented, majority under 35, U.S. born, and urban. They are pro-environmentalist.

## The Inactives (22.0%)

_**The Inactives**__** **__**(22.0%)**_

**Not very active in outdoor activities, except for a bit of walking, family gatherings, and picnicking**
**55% female, blacks and Hispanic well represented, spread across age groups, mostly urban and U.S. born**
**Spend time with grandchildren, cook at home, regularly attend religious services, collect things like coins and antiques **
**More strongly believe human ingenuity will insure the earth, humans were meant to rule over nature, humans can control nature, and the environmental crisis is exaggerated**
**Not much aware of NWPS, show a bit more support for using wilderness for recreation, tourism promotion, and science**

**Notes:**
Not very active in outdoor activities, except for a bit of walking, family gatherings, and picnicking. Over half,  55%, are  female, blacks and Hispanic well represented, spread across age groups, mostly urban and U.S. born.

## Young New England 

**Young New England **
_**Wind Surfers **__**(0.9%)**_

**Wind surfing, kayaking, surfing,                  sailing, non-motorized winter                     activities, diving, snorkeling**
**More active than most Americans in **_**all**_** activities**
**85% white; two-thirds male; under 25; urban; but, **_**not**_** the profile of other ethnicities, those over 55, ruralites, or foreign born**
**New England strongly represented, also Pacific Coast**
**Regularly into adult learning, environmental groups, movies, the country club scene, second homes, and volunteering to work with youth**
**Aware of and value wilderness, but mostly for its scientific value**

**Notes:**
Wind surfing, surfing, kayaking, sailing, non-motorized winter activities, diving, snorkeling, rowing and canoeing. They are more active than most other Americans in all activities. Over 85% are white, two-thirds are male, one-half is under 25, and they are urban and U.S. born. This group values the natural environment, but sees it important because of what it can contribute to humans welfare.

## Nature Lovers (27.2%)

**Viewing/photographing birds, flowers, wildlife, fish, natural scenery, gathering mushrooms and berries, and learning at nature centers, visitor centers, historic sites and archeological sites**
**Nature Lovers are much into birding, photographing flowers, and viewing wildlife, over 70% of them**
**Not into hunting, fishing, active sports or motorized activities**
**61 % female, mostly white, middle aged and seniors, not foreign born**
**New England and Prairie states well represented**
**Donate to civic or charitable organizations, spend time with grand children, invest, creative arts, collect things, garden, and read environmental magazines**
**Believe humans are abusing the earth, the balance is delicate, and we are on a course for catastrophe**
**Aware of the NWPS, cross-section of American’s values regarding wilderness, especially future options**

_**Nature Lovers **__**(27.2%)**_

**Notes:**
These people are into viewing/photographing birds, flowers, wildlife, fish, natural scenery, gathering mushrooms and berries, and learning in nature centers, visitor centers, historic sites and archeological sites. 61 % are female, mostly white, middle aged and seniors, not foreign born.

## The Outdoor  Musclers (6.2%)

_**The Outdoor  Musclers **__**(6.2%)**_

**Cross-country skiing, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, downhill skiing, sailing, backpacking, snowboarding, and fishing**
**They don’t hunt, but are active in most other activities**
**Somewhat more male than female, white and Asian/Pacific Islander, young to middle aged (not seniors), urban, from New England, Prairie, Mountain and Pacific states**
**Members of conservation groups, use the internet at home, attend concerts, have vacation property, invest, belong to a country club**
**More belief that we are abusing the earth, the balance of nature is delicate and we may be heading f****or disaster**
**2/3 aware of wilderness; back preservation, not use**

**Notes:**
They are into cross-country skiing, rowing, kayaking, canoeing, downhill skiing, sailing, backpacking, snowboarding, and fishing. They don’t hunt, but are active in most other activities. They are somewhat more male than female, white and Asian/Pacific Islander, young to middle aged (not seniors), urban, from New England, Prairie, Mountain and Pacific states.

