Creating stewardship through discovery: A comparison among visitors that participated in three National Park / National Geographic BioBlitzes

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

• This study evaluated participants’ experiences with three citizen science BioBlitzes co-sponsored by the National Park Service (NPS) and National Geographic Society (NGS) at Biscayne (BISC), Saguaro (SAGU), and Rocky Mountain (ROMO) National Parks in 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Information about why the program was important and benefits accrued from this event were gathered to provide NPS and NGS with a greater understanding of their constituencies. Social outcomes related to BioBlitzes aim to enhance interest in science and stewardship within protected areas. • BioBlitz participants engaged in a host of activities while visiting the three parks, many were involved as part of organized groups and the majority knew others at the event. Different levels of previous experience were reported. At ROMO, however, respondents had significantly more previous experience than did participants at BISC and SAGU. Across the three parks, the most important source of information for the BioBlitz was “friends, relatives and/or word of mouth.” • Respondents were involved in the BioBlitz for a variety of reasons. The most important factor that encouraged involvement was the appeal of the program; i.e., importance of the activity. The least important facet of their 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. This is likely an artifact of the novelty and prevalence of the program and characteristics of respondents; the NPS/NGS BioBlitz is an annual event that moves around the country and respondents were causal visitors from surrounding communities. • The impact of the BioBlitz program manifested in different ways according to survey respondents. The impact of participation on understandings of science and nature were influenced by experiencing the park in a new way and provided opportunities to learn from professionals. • Respondents considered themselves to be natural resource stewards and at all three sites most felt their stewardship was anchored in an intrinsic appreciation of nature rather than stemming from the benefits nature provides to humans. The majority of respondents were moderately willing to engage in protectionist behaviors but did not feel responsible for the parks’ protection. • To encourage future engagement, it will be important to note that 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 within the three parks in different ways. Half of the respondents at ROMO and approximately one third at BISC and SAGU reported having favorite places within the parks. The levels of attachment formed between people and the parks were mostly driven by affective / emotional bonds, individual identities, and opportunities made available to associate with other people. Given the relative importance of different places, management agencies should be careful to prioritize high and low priority settings within these protected areas. • To more effectively reach and engage with visitors that attend these events, managers should note that there were slightly more males than females. Most respondents were just over 45 years of age, the majority were 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, though significantly more respondents at BISC and SAGU were of Hispanic ethnicity than at ROMO. The vast majority across all three sites was White.

Creating stewardship through discovery: A comparison among visitors that participated in three National Park / National Geographic BioBlitzes

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