Ontario Parks Research Articles

Linking visitor perceptions and behaviours related to ticks and lyme disease to risk management strategies in a protected areas context

Abstract Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in North America. Despite this, there is a limited understanding of public perceptions and behaviours associated with tick and Lyme disease risk, especially within a parks and protected areas visitation and visitor experience context. To address this knowledge gap, we report the results of a survey of visitor perceptions and behaviours related to ticks and Lyme disease risk in one of Ontario, Canada’s most highly visited protected areas. Results revealed that tick bites are the second highest perceived risk by visitors to the park, and over half (52%) reported that they limit their interactions in certain areas of the park to reduce tick and Lyme disease risk. Notably, 63% of visitors would return to Pinery if bitten by a tick. However, a high proportion of visitors noted that they would likely not return to the park if they (44%) or someone they know (40%) contracted a tick-borne disease. Furthermore, only 41% of respondents noted that they would likely return to the park if regional rates of tick-borne illnesses increased by 30% under future climate change. In light of these novel findings, we provide a number of proactive management recommendations, focused on developing or enhancing pre-visit education, communication, and outreach programmes where appropriate, that can be used by managers to effectively address this emerging human health and safety challenge in protected areas. For the first time in the Canadian protected areas context, we assess visitor perceptions and risk-mitigation behaviours related to ticks and Lyme disease. We also assess visitor use and perceived importance of related education, communication, and outreach strategies of the governing park agency, Ontario Parks. The results revealed many novel and significant findings with important implications for visitor experience planning and management, including: • A significant lack of perceived tick-related education levels amongst park users; • A higher risk perception of getting a tick bite in the park in comparison to in everyday life; • A general unwillingness of visitors to return to the park if exposed to a tick-borne illness as a result of a park tick bite; • A general unwillingness of visitors to return to the park if regional rates of tick-borne illnesses increase by 30%; • A high perceived value of existing communication strategies with respect to tick bite and Lyme disease prevention currently used by Ontario Parks; and, • A strong belief by visitors that both on and offsite tick communication strategies are equally valuable and important to mitigating tick bites and Lyme disease risk.

Development of a data-driven weather index for beach parks tourism.

The complexity of the human-environment interface predicates the need for tools and techniques that can enable the effective translation of weather and climate products into decision-relevant information. Indices are a category of such tools that may be used to simplify multi-faceted climate information for economic and other decision-making. Climate indices for tourism have been popularized in the literature over the past three decades, but despite their prevalence, these indices have a number of limitations, including coarse temporal resolution, subjective rating and weighting schemes, and lack of empirical validation. This paper critically assesses the design of the tourism climate index, the holiday climate index-beach, and a new, mathematically optimized index developed for the unique contextual realities of Great Lakes beach tourism. This new methodology combines the use of expert knowledge, stated visitor preferences, and mathematical optimization to develop an index that assigns daily weather scores based on four weather sub-indices (thermal comfort, wind speed, precipitation, and cloud cover). These daily scores are then averaged to the monthly level and correlated to visitation data at two beach parks in Ontario (Canada). This optimized index demonstrates a strong fit (R2 = 0.734, 0.657) with observed visitation at Pinery Provincial Park and Sandbanks Provincial Park, outperforming both the tourism climate index (R2 = 0.474, 0.018) and the holiday climate index-beach (R2 = 0.668, 0.427). This study advances our understanding of the magnitude and seasonality of weather impact on beach tourist visitation and can inform decision-making of tourism marketers and destination managers.

E Harmful Effects of the Cygnus olor Population on the Biodiversity of the Presqu’ile Provincial Park Wetland Ecosystem

Presqu’ile Provincial Park in Southeastern Ontario is a major attraction for campers and outdoor enthusiasts year-round. At the forefront of the Park’s popularity is its rich biodiversity, supported by a variety of unique ecosystems. A particular ecosystem of interest, the park’s wetland, is one of the largest along Lake Ontario. However, working with a Biodiversity Specialist from Ontario Parks, we have identified a major issue that has threatened to upset the delicate balance of this ecosystem. Recently, large colonies of Cygnus olor, more commonly known as the mute swan, have begun to nest in the wetland area. This species is extremely territorial and the swans exhibit aggressive behavior towards other species inhabiting the same niche. The main consequence from this territorial behavior is that previously common waterfowl species no longer nest in the wetland. Unfortunately, once C. olor nest in a particular area, dislodging the swan population is very challenging. Using available data from peer-reviewed journals, popular media, Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Natural Resources, our group hopes to analyze the current situation, to identify possible root causes, and to develop viable methods of C. olor population control, in order to restore the wetland’s natural biodiversity. Our seminar will provide a detailed discussion of results from our analysis as well as evaluate potential solutions towards controlling the increasing populations of C. olor. We endeavour to provide future measures that may be implemented to preserve Presqu’ile Provincial Park’s biodiversity and that have potential applications on a global scale.