## The Young Thrill Seekers (8.3%)

_**The Young Thrill Seekers **__**(8.3%)**_

**Waterskiing, jet skiing, rafting, snowmobiling,  snowboarding, motorboating, downhill skiing,**
**     ****driving off-road, rowing and canoeing**
**Very active across a large number of activities**
**Equally male/female, white and American Indians well represented, two thirds under 35, almost all born in the U.S., from Plains states**
**Youth volunteers, belong to a country club, use the internet, attend movies, watch sports on TV, gather with friends and neighbors**
**Balance of nature is delicate, humans are abusing the earth, and a disaster is looming**
**Wilderness is a recreation resource, but also important for protecting wildlife and water quality**

## The Take it Easies (25.3%)

_**The Take it Easies **__**(25.3%)**_

**Sightseeing, driving for pleasure, picnicking, visiting historic sites, family gatherings, visiting nature centers, and walking**
**They don’t ski, view/photograph, hunt, or fish**
**More female than male, Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islander well represented, all ages, all regions**
**Attend cultural events, go to movies and church, raise children and spend time with grandchildren, use the internet, and eat out**
**Lean toward using rather than preserving wildlands**
**    ****except for protection of water and air quality**
**Believe humans can insure the liveability of the            earth and the environmental crisis is exaggerated**
**Less aware of NWPS, lean toward using rather**
**   ****than preserving wilderness, except for water and**
**   ****air quality**

**Notes:**
They are into sightseeing, driving for pleasure, picnicking, visiting historic sites, family gatherings, visiting nature centers, and walking. They don’t ski, view/photograph, hunt, or fish. More female than male, Blacks and Asian/Pacific Islander well represented, all ages, all regions. This group is not much into environmental concerns.

## Hunt-n-Fish Men’s  Motor Club (6.3%)

**Hunt-n-Fish Men’s  **_**Motor Club (6.3%)**_

**Hunt, fish, motorized, camp,**
**    ****motorboat, canoe**
**Don’t participate in beach activities nor are they much into viewing/learning**
**88% male, 90% white, under 45, U.S. born, much more rural than any other segment, from Prairie and Southern states**
**Belong to wildlife conservation group, read nature magazines, woodworking, own a business, garden, have pets and do home improvements**
**Humans were meant to rule over the earth and environmental crisis is exaggerated**
**Believe Wilderness is there to use, not to lock up**

**Notes:**
Hunting, fishing, motorized off-road driving, camping, motorboating and canoeing. Most, 88%, are male, 90% white, under 45, U.S. born, much more rural than other groups, live in the Prairie and Southern regions.

## SEGMENTATION

**Can be done for almost any area of the country at a variety of scales**
**Can be done for major metropolitan areas, states, and political divisions**
**Can be done for a variety of purposes and would result in different segment profiles**
**Should be done**

## FOUR TOPICS

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**
**WHAT THE PUBLIC VALUES IN WILDERNESS**
**SEGMENTING THE PUBLIC TO IDENTIFY WHO SUPPORTS WILDERNESS PROTECTION**
**LOOKING AT DIFFERENCES IN SUPPORT AMONG DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS**

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## Are there Threats to the NWPS? If so, what are they?

**Are there ****Threats**** to the NWPS? If so, what are they?**

**Climbing Anchors?**
**Invasive exotics?**
**Nearby population growth and development**
**Air and water pollutants?**
**Recreation use?**
**Political vulnerability?**
**Something else?**

## A NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WILDERNESS VALUES AND BOOK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC POSITION

**A NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WILDERNESS VALUES **_**AND BOOK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC POSITION**_

## NATIONAL VALUE OF DESIGNATED WILDERNESS

**Best available estimates of the **_**economic value**_** of a visit to a Wilderness area show $41.87 per person per day (Loomis, et al, 2000)**
**Estimates of **_**total number of visits**_** to areas in the NWPS are 34.7  **_**+ **_**7.8 million (Cordell, et al, 1998)**
**Overall **_**recreation value**_** of the NWPS alone = 34.7 million visits x $41.87 = $1.45 billion per year**
**Studies agree that option, existence, bequest and altruism values make up approximately 75% of the **_**total value**_** of Wilderness. Thus, total national value of the NWPS is estimated to be approximately $5.8 billion per year**
**Total value at 4% SDR = $131 billion; at 3% SDR = $160 billion. $1,415 per acre.**

## BUILDING GREATER WILDERNESS ACTIVISM USING PUBLIC SURVEY DATA:

**KEN CORDELL , Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness and Demographic Trends Research Group, Athens GA (****www.srs.fs.fed.us/trends****)**

**THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT**

**Notes:**
This presentation is based on data from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. The data are current up to now and provide a good basis for better understanding the American public’s participation in outdoor recreation and implications for improving the health of Americans.

Ken Cordell is Project Leader and Senior Scientist for the USDA Forest Service’s National Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness and Demographic Trends Research Group and Gary Green is Project Manager for the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment, Athens GA.