Using Mobile Device Data to Track the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Spatiotemporal Patterns of National Park Visitation

Effective quantification of visitation is important for understanding many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on national parks and other protected areas. In this study, we mapped and analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of visitation for six national parks in the western U.S., taking advantage of large mobility records sampled from mobile devices and released by SafeGraph as part of their Social Distancing Metric dataset. Based on comparisons with visitation statistics released by the U.S. National Park Service, our results confirmed that mobility records from digital devices can effectively capture park visitation patterns but with much finer spatiotemporal granularity. In general, triggers of visitation changes corresponded well with the parks’ management responses to COVID-19, with all six parks showing dramatic decreases in the number of visitors (compared to 2019) beginning in March 2020 and continuing through April and May. As restrictions were eased to promote access to the parks and the benefits associated with outdoor recreation, visitation in 2020 approached or even passed that from 2019 by late summer or early autumn at most of the parks. The results also revealed that parks initially saw the greatest increases in visitation after reopening originating from nearby states, with visitorship coming from a broader range of states as time passed. Our study highlights the capability of mobility data for providing spatiotemporally explicit knowledge of place visitation.

Importance of fish biodiversity in conservation planning of Brazilian National Parks

Protected areas are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity. In Brazil, national parks encompass one of the most important portions of this area (26.864.003,74ha) that needs to be adequately managed to achieve conservation. Aiming to understand how the ichthyofauna data is included in management plans of Brazilian National Parks, we review 55 Brazilian national parks management plans to compare how data of freshwater fish fauna are included in these documents. The data evaluated from management plans were Hydrography, ichthyofauna list, participation of professionals trained in rapid ecological assessment and species richness, endangered and invasive species. This information was used to categorize the management plans through two sets of assessing: quality of rapid ecological assessment and coverage of species diversity. The categorization results were assumed as an indicator of the potential for biodiversity conservation of the management plans. We compare obtained results between biomes. We were able to understand that many of the Brazilian National Parks do not have management plans, and among the plans that are prepared, the lack of essential information compromises their potential for the conservation of biodiversity. We highlight the need to improve management plans for the Caatinga parks and expand the analysis of invasive species for all biomes.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Participation in the Management of National Parks: Experiences of the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe

National parks play an important role in maintaining natural ecosystems which are important sources of income and livelihood sustenance. Most national parks in Southern Africa are managed by their states. Before 2007, Gonarezhou National Park was managed by the Zimbabwe Parks Management and Wildlife Authority, which faced challenges in maintaining its biodiversity, community relations and infrastructure. However, in 2017 the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Zimbabwe Parks Management and Wildlife Authority formed an innovative partnership under the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust (GCT). This study examines the relationship between GCT management, Gonarezhou National Park stakeholders and communities as well as the impact of the relationship on biodiversity and ecosystems. The study also highlights challenges faced and lessons learned in managing Gonarezhou as a protected area. To obtain the information, key informant interviews, Landsat satellite imagery, secondary data from previous studies and government sources were utilized. The results indicate that the concerted efforts of the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust to manage the park are starting to bear fruit in improving biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management and engaging communities. However, challenges such as governance obstacles, problematic stakeholder management, maintaining trust in community relations, ensuring sustainability, managing the adverse impacts of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts must still be navigated to ensure the park’s sustainable management. Notwithstanding challenges, we argue that a partnership arrangement such as the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust is a desirable model that can be applied in national parks in Zimbabwe and Africa for better biodiversity management and tourism.

ASSESSMENT OF TOURISTS’ PERCEPTION AND SATISFACTION IN AGODI PARK AND GARDENS IBADAN AS A NATURE-BASED TOURISM ATTRACTION

This study hinges on the assessment of tourists perception and satisfaction in Agodi Park and Gardens Ibadan as a nature-based tourism attraction. The study was conducted to investigate and assess the level of tourist’s satisfaction with the attributes (facilities and services) at the Park. In order to achieve the aim of this study, a well-structured questionnaire was drafted in line with the research objectives. The findings of the study revealed that the most satisfying features at the Park was the natural environment and the swimming pool at 62.8% and 34.9% respectively. However, the most dissatisfying features were the Zoo (54.6%) and the inadequate recreational facilities (17.4). The results also shows that the quality of tourism services has a positive impact on the level of tourist satisfaction. These results are considered to be valuable to destination managers, tourism organizations and businesses in evaluating the level of their current services. Therefore, this study suggests that visitors’ satisfaction can be boosted by raising the standard of service quality throughout the destinations’ attractions, facilities and modes of accessibility. The Parks’ management should upgrade the zoological garden to meet up with International standard so as to increase tourists’ patronage and satisfaction.

