2009 - USDA Forest Service

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El Toro Peak January 2009 Interpretive and Conservation Education Master Plan Funding is Key We must make every effort to: • Partner with other agencies/groups to produce and implement needed programs, with an introduction by a Forest Service employee in uniform. • Continue to use revenue returned by Eastern National (Forest Interpretive Association) to help fund interpretive/conservation education efforts. • Identify special events where programs can be conducted. Work with the Puerto Rico tourism Company to prioritize program needs for special events, tour groups, bus groups, outfitter guides and other users. Evaluation Improves Efficiency and Effectiveness We must: • At present we evaluate and keep statistics on the FAT, RAR and CE programs. We need to evaluate the average attendance at all programs by day of week, location and topic and recommend the best value. This may especially be helpful in evaluating the programs that are being offered at present. Marketing Recommendations The following marketing recommendations are proposed to fully implement the interpretive plan. Visitors need to know about the incredible opportunities available on the El Yunque National Forest, and this final step in the plan is essential to accomplishing the goals and objectives. Many of the recommendations can be implemented as a part of normal business on the forest. Still others can be implemented as the forest revises or expands current opportunities, such as the forest map or website. These are listed in order of priority by category and subcategory. Signage • Install directional signs along trails to inform hikers of special recreational opportunities and to ensure that they don’t get lost trying to find their way back. • Include introduction and orientation kiosks at major entry points to allow visitors to successfully find, use and enjoy the EYNF. • Replace all the existing trailhead and junction signs. El Yunque National Forest 74
January 2009 Interpretation and Conservation Education Master Plan Media • Incorporate interpretive/conservation education messages in current publications being distributed in the private sector. • Ensure the currency of our media mailing list to provide up-to-date information, especially operational changes or special events, to television stations, newspapers, hotels and private camps, etc. • Include interpretive/conservation education opportunities and selfguided tours on current EYNF website. • Continue printing the highly successful, site specific guidebooks and selling them through our Eastern National Outlet. Partners • Develop eco-tours and heritage tours with partners; strive to enlist hotels and interested private enterprises to promote the forest. • Promote these tours “on-line” and through print materials. • Continue to collaborate with partners to create student conservation activity modules/programs focused on Forest environmental issues. Conservation Education Future program direction recommendations Aligned with USDA Forest Service CE direction, we will be using a More Kids in the Woods (MKIW) based approach. Recent studies have revealed that an emotional connection with nature is required for healthy human development, and that this connection later translates to actions that promote the protection of natural resources. This emotional connection is developed by experiencing joyful contact with nature at very early stages of development (Louv 2006). We also have evidence that high transportation costs are making it difficult or impossible for teachers to bring student groups on field trips. EYNF management has directed the forest to develop CE activities in the six municipalities adjacent to the forest boundaries. We will be focusing on increasing our elementary school participation in educational activities and promoting incentives for forest visits. We are also trying to obtain partner support to subsidize transportation of children from disadvantaged neighborhoods. In order to entice elementary school teachers and school directors to bring groups to El Yunque, we have been offering them a coordinated school visit 75 El Yunque National Forest Elfin Woods Warbler Dendroica angelae
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2009 - USDA Forest Service

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