Federal and state park systems in the United States are known for their natural
beauty, uninhabited forests and pristine environments. We also think of them
for the variety of outdoor recreation they provide.
However, as regional populations grow along with
the influx of tourists and daily visitors, forests will surely be affected.
This increase will call for a greater development of land and water resources
as the demand for outdoor recreation expands.
A report published by the U.S. Forest Service's Northern Research Station titled "Outdoor Recreation in the Northern United States" looks at recent population trends and forecasts within the context of U.S. regions and demographic composition of populations, while studying recreation participation, trends in activities, and time spent outdoors.
The report finds that there is a strong
likelihood of increasing pressure on forest and other undeveloped lands in
northern states, which extend from Maine to Minnesota and from Missouri to
Maryland, as the population grows and recreation demands shift.
"More people engaging in outdoor recreation
is a wonderful thing, but it also translates into greater demand for venues for
outdoor recreation and a dilemma for the North's shrinking supply of
undeveloped lands," said Michael T. Rains, Director of the Northern Research
Station. "The Northern Forest Futures Project is generating information
that will help natural resource managers and communities respond to this
challenge."
One of the report's key findings is that the
northern states saw an increase of about 4 percent in people ages 16 and older
who engage in outdoor recreation. This shows that more young people are getting
outside which breaks the notion that children are spending too much time
inside.
Another highlight is that outdoor recreational
activities are changing and are attracting new types of people. While popular
activities range from walking to visiting outdoor nature centers, and camping,
people are shifting to new, more exotic outdoor activities such as geocaching,
zip lining, snowboarding, photography, and mountain biking, which were largely
unknown to past generations.
The findings can also be related to local
communities as many have realized the importance of outdoor recreation and have
made efforts to create local nature preserves. However, as more people use
these recreational areas, new challenges will arise. Some examples are
maintaining trails, sustaining funding for local, state and federal parks, and
preserving and up keeping forests and wilderness sites.
