Adaptive management in outdoor recreation: Serving Hispanics in southern California

Traditional management approaches may not be applicable to ethnically diverse visitor populations; consequently, approaches to resource management may need to be changed. One approach, called adaptive management, is a technique that uses scientific information to help formulate management strategies and a process for continually improving management practices by learning from the outcomes of operational programs. This article describes the adaptive management process as it was used to serve Hispanic recreation visitors at the Applewhite Picnic Area (AWPA) on the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California. Three studies have been conducted at this site to gather information. AWPA managers used the data to renovate the picnic area and to provide management direction, and managers are currently implementing ideas based on the results of this study; these ideas include adding an art log, adding a sports area, and preventing trespass at the site.