Differential temperature preferences and thresholds among summer campers in Ontario’s southern provincial parks: a Canadian case study in tourism climatology

Weather and climate are important factors in relation to outdoor recreation and tourism. Camping and park visitation are weather sensitive activities very likely to be impacted by projected climate change. Temperature is the weather variable that has received the greatest attention within the tourism climatology literature and was the greatest predictor of park visitation within previous assessments. This study uses a stated climate preferences approach, relying on survey-based data, to explore differences for temperature preferences and thresholds among campers in Ontario parks. Statistically significant differences (at the 95% confidence level) in mean values for temperature preferences and thresholds were recorded based on various camper characteristics, such as the following: activity selection, age, gender, distance travelled, length of stay, life cycle stage, camping experience, and camping equipment. Swimmers preferred warmer day-time temperatures. Older campers preferred cooler temperatures and were more sensitive to heat stress, in the day and night time. Females preferred warmer temperatures and were less sensitive to heat stress during the night time. Campers who had travelled further distances to reach the park or planned to stay for longer periods were less sensitive to heat stress. Campers with children in their group preferred warmer temperatures and were less sensitive to heat stress, in the day and at night. Respondents with higher levels of camping experience preferred warmer temperatures at night. Tent campers were less sensitive to heat stress, in the day and at night. The results of this study have direct implications for previous and future climate change impact assessments on park visitation.

Differences in the importance of weather and weather-based decisions among campers in Ontario parks (Canada).

Parks and protected areas represent an important resource for tourism in Canada, in which camping is a common recreational activity. The important relationship between weather and climate with recreation and tourism has been widely acknowledged within the academic literature. Howbeit, the need for activity-specific assessments has been identified as an on-going need for future research in the field of tourism climatology. Furthermore, very little is known about the interrelationships between personal characteristics and socio-demographics with weather preferences and behavioural thresholds. This study uses a stated climate preferences approach (survey responses) to explore differences in the importance of weather and related weather-based decisions among summer campers in Ontario parks. Statistically significant differences were found among campers for each of the four dependent variables tested in this study. Physically active campers placed greater importance on weather but were still more tolerant of adverse weather conditions. Older campers placed greater importance on weather. Campers travelling shorter distances placed greater importance on weather and were more likely to leave the park early due to adverse weather. Campers staying for longer periods of time were less likely to leave early due to weather and were willing to endure longer durations of adverse weather conditions. Beginner campers placed greater importance on weather, were more likely to leave early due to weather and recorded lower temporal weather thresholds. The results of this study contribute to the study of tourism climatology by furthering understanding of how personal characteristics such as gender, age, activity selection, trip duration, distance travelled, travel experience and life cycles affect weather preferences and decisions, focusing this time on recreational camping in a park tourism context.

The role of tour operators in delivering a Leave No Trace program: a case study of Algonquin Provincial Park

ABSTRACTThe first State of Ontario’s Protected Area Report identified visitor impacts as one of the known threats to the maintenance of ecological integrity in Ontario’s provincial parks (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2011b). To mitigate these impacts, Algonquin Provincial Park’s management adopted a Leave No Trace (LNT) program in spring 2011, a precedent-setting decision among provincial parks in Ontario (Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists, 2011). This study examines what role, if any, tour operators in Algonquin Provincial Park play as delivery agents of an LNT program. Through the use of interviews and participant observation, the findings of this case study reveal that tour guides’ knowledge and use of an LNT program vary significantly. Recommendations to enhance tour operators’ role in delivering an LNT program and their effectiveness as environmental educators are discussed.

Travel distance classes for tourism destinations: a proposal from Ontario Provincial Park camping

This paper explores the potential of classifying tourist destinations according to the travel distance of tourists, portrayed within 11 distance classes. The analysis maps the usersheds for camping of five provincial parks in Ontario: Algonquin, Bon Echo, Earl Rowe, The Pinery, and Quetico. The research revealed that Earl Rowe Provincial Park is a Class 1 tourism destination; with the most frequent travel distance being from 1 to 100 km from home. Pinery and Bon Echo are Class 2 destinations, with the most frequent travel distance being between 101 and 200 km. Algonquin is a Class 3 destination, with the most frequent travel distanced being between 201 and 300 km. Significantly, Quetico is a Class 11 park, with the most frequent travel distance being between 1001 and 2000 km from home. The travel distance curves reveal modifications to the classic exponential decay curve. The mapping of the home locations of all registrations revealed insights in regard to distribution and travel distances, with implications for destination loyalty and marketing. This approach may have wider utility in destination classification.

