School of Geography - Theses

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    The role of interpretation in recreational planning: a study of the Grampians State Forest, north west Victoria
    Crooks, Mary L. ( 1978)
    Since the Second World War, developed societies have experienced an upsurge of demand for leisure. In turn, the ensuing pattern of leisure pursuits has been characterised by a dramatic increase in outdoor recreation. A major implication of this growth has been the intensification in use of high quality recreation areas and, concomitantly, the creation of serious difficulties relating to land use allocation, conflict and physical deterioration of resource quality. In consequence, management agencies have had to reappraise their strategies to embrace the social intangibles and environmental problems associated with increasing use of open space. Yet the possibility of soundly-conceived strategies is hindered by an apparent tension between two basic management goals -- the provision and improvement of facilities to cater for visitors' recreation experiences and conservation of the natural attraction or amenity of the areas themselves. A view held by many researchers is that resolution of the problems of recreational use lies not only in sound, ecologically-principled strategies but also in the management of visitor behaviour in outdoor settings. In particular, there have been frequent calls for a stronger educative component to complement physical planning measures. A part answer is seen in the development of interpretive material. Aimed at increasing visitors' awareness, understanding of and respect for their environments, such programmes are viewed by workers in the field as a valuable management tool. They contend that a heightened appreciation of recreation resource areas will lead visitors to recognise the need for conservation measures if the quality of the resource is to be maintained.
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    Land-use and water management: the Upper Ovens River system
    Crooks, Mary L. ( 1972)
    No abstract available