Abstract
Management of natural environment sites is becoming increasingly complex because of the influx of urbanized society into wildland areas. This worldwide phenomenon impacts a wide range of countries. In southern California ethnicity is often a major factor influencing recreation site use and behavior at sites in the wildland-urban interface. This study investigated the role of ethnicity and race on the use patterns, perception of environment, and recreation behaviors at an outdoor recreation site visited by an ethnically diverse population. Two research questions were asked: (1) What ethnic groups engage in outdoor recreation at this site, and (2) what differences can be assigned to these various groups? Data were collected from 250 recreationists during 1991. Three major ethnic groups were identified, and statistically significant differences were found in the importance of site attributes, activity participation, and in preferred and actual communication channels. Management implications and strategies based on group differences are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Albert, R. 1986. Communication and attributional differences between Hispanics and Anglo-Americans. Pages 42–59in Y. Kim (ed.), Interethnic communication: Current research. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California.
Bahr, H., A. Chadwick, and J. Stauss. 1979. American ethnicity. D. C. Heath and Company, Lexington, Massachusetts.
Clark, R. N., J. C. Hendee, and F. L. Campbell. 1971. Values, behavior, and conflict in modern camping culture.Journal of Leisure Research 3(3):143–159.
Dennis, S., and G. Dennis. 1990. A study on the implementation of outdoor recreation policy on four national forests in southern California. Technical report #4. Technical research report submitted to PSW Research Station, Riverside, California, 200 pp.
Ewert, A. 1991. The wildland-urban interface: Future forest management near the urban megalopolis. Paper presented at the World Forestry Congress, Paris, France, 17–26 September.
Ewert, A., and R. Pfister. 1991. Cross-cultural land ethnics: Motivations, appealing attributes, and problems. Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (in press).
Gramann, J. H., and M. F. Floyd. 1991. Ethnic assimilation and recreational use of the Tonto National Forest. Final report, submitted to PSW Research Station, Riverside, California, 97 pp.
Gudykunst, W. B. 1988. Uncertainty and anxiety. Pages 123–156in Y. Y. Kim and W. B. Gudykunst (eds.), Theories in intercultural communication. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California.
Hodgson, R. W., R. Pfister, and D. E. Simcox. 1990. Communicating with users of the Angeles National Forest: Report 2. Technical Research Report submitted to PSW Research Station, Riverside, California, 31 pp.
Hutchison, R. 1987. Ethnicity and urban recreation: Whites, blacks, and Hispanics in Chicago’s public parks.Journal of Leisure Research 19(3):205–222.
Irwin, P. N., W. C. Gartner, and C. C. Phelps. 1990. Mexican-American Anglo cultural differences as recreation style determinants.Leisure Sciences 12:335–348.
Kaplan, R., and J. Talbot. 1988. Ethnicity and preference for natural settings: A review and recent findings.Landscape and Urban Planning 15:107–117.
Kelley, J. 1980. Outdoor recreation participation: A comparative analysis.Leisure Sciences 3:129–154.
Laidlaw, B. 1991. Diversity and changing land use in California. California Parks and Recreation, Spring Edition, pp. 29–31.
Manning, R. 1986. Studies in outdoor recreation. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon.
Marin, G., and B. V. Marin. 1991. Research with Hispanic populations, Applied social research methods series, Vol. 23. Sage Publications, Newbury Park, California.
Simcox, D. E., and R. E. Pfister, 1990. Hispanic values and behaviors related to outdoor recreation and the forest environment. Technical Research Report. Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside, California, 117 pp.
Stamps, S. M., and M. B. Stamps. 1985. Race, class, and leisure activities of urban residents.Journal of Leisure Research 17(1):40–56.
Washburn, R. 1978. Black underparticipation in wildland recreation: Alternative explanations.Leisure Sciences 2:201–210.
Zube, E. H. 1990. Landscape research: Planned and serendipitous. Pages 291–311in I. Altman and K. Christensen (eds.), Environment and behavior, emergence of intellectual traditions. Plenum Press, New York.
Zube, E. H., and D. G. Pitt. 1981. Cross-cultural perceptions of scenic and heritage landscapes.Landscape Planning 8:69–87.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baas, J.M., Ewert, A. & Chavez, D.J. Influence of ethnicity on recreation and natural environment use patterns: Managing recreation sites for ethnic and racial diversity. Environmental Management 17, 523–529 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394667
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394667