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492 recreation opportunity spectrum
so on) to effectively utilise the organisation's human
and material resources �see asset management).
CHRISTINEL.H.LEE,AUSTRALIA
recreation need see need, recreational
recreation opportunity spectrum
The recreation opportunity spectrum, developed
by the US Forest Service as a tool for managing
outdoor recreation and tourism on US National
Forest lands, integrates these with other land uses
in forest management plans. Since it constitutes a
practical response to the ecological and social
dimensions of carrying capacity, it appeals to
managers who must balance outdoor recreation
and tourism with biological diversity protection.
The spectrum framework centres on the idea of
opportunity, a combination of three components of
people's touristic involvement: activities, settings
and experiences. An opportunity is the product of
an agency's resources and management practices.
The recreation opportunity spectrum's capability
to provide an inventory of the supply of
opportunities is its most significant feature. It
segments and maps land areas into six opportunity
classes or zones: wilderness, semi-primitive
non-motorised, semi-primitive motorised, roaded
natural, rural and urban. These opportunity areas,
with particular physical �such as large size), social
�few encounters with other people) and managerial
�legally designated wilderness area) characteristics,
can support some kinds of activities and experiences,
but not others.
In analysing the impacts of other activities on
opportunities, this research resolves conflicts
among recreational activities and between opportunities
and non-recreational land uses, thereby
surmounting displacement effects. Management
decisions affect the existing supply of
opportunities. The spectrum framework can simulate
the shift in opportunities likely to occur, for
example, by constructing a road into a roadless
area before that road is actually constructed.
Managers can then examine development sce-
narios before committing themselves to practices
with unforeseen effects on opportunities.
User demand for opportunities can be joined
with supply in the recreation opportunity spectrum
framework. Just as supply is expressed in
activity, setting and experience terms, so too is
demand. Researchers have demonstrated that
people have preferences both for activities and
for settings and experiences. In establishing
standards for outdoor recreation and tourism
settings, this research tool combines two types of
diversity: that which exists in people's interests,
preferences, activities and expectations, and that
found in nature. Both diversities are meaningful
in planning and managing opportunities for
outdoor recreation and tourism. In planning for
outdoor recreation and tourism in parks and
other protected areas, the tool enables managers
to work towards achieving two conflicting
goals: sustainability �see sustainable development)
and user satisfaction.
Further reading
Clark, R.N. and Stankey, G.H. �1979) The Recreation
Opportunity Spectrum:A Framework for Planning,
Management and Research, Gen. Tech. Rep.
PNW-98, 32 pages, Seattle: USDA Forest
Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range
Experiment Station.
Driver, B.L., Brown, P.J., Stankey, G.H. and
Gregoire, T.G. �1987) `The ROS planning
system: evolution, basic concepts and research
needs', Leisure Sciences 9: 201±12.
ROBERT J. PAYNE, CANADA
recreation participation see participation,
recreation
recreation planning see planning, recreation
recreational carrying capacity see carrying
capacity, recreational
recreational demand see demand,
recreational