Tourism climatology for camping: a case study of two Ontario parks (Canada)

Climate and weather act as central motivators for the travel decisions of tourists. Due to their seasonality, these factors determine the availability and quality of certain outdoor recreational activities. Park visitation in Ontario, Canada, has been identified as a weather sensitive tourism and recreation activity. This study used a survey-based approach to identify and compare stated weather preferences and thresholds, as well as weather-related decision-making for campers at two provincial parks in Ontario, Canada. The two parks were selected for differing physical and environmental characteristics (forested lake versus coastal beach). Statistically significant differences were detected between the two parks in relation to the importance of weather and weather-based decision-making. Specific temperatures that were considered ideal and thresholds that were too cool and too warm were identified for both parks, both during the day and the night. Heavy rain and strong winds were the most influential factors in weather-related decision-making and on-site behavioural adaptations. Beach campers placed greater importance on the absence of rain and the presence of comfortable temperatures compared to forest campers. In addition, beach campers were more likely to leave the park early due to incremental weather changes. The results of this study suggest that beach campers are more sensitive to weather than forest campers.

Investigating Forest Disturbance Using Landsat Data in the Nagagamisis Central Plateau, Ontario, Canada

The Nagagamisis Central Plateau (located in Northern Ontario, Canada) is an area of distinct natural and cultural significance. The importance of this land was officially recognized in 1957 through the establishment of the Nagagamisis Provincial Park Reserve. The park has experienced significant expansion since its inception and is currently under development as one of Ontario Parks ‘Signature Sites’. Since the 1980s, timber harvest activity has led to widespread forest disturbance just outside of the park boundaries. This research is focused on the detection of stand level forest disturbances associated with timber harvest occurring near Nagagamisis Provincial Park. The image time-series data selected for this project were Landsat TM and ETM+; spanning a twenty-five year period from 1984 to 2009. The Tasselled Cap Transformation and Normalized Difference Moisture Index were derived for use in unsupervised image classification to determine the land cover for each image in the time-series. Image band differencing and raster arithmetic were performed to create maps illustrating the size and spatial distribution of stand level forest disturbances between image dates. A total area of 1649 km2 or 26.1% of the study area experienced stand level disturbance during the analysis period.

Fiscal implications of moving to tourism finance for parks: Ontario Provincial Parks

This article reviews the fiscal implications of moving from government funding of park management to user-funded operations in a major park system, the Provincial Parks in Ontario, Canada. In 1995/1996 after the introduction of the new funding model, the government grant to Ontario Parks was reduced to $10.6 million from $28.8 million, a reduction of 63%. Over the 15-year study-period from 1995 to 2010, the tourism-based income increased from $18.1 million to $64.9 million, an increase of 257%, while visitation increased from 8.6 million to 9.5 million in the same period, an increase of 10%. The total operating budget of Ontario Parks increased from $28.2 million to $76.5 million, an increase of 165%. The park tourism income increased through: (1) increased levels of fees charged; (2) increased diversity of pricing; and (3) broadening the income to include new features. Factors leading to the successful utilization of this user pay system for a park system are suggested.

The spiritual dimension of campers' park experience: management implications

A more thorough understanding of the spiritual dimension of park experience could improve park management. The little research on this topic is primarily qualitative, focused on wilderness experiences. Secondary analysis of data from the Ontario Parks Camper Survey, with a sample of 11,834 campers at 44 provincial parks, found that 53% of the campers indicated that introspection/spirituality added to their satisfaction with the park experience. More natural park settings, nature-oriented activities and being at the park alone were associated with introspection/spirituality. In regards to park management practices it was found that, in general, there was a positive relationship between the degree to which introspection/spirituality added to park experience and the overall importance given to park services and facilities. This finding suggests an overall high level of service quality, rather than specific management practices, might be the most effective management strategy for facilitating spiritual benefits through park management.

