Spiritual Encounters with Nature

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-57
Author(s):  
Susan Power Bratton
Keyword(s):  
Religious Practice ◽  
Spiritual Experience ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
John Muir ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Religious Background ◽  
Shared Stories

Abstract Mitchell (2016) proposes shared stories and religious background are unimportant to hiker spiritual experience on John Muir National Trail, USA. This study analyzes surveys from 265 volunteer day-hikes in three settings: urban, suburban natural area, and wildland; representing three modes of hiking: goal-directed, nature observation, and meditative. Overall, setting produced more statistically significant differences (22 of 25) among locale descriptors than the mode did (3 of 25). Sacred was more closely associated with descriptors of lack of human presence, than those related to biodiversity. Association of the sacred with higher elevations and mountain wildlands rather than with wetlands implies a pre-existing shared story. Nature oriented and meditative hiking accentuated perception of values, such as educational, humbling, sacred and wondrous, providing evidence that religious practice influences hiker perception. Suburban natural areas, which are more accessible to urban residents than wildlands, received ratings competing with wildlands in terms of personal benefits.

scholarly journals Protected Areas and Overuse in the Context of Socio-Natural Changes: An Interdisciplinary French Case Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 73-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécilia Claeys ◽  
Carole Barthelemy ◽  
Thierry Tatoni ◽  
Patrick Bonhomme
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sociology ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
The Social ◽  
French Case ◽  
Natural Change ◽  
Survey Questionnaires

Abstract: This article provides an interdisciplinary analysis of the notion of overuse in natural areas. Based on the case of the French Calanques massif (located along the Mediterranean coast between Marseilles and Cassis), sociology and biology combine their analyses to examine the social processes behind the increasingly widespread use of natural areas and the ecological consequences thereof. The data are comprised of interdisciplinary research based on eighty semi-structured interviews conducted on-site and 330 telephone survey questionnaires. We critically analyse of the notion of overuse and underscore the socio-economic, cultural and ideological weight it carries in the context of socio-natural change; this calls into question the relevance of the ancient nature/culture dichotomy. Drawing on theoretical tools from environmental sociology, this article also provides some perspectives for natural area managers.

Nature-Based Tourism Destinations

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel D. Line ◽  
Wanda M. Costen
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Positive Image ◽  
Gateway Cities ◽  
Tourism Destinations ◽  
The City ◽  
City Park

This article takes a dyadic approach to the conceptualization of nature-based tourism (NBT) destinations. Treating the natural area and its gateway city as distinct evaluative objects, we propose that tourists may differentially assess each element of a city–park dyad based on the degree to which the attributes of each are perceived as conducive to the fulfillment of NBT-specific goals. By empirically testing this perspective, this study reveals the unique complexities of NBT. The findings indicate that nature-based tourists have distinct perceptions of natural areas and their gateway cities. The results also reveal that proenvironmental attitudes motivate individuals to engage in NBT and are associated with a positive image of the natural area. However, these proenvironmental attitudes also yield negative attitudes toward the human-made attributes of the gateway city, which result in a negative image of the city itself. The principal implications for future research and application are discussed.

scholarly journals Estimating Carbon Storage in Urban Forests of New York City

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Pregitzer ◽  
Chloe Hanna ◽  
Sarah Charlop-Powers ◽  
Mark Bradford
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Carbon Storage ◽  
York City ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Mature Trees

Abstract Forests play an important role in mitigating many of the negative effects of climate change. One of the ways trees mitigate impacts of climate change is by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing carbon in their wood, leaves, roots, and soil. Field assessments are used to quantify the carbon storage across different forested landscapes. The number of trees, their size, and total area inform estimates of how much carbon they store. Urban forested natural areas often have greater tree density compared to trees planted in designed cityscapes suggesting that natural area forests could be an important carbon stock for cities. We report a carbon budget for urban forested natural area using field-collected data across an entire city and model carbon stock and annual stock change in multiple forest pools. We find that natural area forests in New York City store a mean of 263.04 (95% CI 256.61, 270.40) Mg C ha− 1 and we estimate that 1.86 Tg C (95% CI 1.60, 2.13 Tg C) is stored in the city’s forested natural areas. We provide an upper estimate that these forests sequester carbon at a mean rate of 7.42 (95% CI 7.13, 7.71) Mg C ha− 1 y− 1 totaling 0.044 Tg (95% CI 0.028, 0.055) of carbon annually, with the majority being stored in trees and soil. Urban forested natural areas store carbon at similar and in some cases higher rates compared to rural forests. Native oak-dominated forests with large mature trees store the most carbon. When compared to previous estimates of urban-canopy carbon storage, we find that trees in natural area forests in New York City account for the majority of carbon stored despite being a minority of the tree canopy. Our results show that urban forested natural areas play an important role in localized, natural climate solutions and should be at the center of urban greening policies looking to mitigate the climate footprint of cities.

scholarly journals A VALUABLE NATURAL AREA AS A SYSTEM MARKETING PRODUCT VERSUS EXPECTATIONS OF TOURISTS AS ACTIVE PURCHASERS

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Baruk ◽  
Anna Goliszek
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
World Literature ◽  
Method Of Averaging ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Theoretical Part ◽  
The World ◽  
Research Questions

