Taylor Stein - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Taylor Stein

Wildlife Society Bulletin

Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and react... more Declines in hunter numbers across the United States make hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) a high priority for wildlife management. As wildlife management agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek to reach new audiences, college campuses present a unique opportunity to cultivate nontraditional path hunters. Despite recent proliferation of R3 initiatives, little research has evaluated effects of hunting programs on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of new hunters. We designed and implemented Getting Started Outdoors: Hunting 101 workshops specifically targeting college students without previous hunting experience, and we assessed workshop efficacy with a theoretically‐grounded approach to workshop evaluation. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys conducted before, shortly after, and 12–18 months after workshops, we assessed impacts of R3 efforts at large public universities in 16 different U.S. states. Across all states, 19 workshops attrac...

Journal of Extension

A recent shift in desires among working professionals from traditional learning environments to d... more A recent shift in desires among working professionals from traditional learning environments to distance education has emerged due to reductions in travel and training budgets. To accommodate this, the Natural Areas Training Academy replaced traditionally formatted workshops with a hybrid approach. Surveys of participants before and after this change indicate that a traditional in-person format was preferred in the past, but a hybrid format is preferred now. Respondents indicated the new format is more effective at providing highly desired benefits than the traditional face-to-face approach. These findings have implications for many Extension programs targeting working professionals across large geographic areas.

EDIS

Trails represent a landowner’s main routes for recreational activities such as walking, sightseei... more Trails represent a landowner’s main routes for recreational activities such as walking, sightseeing, horseback riding, and bicycling. They provide access to, and through, forest land and other natural resources. They play an important role in protecting and preserving soil, water, and wild plants and animals. They can be the source of endless hours of enjoyment and relaxation. This 13-page fact sheet will help you plan your trails wisely and construct them carefully so that you and your guests can enjoy them to the fullest. Written by Alan Long, Anne Todd-Bockarie, Taylor Stein, Keith Bettcher, and Chris Demers, and published by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, August 2016.

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 2021

Abstract Public green spaces provide physical and mental respite, which have become essential and... more Abstract Public green spaces provide physical and mental respite, which have become essential and elevated services during the COVID-19 pandemic. As visitation to public parks and recreation areas increased during the pandemic, the challenge of maintaining visitor safety and protecting environmental resources was exacerbated. A key visitor safety practice during the COVID-19 onset was maintaining a physical distance of six feet (1.8 m) between groups. A novel data set documented and compared physical distancing compliance and off-trail behavior on multiple-use trails across multiple states and within select U.S. communities, attending to the impact of select environmental factors. Nearly 6000 observations revealed physical distancing compliance varied and the environmental factors of trail width, density, and signage influenced its variability. Similarly, off-trail movement was related to trail width and density. Clearly the environment matters as people negotiate the ‘new normal’ of physical distancing during physical activity and outdoor recreation participation. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and likelihood of future health crises, this project provides important information and insight for trail and other public green space management, monitoring, and modelling moving forward. Management implications As both trail width and visitor density impacted physical distancing, a combination of trail design that accommodates distancing requirements and density management practices that provide sufficient trail user spacing is essential to retain safe and active trail use. Off-trail movement was influenced by both trail width and density, so ensuring safe off-trail spaces exist and using durable off-trail materials can minimize disturbance and protect visitors. Signage is inconsistently significant to influence trail-compliant distancing behavior, but optimizing its placement and content may improve effectiveness. Compliant trail behavior varied by trail width, visitor density, and trail location; therefore, site-specific information is necessary to understand possible visitor behavior and design/implement mitigation strategies.

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 2022

EDIS, 2007

Circular 1517, a 15-page full-color catalog compiled by Mechelle N. Best and Taylor V. Stein, pro... more Circular 1517, a 15-page full-color catalog compiled by Mechelle N. Best and Taylor V. Stein, provides case studies of ten private nature-based tourism businesses throughout Florida. Each case study provides a brief description of the site, presents the start-up and operational challenges encountered, and highlights the lessons learned by the various owners/operators. Finally, the benefits to the owner/manager and the reasons why they stick with it are provided. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, September 2007. CIR 1517/FR178: Nature-Based Tourism in Florida: Letting Nature Work for You (ufl.edu)

Conservation Science and Practice, 2021

Insufficient funding is a major impediment to conservation efforts around the world. In the Unite... more Insufficient funding is a major impediment to conservation efforts around the world. In the United States, a decline in hunting participation threatens sustainability of the “user‐pay, public benefit” model that has supported wildlife conservation for nearly 100 years, forcing wildlife management agencies to contemplate alternative funding strategies. We investigated support for potential funding options among diverse college students, a rapidly expanding and politically active voting bloc with a potentially powerful influence on the future of conservation. From 2018 to 2020, we surveyed 17,203 undergraduate students at public universities across 22 states. Students preferred innovative approaches to conservation funding, with 72% supporting funding derived from industry sources (e.g., natural resource extraction companies), 63% supporting state sources (e.g., general sales tax), and 43% supporting conventional user‐based sources such as license fees and excise taxes associated with...

