They conclude: "Declining nature participation has crucial implications for conservation efforts. We think it probable that any major decline in the value placed on natural areas and experiences will greatly reduce the value people place on biodiversity conservation. Accordingly, it becomes less likely that attempts to raise public awareness of the current biodiversity crisis [will succeed]."
But...I thought this was what the EnviroWackos wanted? No people touching anything "natural" at any time! Stay in your shoebox apartments in the city and stop trashing the Earth!
More room in the park for ME! :)
High entrance fees, poorly maintained campsites and trails, overabundance of rangers writing tickets for small infractions.
LOL Close all the roads, ban hiking, biking, whatever, and then complain because no one visits the parks? BWAHAHA
We went to a state park this summer—absolutely loved it—and there were all of 20-30 (or less) parking spaces! Granted, this was Joyce Kilmer National Forest, on the side of a mountain, but still. Most of the parks we visit have a lot of parking and it’s always full.
Make up your minds already! This is like the city of Berkley and our Marines!
I wouldn’t blame the environmentalists. I’m an assistant Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts. We take kids out camping all the time. There are plenty of places that we can go - that’s not the problem. The problem is that we aren’t video games or TV or mp3 players and that when you go out on a trip with us, you actually have to do something to take care of your own comfort. Once the kids figure out that there’s no personal electronics to occupy their attention, that they have to make their own fun (not to mention their own food, etc.), we start to lose them. And the parents don’t encourage their kids to stick it out for a while; they’d rather go the path of least resistance and let their kid spend the weekend with a game controller in their hand than get outdoors and do something that’s good for them. After all, what’s more important; being your kid’s friend, or being their parent? Let’s just say that there are a lot of parents whose answer for that is different than mine.
Maybe if they stopped demanding a license for every darn thing you do, more people would engage in outdoor activities. The government takes the fun and spontaneity out of everything.
Less people visiting....GOOD....more room for us!
Not surprising given the penchant of the feds to lock up wilderness areas by not allowing motorized travel and limiting access to walking only.
Also are the ridiculous prohibition against carrying a firearm (outside of hunting seasons) for self protection against both 4 and 2 legged predators.
And just for good measure, let’s throw in the almost annual increase in fees for using wilderness areas and parks.
If we could just carry chainguns into forests so we could do that cool Predator-style tree destruction, I’m sure more gamers would go for the outdoor excursions.