Appropriate Levels of Restoration and Development at Copán Archaeological Park: Setting Attributes Affecting the Visitor Experience

Abstract

How differing levels of restoration and development within, and intensifying development next to the Copán Archaeological Park would affect the visitor experience at this World Heritage Site in Honduras has been studied. Surveys and interviews with visitors and expert observation reveal that Latin Americans, North Americans and Europeans all show a preference for a mixture of restored ruins and those being reclaimed by nature. Visitors describe how this juxtaposition adds to their experience. A majority of these visitors also indicate a strong preference for maintaining agricultural or forested lands between the Park and the town of Copán Ruins and described how the intensification of development would affect their experience. Implications for Park management and cross-boundary involvement in land use decisions at this and a similar site are discussed and recommendations given.

Geo-Spatial Aspects of Acceptance of Illegal Hunting of Large Carnivores in Scandinavia

“…PCI 2 has been used to estimate the opinions and conflicts of hunters and their response to chronic wasting disease [33], interactions between cougars and humans in Alberta [1], what people think of restoration of archaeological ruins [34] and stakeholders attitudes to different activities offered in a certain area of Lake Umbagog in Maine [35].…”

The Interpretive Power of Setting: Identifying and Protecting the Interpretive Potential of the Internal and External Setting at Copan Archaeological Park, Honduras

“…Maintaining the mix of agriculture and forest or increasing reforestation may require the use of conservation easements, transferable development rights, or other incentives for landowners (Mayer & Wallace, 2007). In many countries, as governments decentralize planning functions to local governments, protected area staff will have the opportunity to become part of the newly forming local government land-use planning decision process where private or communal lands near protected areas are concerned.…”

“…Visitors intuitively preferred settings that helped to preserve a rare history in its broadest context. To do this, site planners should consider a zoning strategy that distinguishes between intensive use, core archaeological, and natural archaeological zones that allows restored and non-restored ruins to exist in juxtaposition (Mayer & Wallace, 2007). Restoration creates interpretive potential but can also remove it.…”

“…The genius loci, or spirit of the place, emanates from an optimal combination of valued internal and external setting attributes that visitors have helped us to articulate and which deserve careful consideration during the planning process. An expanded view of interpretive planning asks interpreters to become more involved in site and local land-use planning (Wallace et al, 2005;Mayer & Wallace, 2007), to incorporate an experience-based setting management approach into the planning process (Floyd & Gramann, 1997;Schreyer & Driver, 1989;Driver, 1975;Driver & Brown, 1975), and in general to provide a voice for the importance of setting and appropriate levels of development to interpretive potential. When this is effectively done, setting can serve as interpretive media in and of itself.…”

“…The study included focus groups, visitor surveys, interviews, and participant observation during the development of an interpretive trail. Visitors and local residents provided considerable information about what combination of internal and adjacent land setting attributes bestow the richest experiences and facilitate connection to the genius loci (spirit of place) of the park (Mayer & Wallace, 2007). Findings are used to identify planning and management actions that could directly affect the setting and subsequently the visitor experience.…”