The article is theoretical and empirical in nature. The theoretical part provides a cognitive and critical analysis of the world literature. According to the approach presented in this part, valuable natural areas are ‘system marketing products’ which should be co-created by purchasers. The research aim of the article is to identify the significance assigned by tourists to various characteristics of valuable natural areas and group the tourists based on this. Three research questions were formed. In order to answer them, primary research was conducted by means of a questionnaire. The results were statistically analysed using the method of averaging and factor analysis. The results indicate that the relatively highest significance from the 25 elements of valuable natural areas evaluated was assigned to cleanliness and food. Untypical elements (e.g. ‘photographic safari’) were the least significant. Respondents were assigned to six groups linked to various types of activities. This points to the necessity to adapt elements of the product, i.e. a valuable natural area, to the various expectations of the purchasers.

scholarly journals Score as a method for studying the recreational potential

2013 ◽  
pp. 193-204
Author(s):  
Svitlana Leonova ◽  
Olena Nikipelova
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Recreational Resources ◽  
Future Status

This paper reviews the literature on existing approaches to the study of the recreational potential by scoring. It is recommended to apply this method to determine the criteria for evaluating natural areas of resorts of Ukraine concerning their future status. Key words: recreation potential, recreational resources, numerical score, natural area resorts.

scholarly journals Natural Area Weeds: A Property Owner's Guide to Melaleuca Control

EDIS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2005 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Langeland ◽  
M. J. Meisenburg
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Invasive Plant Species ◽  
Original Publication ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area

This publication is one of a series with the purpose of providing information to empower citizens of Florida to protect Florida's natural areas from melaleuca and other invasive plant species. This document is SS-AGR-96, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 2005. SS-AGR-96/AG241: Natural Area Weeds: A Property Owner's Guide to Melaleuca Control (ufl.edu)

scholarly journals CREATION OF “KULINDA” SCIENTIFIC AND TRAINING STATION AND PERSPECTIVES OF INVOLVEMENT OF THE REGIONAL PROTECTED NATURAL AREA INTO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
N.V. Pomazkova
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Educational Activity ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Specially Protected Natural Areas ◽  
Protected Natural Area ◽  
Protected Natural Areas ◽  
Training Station ◽  
And Training

One of the main principles of “green economy” is the organization of business activity in such a way as to enhance welfare of people and provide for social equity while considerably decreasing risks of the environmental degradation. The purpose of the article is to study possibilities and conditions of involvement of the regional protected natural area being created into social and economic development. “Kulinda” scientific and training station in the Chernyshevsky District of the Trans-Baikal Territory is being created for preservation and study of the unique location where Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus dinosaur fossils have been found. The station is referred to the new category of regional specially protected natural areas. The performed studies have confirmed the conservation value of the territory and necessity of specially protected natural area creation in the Chernyshevsky District of the Trans-Baikal Territory. The nearest rural settlement (village of Novoilinsk) is an area with an unfavorable socio-economic situation: low standard of living, unemployment, and annual outflow of population. Development of tourism on the basis of natural resources and areas of interest of the scientific and training station is viewed as a possibility to involve population of villages being abandoned into the economic activity. The article analyzes available opportunities and perspective directions of tourism for the object: geological (geotourism), academical (scientific), educational, agricultural (agrotourism), and ecological tourism. In addition, the article considers negative factors hindering the development of rural areas and the scientific and training station: lack of financing, poor transport accessibility, imperfection of service infrastructure, and seasonality of the scientific and training station activity. The author makes a conclusion that development of tourism in specially protected natural areas can become a growing point for economy of rural regions through the development of associated service industries and can contribute to the growth of educational activity of the population.

Investigating the Impact of Interpretive Signs at Neighborhood Natural Areas

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn K. Davis ◽  
Jessica L. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Knowledge Assessment ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Multiple Method ◽  
Interpretive Signs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
First Time

Designing interpretive signs for community natural areas is often an expensive endeavor, sometimes requiring the largest portion of an already small budget, but what do we know about the impact of these signs? How do visitors to neighborhood natural areas interact with and use the signs? This multiple-method study investigated how visitors interacted with interpretive signs in two neighborhood natural areas in a mid-sized urban area. Results of this study indicate that a majority of natural area visitors were repeat visitors; however, when tested, first-time visitors scored higher on a knowledge assessment of information presented on the interpretive signs than repeat. Similarly, visitors’ appreciation for the signs varied whether they were running, biking, or walking. This insight may be helpful as natural areas invest in interpretive signage during a time of tight budgets.

Herbicide Evaluation to Control Clematis terniflora Invading Natural Areas in Gainesville, Florida

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Langeland ◽  
Michael Meisenburg
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Active Ingredients ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Natural Area ◽  
Woody Vine ◽  
Herbicide Treatments

AbstractJapanese clematis, a herbaceous to woody vine native to Asia, has been widely used for landscaping in the southeastern United States and is now a naturalized and invasive in Florida. Herbicides that contain the active ingredients fluroxypyr, glyphosate, imazapic, metsulfuron, or triclopyr, applied alone or in combination on a spray-to-wet basis, were evaluated for their effectiveness to control the plant in a natural area of Gainesville, FL. All herbicide treatments provided some level of control 30, 60, and 90 d after application. The most effective herbicide treatments, imazapic 0.6 g ae/L, glyphosate as low as 3.6 g ae/L, triclopyr as low as 3.6 g ae/L, metsulfuron 0.07 g ai/L, and fluroxypyr as low as 1.8 g ae/L, resulted in 72% to 99% control 90 d after application, but were not significantly different from each other. Natural area managers throughout the range of Japanese clematis should be vigilant for this species and remove it whenever encountered. Our results indicate that it can be controlled by foliar application of several herbicides commonly used for management of pest plants in natural areas, but repeat applications will be necessary.

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