Journal of Transport & Health, 2021

Background Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) provides both health benefits and risks, particu... more Background Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) provides both health benefits and risks, particularly during a pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, significant increases in close-to-home LTPA raised concerns for public health and land managers alike. This project illustrates a novel, integrated monitoring approach to estimating COVID-19 risk exposure during trail-related LTPA, with implications for other public spaces. Methods COVID-19 risk exposure was conservatively calculated from the integration of in-person observations of LTPA trail groups and automated monitoring of trail traffic volumes in spring 2020. Trained observers tracked 1,477 groups. Traffic volume estimates and observed distance data were integrated, considering occlusion and total trail traffic volume. Results 70% of groups had one or more encounters. Among individual users, 38.5% were 100% compliant across all events observed but 32.7% were not compliant. Considering trail traffic volumes and annual daily traffic volume, exposure to risk of COVID-19 was conservatively estimated at 61.5% among individual trail users. Conclusions Monitoring opportunities and challenges of health risk exposure exist. Adjusted exposure measures based on volume counts can approximate numbers of unique individuals exposed, inform management actions, efficacy and policy decisions.

EDIS, 2013

The state of Florida has more than 16 million acres of forestland. From clean air to pulp for pap... more The state of Florida has more than 16 million acres of forestland. From clean air to pulp for paper to aesthetic landscapes, humans benefit from private and public forests in many different ways. However, small private landowners and public land management agencies manage the majority of this land, and it is up to these people to decide how society will benefit from those forests. This paper uses the concept of ecosystem services to explore the reasons why public land management agencies and private landowners manage their forests. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Taylor Stein, Namyun Kil, Alexis Frank, Alison E. Adams, Damian C. Adams, and Francisco J. Escobedo, and published by the UF Department of School of Forest Resources and Conservation, July 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr380

EDIS, 2019

Although millions of people recreate in parks, forests, and other conservation areas in the Unite... more Although millions of people recreate in parks, forests, and other conservation areas in the United States every year, research shows that some are left out; not everyone takes advantage of natural areas for the numerous benefits nature-based recreation provides. Results show that many people who do not participate in nature-based recreation feel constrained by their quality of time, not the quantity of time. In other words, they're saying, "Prove to me that it's worth my time to go out in nature. Show me something cool!" Based on research conducted in Hillsborough County, Florida and similar studies, this 6-page fact sheet written by Margaret E. Gullion and Taylor Stein and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation addresses identifies strategies to improve the opportunities natural areas can provide a diverse public. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr415

Sustainability, 2019

Some counties in the United States are turning to visions of sustainable development in response ... more Some counties in the United States are turning to visions of sustainable development in response to increasing environmental problems caused by land use expansion and intensification. Sustainable tourism is one industry capable of fostering this change because of its relationship to all facets of a destination, from transportation and culture to natural resource management. This paper addresses a study that examined what support tourism destinations in Florida need from the Cooperative Extension Service to better utilize natural areas as responsible tourism attractions to benefit the local community, economy, and biodiversity (i.e., ecotourism). A nominal group technique, questionnaires, and interviews with local tourism professionals were used to investigate needs and support for ecotourism development. Results show, when nature-based tourism products are present, growth in ecotourism market supply is desired by tourism providers. Results also indicate that this growth is possible ...

Trends in outdoor recreation, leisure and tourism., 2000

This chapter explores the trend towards the benefits-based management (BBM) framework of leisure ... more This chapter explores the trend towards the benefits-based management (BBM) framework of leisure and amenity goods and services for wildland recreation management. It also suggests future research and application needs to continue BBM's conceptual evaluation and enhance implementation efforts. BBM provides a rich framework for providing the types of recreation opportunities that will satisfy visitor and community needs, protect the critical resources found within wildland recreation areas and ensure that quality experiences and benefits are attained within the current management environment of structural change and limited financial resources.

Landscape and Urban Planning, 2012

Environmental Management, 2012

Journal of Park and Recreation …, 1999

Page 1. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration Winter 1999 Volume 17, Number 4 pp. 1-19 Id... more Page 1. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration Winter 1999 Volume 17, Number 4 pp. 1-19 Identifying and Managing for Community Benefits in Minnesota State parks Taylor V. Stein Dorothy H. Anderson Dennis Thompson ...

The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) in Belize is a community reserve for the endangered black ho... more The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) in Belize is a community reserve for the endangered black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra). This study assessed the performance of the CBS as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Category IV protected area through deforestation and forest fragmentation of the CBS and 500 m river buffer, and impacts on black howler monkey habitat over 15 years (1989–2004). Using satellite imagery remote sensing and landscape metrics, this study helps fi ll the gap in our understanding of forest fragmentation processes and habitat provision, using the black howler monkey as a specifi c example. Increased fragmentation resulted in decreased forest cover by 33% within both the CBS and river buffer. However, connectivity between habitat patches has remained high, indicating that dispersal and colonising potential between most forest patches has not been jeopardised. We conclude that conservation within the CBS may be more complex than simply equating...

Society & Natural Resources, 2010

Nature-based tourism and a voluntary, written conservation pledge within the Community Baboon San... more Nature-based tourism and a voluntary, written conservation pledge within the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize, are highlighted examples of community-based conservation initiatives. Little is known, however, about perceived benefits of riparian forests (the conservation focus), the function of place attachment as an incentive to conserving forests, or the role the conservation initiatives play in managing community benefits. A survey of 135 residents investigated place-based meanings of riparian forests and the importance and attainment of perceived community and individual benefits attributed to these landscapes. Results show a significant relationship between initiative involvement and higher perceived benefits (importance) and place attachment (meanings) toward riparian forests and conservation. All residents interviewed, however, regardless of initiative involvement, agree that riparian forests are not providing economic benefits. The findings, which expand on place attachment conceptualizations, provide a better understanding of the social outcomes of conservation and will aid future development and conservation planning of these initiatives.

Landscape and Urban Planning, 2010