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- Info
The wildland-urban interface: Introduction and overview
| Author: |
Ewert, Alan W. |
| Date: |
1993 |
| Periodical: |
Journal of Leisure Research |
| Abstract: |
Most chemical reactions take place at the interface between two substances. This interface also occurs in the recreational environment. More specifically, where wildland and urbanized environments meet a broad spectrum of recreational behaviors, user expectations and management challenges occur. Although the interfacing of wildlands and developed landscapes has been present for over two centuries in this United States, Bradley (1984) suggests that the wildland-urban interface deserves attention for several reasons: (1) research has only just now begun on recreational issues related to the interface, (2) the phenomenon is of considerable and growing economic, sociopolitical, biological and legal complexity, and (3) the characteristics of the modern interface are substantially different than the interface of decades ago. For example, recreational use on the interface has become more intense, prone to conflict, and sensitive to other uses (Hartley, 1986). There are three underlying tenets in this discussion of the wildland-urban interface (Ewert, 1991 a). First, wildland areas in close proximity to large urban centers constitute a unique natural resource. Second, these interface areas serve important social and ecological functions for society. At the same time, however, these areas are increasingly vulnerable and impacted by high rates of human use and pressures. Third, many of the factors impacting interface areas such as population growth, environmental degradation and land-use policy will eventually influence more remote wildland settings. As a result of this growing pressure, the interface represents a set of challenges and management interactions that will be representative of future wildland management situations and subsequent research opportunities. |
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