Forest Products Laboratory

Title: National forests of Wisconsin : demographics and recreation participation

Author: Alig, J. T.; Voss, P. R.

Date: 

Source: (Research paper FPL ; RP-542):14 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.

Station ID: RP-FPL-542

Description: The primary benefit of this research was to lay a foundation for examining and predicting future participation in recreation on a specific national forest. We explain some of the obstacles involved in site-specific projections and note that this is an area in need of additional research.This study used data from the 1990 U.S. Census to examine changes in the human population surrounding the Chequamegon and Nicolet National Forests in Wisconsin. A methodology was then developed to project future participation in recreation on those national forests based solely on demographics. This research highlights the difficulties inherent in making point-in- time estimates or forecasts of recreation participation for a specific location, such as a national forest. This research also demonstrates how demographic variables can be used to describe general trends in recreation participation and plan for future recreation resource needs. Expected changes in the size, age, and race and ethnicity of the U.S. population are compared with expected population changes in the areas surrounding the Nicolet and Chequamegon National Forests. Although other studies have shown that population age will likely have the most pronounced effect on future recreation participation at the national level, a decomposition analysis for the Nicolet National Forest shows that population size will likely have the greatest effect at the local level.

Keywords: National forests, Demography, Recreation, Wisconsin, Recreational use

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Citation

Alig, J. T.; Voss, P. R.  .  National forests of Wisconsin : demographics and recreation participation .   (Research paper FPL ; RP-542):14 p. : ill. ; 28 cm..