Regarding research there also existing resources being committed to study the impacts and opportunities of recreation economies in the West including with Extension faculty that do research in this area who partner with faculty experts to advice on what would be most helpful. With additional funding they would work on building the connection between research and application at the local level. Another state has established a Center for Outdoor Recreation Economy. Research expertise in the West includes expertise in hospitality, sociology, agritourism, ecotourism, community economic development, wildlife enterprises, and fee hunting/fishing. Additional research funding in one state would be utilized to focus on ensuring communities plan for or address affordable housing issues for both residents and seasonal/hospitality-based employees. Conclusion and Recommendations
This project sought to determine the extent to which the Cooperative Extension Service has broad educational, research and technical assistance resources that can help with planning associated with the recreational economy to enhance the local recreation economy. The national assessment of the current and potential role of Extension in developing recreation economies clearly indicates that significant opportunities exist to activate the Extension system in support of developing Recreation Economies and that this role is critical to the development of sustainable partnerships and program coordination in order to achieve the anticipated results articulated in the MOU. In addition, both the need and opportunities for research in this area are significant. Artificial intelligence applied to analysis of big data such as those available through cellphones provide enormous opportunities for research to provide evidence-based information for Extension programs.
opportunities for Extension to support recreation economies specifically within the domains of: Research (defining outdoor recreation, understanding of impacts on individuals and communities, analysis of previously funded programs, identification of gaps in the field), Community Development Expertise (for guiding strategy and praxis), a Comprehensive Approach to Development (e.g., social-cultural-economic-environmental factors that intersect outdoor recreation), and Cross-Topic Expertise that Impact Gateway Community (e.g., broadband access, transportation, behavioral health, environmental conditions, and cultural traditions). This study confirms these opportunities clearly exist, and that Extension’s support within these domains is unique and critical, which could result in significant and sustained impacts for National Forest gateway communities. There is broad support from Extension
Additional funding to support the educational, research and technical assistance resources in the Land-Grant University system could result in increasing the capacity of Extension Specialists and local Extension Educators to support the development and activation of these resources for a broad, nationwide application of the partnership activities defined in the USDA Recreation Economies MOU. There also is a great need for leadership development and training within communities, to benefit from recreation economy development in sustainable ways. A presentation by Dr. Sarah Rocker, NIFA National Program Leader Division of Family and Consumer Sciences, at the 2023 National Extension Tourism conference described
Land-Grant University Capacity to Support Recreation Economies in National Forest Gateway Communities
7
Powered by FlippingBook