Non-government organization members' perceptions of governance: a comparison between Ontario and British Columbia provincial parks management models

This paper compares perspectives on the governance of the management models employed by two of Canada's largest provincial park systems, from the viewpoint of non-governmental organization members (NGOs) with an interest in protected areas. The two models are the parastatal model of Ontario (ON) Provincial Parks and the public and for-profit combination model of British Columbia (BC) Provincial Parks. Governance was evaluated using a computerized survey based on the 10 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) criteria of governance: accountability, consensus-orientation, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, public participation, responsiveness, rule of law, strategic vision and transparency. As part of a larger project, the survey was administered to members of NGOs with an interest in either of the two park systems. This was done in 2008 for British Columbia Parks and in 2009 for Ontario Parks. Analysis suggested that the 10 governance criteria might form 11 governance factors. Data suggest statistically significant differences in perception between NGOs in Ontario and British Columbia Park. Specifically, members of NGOs in Ontario had positive views and ranked all 11 governance factors closer toward good governance. Members of NGOs in British Columbia ranked 8 of 11 factors negatively, toward weak governance. This is the first study of this type where members of NGOs with an interest in either Ontario or British Columbia Parks voiced their opinion of governance within a systematic survey framework on the management models of the park systems with which they are involved. The research demonstrates that members of NGOs in Ontario have many more positive scores for the governance of the parastatal model than those in British Columbia have for the public for-profit model. We conclude that this difference is due to two factors: the management model used and the institutional relationships between the park systems and the associated NGOs.

Use of island and mainland shorelines by woodland caribou during the nursery period in two northern Ontario parks

Predation is considered a primary limiting factor of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations across North America. Caribou are especially vulnerable to predation during their first few weeks of life and have evolved space-use strategies to reduce predation risk through habitat selection during the critical calving and nursery period. We assessed landscape-scale physical characteristics and landcover types associated with caribou nursery sites in Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks in northern Ontario to better understand nursery site selection in relatively undisturbed landscapes. Although free from industrial activity, these protected areas may subject caribou to human recreational disturbance, so our secondary objective was to evaluate female caribou nursery site selection relative to human recreational activities. We determined that parturient caribou selected landscape characteristics at multiple spatial scales that may reduce predation risk during the calving and nursery period. Generally, female caribou in both parks selected larger lakes with larger than average sized islands configured within shorter than average distances to other islands or landforms that might facilitate escape from predators. The majority of caribou nursery areas in both parks occurred on islands rather than the mainland shoreline of lakes that were surveyed. The nearest landform for escape from these nursery sites on islands was typically another island, and most often 2-3 islands, suggesting parturient caribou may choose islands clustered together as part of their escape strategy. In Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, caribou nursery sites occurred more often in coniferous landcover than expected from availability, while in Wabakimi Provincial Park caribou used sparse, mixed and coniferous forests for nursery activity. Caribou cow-calf pairs typically used areas for nursery activity that were 9.1 km (± 1.0 km, range 2.3-20.6 km) in Wabakimi Provincial Park and 10.2 km (± 0.7 km, range 0.7-32.6 km) in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park from any human recreational disturbance. These landscape-scale physical characteristics and landcover types associated with caribou nursery sites may be used to predict locations of potential caribou nursery areas both outside and within protected areas for the provision of adequate protection and to ensure the persistence of this valued species.

Park visitors' perceptions of governance: a comparison between Ontario and British Columbia provincial parks management models

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to compare visitor perspectives of the governance of two of Canada's largest park systems: the parastatal model of Ontario Provincial Parks and the public and for‐profit combination model of British Columbia Provincial Parks.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed an electronic survey based on the ten UNDP criteria of governance: strategic vision, accountability, transparency, consensus‐orientation, public participation, efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness, equity, and rule of law. The survey was administered to park visitors for both park systems in the summer of 2008 and spring of 2009 (British Columbia Provincial Parks n=112, Ontario Provincial Parks n=255).FindingsResearchers determined that the ten governance sections of the survey actually form 11 governance factors. Data suggested statistically significant differences in regards to the visitors' perceptions between the two park systems. Specifically, visitors to Ontario Parks ranked all 11 criteria of governance higher, closer towards good governance, than did visitors to British Columbia Parks (p<0.001).Practical implicationsThese results suggest that the Ontario Parks parastatal model is closer to the ideals of good governance as perceived by the park users, when compared to the British Columbia parks' public and for‐profit combination model. This paper also provides future policy makers with a new understanding of the multiple factors that affect visitors experience and perceptions of protected areas.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to investigate visitors' perceptions of two commonly used protected area management models. These research findings contribute to the debate regarding which protected area management model is superior when compared using the UNDP governance criteria.

