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Comparing perspectives of restoration site practitioners and recreators to improve engagement and conserve social value
Citation:
Canfield, Katherine, K. Mulvaney, AND M. Reilly. Comparing perspectives of restoration site practitioners and recreators to improve engagement and conserve social value. International Association of Society and Natural Resources, Portland, ME, June 11 - 15, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Cranberry bog growing has been an iconic to New England for hundreds of years. As the farming methods become less productive in the region, growers are considering retirement options for their farms. One consideration is restoration, which has myriad potential ecological benefits. Restoration can improve ecological functioning of a wetland, but also has the potential to change the socio-cultural value of a place. To understand social value of this environment, we used a mixed methods approach that included semi-structured key informant and farmer interviews, intercept interviews with recreators, qualitative thematic analysis, content analysis, and use estimates at seven sites across southeastern Massachusetts. Results to inform public engagement included higher use at sites with trail amenities and a need for further public education on the ecological benefits of restoration to improve public support through the restoration process. Recommended engagement approaches from this work can be applied during design and implementation of future wetland restorations to integrate both social and ecological values.
Description:
Restoration can improve ecological functioning of a wetland, but also has the potential to change the socio-cultural value of a place. Despite extensive work documenting the ecological aspects of an effective restoration, there is limited work on social implications of restoration. This project builds on past research on sense of place and public engagement with environmental change to determine how to best maintain or enhance socio-cultural value when restoring farmed cranberry to wetlands in southeastern Massachusetts. Cranberry bogs are an iconic landscape in New England, with bog farming having Native, colonial, and post-colonial importance. To understand social value of this environment, we used a mixed methods approach that included semi-structured key informant and farmer interviews, intercept interviews with recreators, qualitative thematic analysis, content analysis, and use estimates at seven sites across southeastern Massachusetts. While key informants emphasized the diverse ecological motives for restoration, recreators were mainly focused on the benefit of peace and quiet when at open spaces with a low density of visitors. Results to inform public engagement included higher use at sites with trail amenities and a need for further public education on the ecological benefits of restoration to improve public support through the restoration process. Recommended engagement approaches from this work can be applied during design and implementation of future wetland restorations to integrate both social and ecological values.
