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Managing natural disturbance in protected areas: tourists' attitude towards the bark beetle in a German national park
Journal
Biological Conservation
ISSN
0006-3207
ISSN-Digital
1873-2917
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2009-02-02
Author(s)
Mueller, Martin
Job, Hubert
Abstract
Tourists represent important stakeholders in the management of natural disturbance in protected areas. This study examines tourists' attitude towards large-scale bark beetle infestation in the case of Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Three alternative conceptual models for predicting attitude are specified and compared using structural equation modelling (SEM) and a post-hoc modified model is derived. We find that tourists overall have a neutral attitude towards the bark beetle and are slightly against controlling the insect in the park. Tourists with higher affinity for the national park, better knowledge about the bark beetle and who expect a recovery of the affected areas have a significantly more positive attitude. Our results support a policy of selective non-intervention in the case of natural disturbance. This should be combined with educational measures aimed at raising awareness of the ecological mandate of protected areas and increasing tourists' knowledge of the specific disturbance
Language
English
Keywords
Perception
Attitudes
Natural disturbance
Protected areas
Tourism
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher place
Barking, Essex
Volume
142
Number
2
Start page
375
End page
383
Pages
9
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
55860