Creating stewardship through discovery: Visitor participation in the Saguaro National Park / National Geographic BioBlitz

Kyle, Gerard; Yoon, Jee; van Riper, Carena; Jun, Jinhee

• This study evaluated participants’ experiences in a BioBlitz held at Saguaro National Park (SAGU), which was co-sponsored by the National Park Service (NPS) and National Geographic Society (NGS) in 2012. Information about why the program was important and benefits accrued from this event were gathered to provide management agencies with a greater understanding of their constituencies. Social outcomes related to the BioBlitz aim to enhance interest in science and stewardship within protected areas. • BioBlitz participants engaged in a diverse set of activities and over half were involved with the BioBlitz program as part of an organized group. Respondents had extensive visitation history in terms of average annual visits and number of years visiting. To engage these individuals in future events, managers should note that the most important source of information for the BioBlitz was “friends, relatives and/or word of mouth.” • Respondents were involved with the BioBlitz for a variety of reasons. The most important factor that encouraged involvement was their attraction to and the appeal of the program. The least important facet of participants’ involvement was the idea of centrality, in that most did not did organize their life around nor feel that the program was central to their lives. • The impact of the BioBlitz program manifested in different ways according to survey respondents. The most important statement characterizing the impact of participation on understandings of science and nature was, “the program has allowed me to experience the park in a new way.” The program also provided opportunities to learn from professionals. • Respondents considered themselves to be natural resource stewards and most felt their stewardship was nature rather than human-oriented. Along similar lines, respondents’ inclinations for park protection indicated the majority was modestly willing but did not feel responsible to engage in protectionist behavior. • The most important reason for engaging in the program was centered on individuals’ contributions to society. Opportunities to learn from others with more experience also compelled participants to engage in this event. • Respondents felt connected to places in the park and approximately one third reported having favorite places within the protected area. The levels of attachment formed between people and places were mostly driven by affective / emotional bonds, individual identities, and opportunities made available to associate with other people. Given the relative importance of places within SAGU, management agencies should be careful to prioritize high and low priority settings within the park. • Overall, there were slightly more males than females that attended this event. Most respondents were between 45 and 50 years of age, the majority was well-educated (at least a four-year college degree), and over half reported earning more than $75,000 per year. Also, at least half of the respondents were employed outside the home and the majority of those individuals were employed full time. The majority was not Hispanic or Latino and the vast majority was White. • The diversity of experiences, attitudes, and behaviors reported by survey respondents at SAGU suggest that a “one size fits all” management approach may exclude important segments of the survey population. Research results that shed light on the varied elements that comprise visitor experiences can be used as a guide to most effectively respond to the preferences reported by BioBlitz participants.

Creating stewardship through discovery: Visitor participation in the Saguaro National Park / National Geographic BioBlitz

Series

Collections