Resources in Parks and Police Management Applying Decision Utility to Solve Problems With Limited Resources

This is the first research article that attempts to relate public service to managing an organization and explains systems with realistic yet simplistic examples. This article is the first of its kind to relate public service to managing organizations that relate public service such as parks and police. It measures and implements maximin value functions. A maximin value function applies when the criteria are totally non-substitutable: a decrease in a critical criterion cannot be compensated for by an increase in another criterion. This article illustrates situations where a maximin value function is an appropriate model, develops a method to measure a decision maker's maximin value function, and demonstrates how a maximin value function can be used in applications such as park and police systems. The measurement technique is easy to understand and most decision makers can complete the process in a short period of time. For quantitative scheduling techniques found in journals, their wider use in applications has been declining due to a variety of obstacles. This article will first list a number of these obstacles and then suggest ways to overcome them. Parks and Police departments are government agencies that both have limited and competing resources. In these circumstances, it is an ideal situation to share the resources as much as possible. In this article, examples are shown of where the limited resources may occur in both agencies, and how the manager may overcome these problems by sharing the resources. Examples of affective and just sharing of resources are given for both parks and police departments. In Parks Management, affective trade-offs are shown among trim mowing, tractor mowing, garbage collection and ball-field dragging. In Police departments affective trade-offs are shown among foot patrol, car patrol, detective analysis and office work.

Assessment appraisal, disposal and transfer of neglected rangers’ diaries created from 1926 to 1930: case of the Kruger National Parks of South Africa

Purpose This paper aims to assess the appraisal, disposal and transfer of records of the Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers’ diaries processes from 1926 to 1930 with a view to recommend best practices. Design/methodology/approach The paper applied a qualitative methodology through document analysis, interviews and observations as data collection instruments to analyse contents of rangers’ diaries. The population of the study comprised rangers, a records manager and a representative from the National Archives of South Africa (NARSSA), a member of South Africa National Parks’ management and a scientist from South African National Biodiversity Institute. Findings The key findings revealed that rangers’ diaries contain historical, scientific and cultural information. However, such information is not disseminated to society. Lack of systematic appraisal, arrangement of records led to a loss of institutional memories. The role of National Archives and Records Service of South Africa is not visible to provide guidelines on the preservation of rangers’ records. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to KNP ranger’s diaries created from 1926 to 1930 because it is the period of establishment of the national park and introduction of rangers’ programme. Practical implications The findings are expected to be instrumental towards the preservation of rangers’ diaries within the park. Rangers’ diaries are also potentially of great biogeographical value in constituting a historical record of the plants and animals in a given area, their distribution and population changes, and the effects of human interventions such as game fences and artificially created waterholes, game culling and tourism, not to forget climate change. Social implications Preservation of ranger diaries may lead to documentation of records with historical, scientific and social value. Rangers’ diaries also form part of the national archival heritage of South Africa, as they bridge the gap of undocumented history of the rangers and national parks in South Africa. Originality/value This paper appears to be the first to research the assessment of the appraisal, disposal and transfer of rangers’ diaries created from 1926 to 1930.

Resources in Parks and Police Management Applying Decision Utility to Solve Problems with Limited Resources

This is the first research article that attempts to relate public service to managing an organization and explains systems with realistic yet simplistic examples. This article is the first of its kind to relate public service to managing organizations that relate public service such as parks and police. It measures and implements maximin value functions. A maximin value function applies when the criteria are totally non-substitutable: a decrease in a critical criterion cannot be compensated for by an increase in another criterion. This article illustrates situations where a maximin value function is an appropriate model, develops a method to measure a decision maker's maximin value function, and demonstrates how a maximin value function can be used in applications such as park and police systems. The measurement technique is easy to understand and most decision makers can complete the process in a short period of time. For quantitative scheduling techniques found in journals, their wider use in applications has been declining due to a variety of obstacles. This article will first list a number of these obstacles and then suggest ways to overcome them. Parks and Police departments are government agencies that both have limited and competing resources. In these circumstances, it is an ideal situation to share the resources as much as possible. In this article, examples are shown of where the limited resources may occur in both agencies, and how the manager may overcome these problems by sharing the resources. Examples of affective and just sharing of resources are given for both parks and police departments. In Parks Management, affective trade-offs are shown among trim mowing, tractor mowing, garbage collection and ball-field dragging. In Police departments affective trade-offs are shown among foot patrol, car patrol, detective analysis and office work.