Caribou nursery site habitat characteristics in two northern Ontario parks

To prevent further range recession, habitat features essential to the life-history requisites of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) such as calving and nursery sites need to be protected for the persistence of the species. Woodland caribou may minimize predation risk during calving by either spacing out or spacing away from predators in the forest to calve on islands, wetlands, or shorelines. Our objective was to determine the characteristics of shoreline habitats used as calving and nursery sites by female woodland caribou in northern Ontario. Detailed vegetation and other site characteristics were measured at nursery sites used by cow-calf pairs in Wabakimi and Woodland Caribou Provincial Parks for comparison with shoreline sites that were not used by caribou within each park. Differences in habitat variables selected by female caribou in the two study areas reflect broad ecoregional differences in vegetation and topography. In Wabakimi Provincial Park, understorey tree density and ground detection distance played key roles in distinguishing nursery sites from sites that were not used. In Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, groundcover vegetation and shrub density were important in the selection of nursery sites by female caribou. Generally, female caribou in both parks selected nursery sites with greater slope, lower shrub density but thicker groundcover vegetation, including greater lichen abundance, and higher densities of mature trees than shoreline sites that were not used. The identification of these important features for caribou nursery sites provides a basis for improving their protection in future management policies and legislation.

Implications of climate change for visitation to ontario's provincial parks

Parkprofessionals have recognized that global climate change could have significant implications for park conservation policy and management, but assessment of the implications for nature‐based tourism remains very limited. In the Province of Ontario, provincial parks are a major resource for nature‐based tourism, with more than 10 million person visits in 2003. This paper presents an empirical assessment of the potential impact of a changed climate on visitation in Ontario's provincial parks. Multiple regression analysis was used to develop a relationship between monthly park visits and climate for six high‐visitation parks selected to represent each of Ontario Park's administrative regions. The models were then used to examine the potential direct impact of changes in climate on the total annual number of visitors and the seasonal pattern of visitation to Ontario's parks using climate change scenarios for the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s. Visitation was projected to increase between 11% and 27% system‐wide in the 2020s and between 15% and 56% in the 2050s. When climate change was combined with the potential effects of demographic change, annual visits for the mid‐2020s were projected to be even higher than that projected under climate change alone (23% to 41%). Management implications of the projected visitation increases are also discussed.

Psychographic segmentation of park visitor markets: evidence for the utility of sensation seeking

This paper examines whether a segmentation of a large sample ( N=9495) of visitors to parks in Ontario, Canada in terms of the psychological push factor motive sensation seeking enables identification of differences between them in park-related attitudes and behaviours. A cluster analysis of individuals based on their attitudes to three dimensions of park experience identified in this study (active enjoyment of nature, escape stress, and sensation seeking) resulted in three clusters of visitors (1 group of higher, and 2 groups of lower, sensation seekers). The higher sensation seekers were found to differ from both groups of lower sensation seekers on a broad variety of attitudes and behaviours to do with parks. In particular, higher sensation seekers visit parks more often to camp than do lower sensation seekers, differ from lower sensation seekers regarding the kinds of things that are incentives for them to visit parks, and with respect to the sources of information about parks they are likely to use, are more likely than lower sensation seekers are to be involved in each of a broad range of activities during their park visits, and place higher importance on numerous facilities and services as well as being more satisfied with them. The implications of these results for park marketing and management are examined, and directions for further research on this topic, especially regarding risk management in parks, are also considered.

Restoring Nature's Place: A Guide to Naturalizing Ontario Parks and Greenspace, by Jean-Marc Daigle and Donna Havinga [Review

Restoring Nature's Place: A Guide to Naturalizing Ontario Parks and Greenspace, by Jean-Marc Daigle and Donna Havinga [Review

Purism and Wilderness Campers

Abstract The characteristics of a sample of wilderness users were examined by administering the Purism Scale to 540 campers in three provincial parks in Ontario, Canada. Factor analysis revealed that the scale consists primarily of four interdependent factors that characterize sets of wilderness attitudes related to (a) size of and distance to wilderness areas, (b) a minimum level of human interference in wilderness, (c) natural ecosystems, and (d) man-made infrastructure (construction) in wilderness areas. The internal consistency of the Purism Scale was tested using three split-half techniques. Based on these tests, it appears that the scale is a sound measure of the degree of purism in attitudes toward wilderness.

Wright, John Ross. Urban Parks in Ontario. Part I: Origins to 1860 Wright, John Ross. Urban Parks in Ontario. Part II: The Public Park Movement 1860-1914

Wright, John Ross. <i>Urban Parks in Ontario. Part I: Origins to 1860</i> Wright, John Ross. <i>Urban Parks in Ontario. Part II: The Public Park Movement 1860-1914</i>