Visitor experiences of wilderness soundscapes in Denali National Park and Preserve
Miller Z, Taff D, Newman P. 2018. Visitor experiences of wilderness soundscapes in Denali National Park and Preserve. International Journal of Wilderness. 24(2)
Abstract: Denali National Park and Preserve (DNPP), home to 6 million acres (2,428,114 ha) of land protected as wilderness, has collected a variety of biophysical acoustic data related to a backcountry management plan. However, very little is known about visitor experience related to sounds in the DNPP wilderness. This research explores wilderness users’ sound-related motivations for visiting DNPP and conducts listening activities to help managers develop indicators related to quality soundscape experiences. Sound-related experiences were motivations for a majority of DNPP wilderness visitors. In addition, aircraft noise (e.g., propellers, helicopters, jets) emerged as a potential indictor for understanding the quality of visitor wilderness experiences. Future research should focus on further implementing Management By Objectives frameworks to develop thresholds, monitoring conditions, and implementing management actions as needed to protect the wilderness soundscapes of DNPP.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Miller, Zach; Taff, Derrick; Newman, Peter
- Units
- DENA
- Keywords
- acoustic environment, anthropogenic noise, management by objectives, mountaineering, noise, social science, soundscapes, wellness, Wilderness
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use , Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Soundscape | Soundscape , NPS.gov Subject Site: Natural Sounds , NPS.gov Subject Site: Wilderness
- License
- Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal