Pacific Southwest

Title: Building Connections among Lands, People and Communities: A Case Study of Benefits-Based Management Plan Development for the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

Author: Knopf, Richard C.; Andereck, Kathleen L.; Tucker, Karen; Bottomly, Bill; Virden, Randy J.

Date: 2004

Source: Building Connections among Lands, People and Communities: A Case Study of Benefits-Based Management Plan Development for the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. In: Proceedings of the Fourth Social Aspects and Recreation Research Symposium; 2004 February 4-6; San Francisco, California. San Francisco State University. 170-179

Description: Purpose of Study This paper demonstrates how a Benefits-Based Management paradigm has been useful in guiding management plan development for an internationally significant natural resource – the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (GGNCA) in Colorado. Through a program of survey research, a database on benefits desired by various stakeholder groups was created. It was utilized to assist in describing the current state of production of the GGNCA for recreation experiences, and as a basis for articulating the likely results of different planning scenarios for the resource. As a case example of the application of a Benefits-Based Management paradigm to recreation land use planning, we trace the conceptual flow between science and application as a collaborative planning process sought to articulate land use consequences and performance indicators for a public scoping process. Our ambition is to demonstrate the power of the benefits-based paradigm in successfully engaging the citizenry in vision-setting for significant natural resources, and communicating the results of complex land management decisions to stakeholders.

Keywords: ggnca, gunnison gorge national conservation area, benefits-based management

View and Print this Publication (137 KB)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Knopf, Richard C.; Andereck, Kathleen L.; Tucker, Karen; Bottomly, Bill; Virden, Randy J.  2004.  Building Connections among Lands, People and Communities: A Case Study of Benefits-Based Management Plan Development for the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area.   Building Connections among Lands, People and Communities: A Case Study of Benefits-Based Management Plan Development for the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. In: Proceedings of the Fourth Social Aspects and Recreation Research Symposium; 2004 February 4-6; San Francisco, California. San Francisco State University. 170-179.