Appropriate policy development and research needs in response to adventure racing in protected areas

Understanding the conflicting values associated with motorized recreation in protected areas

“…These related dual purposes are underpinned by passive recreation (Newsome 2014). For example, in Category II protected areas, under which many national parks are classified, the objective relating to recreation is defined as being harmonious with that area (see Table 1).…”

“…In recent decades, in many parts of the world, there has been a significant increase in protected areas being used for recreation and associated sporting activities Newsome 2014). Some of this increased diversity of demand includes motorized access to wild and remote sites via off-road vehicle (ORV) club activities through to organized motor sports (Priskin 2004;Groom et al 2007;Grant and Doherty 2009;Jones et al 2013;Newsome et al 2013;Newsome 2014;Queensland Government 2015).…”

“…Some of this increased diversity of demand includes motorized access to wild and remote sites via off-road vehicle (ORV) club activities through to organized motor sports (Priskin 2004;Groom et al 2007;Grant and Doherty 2009;Jones et al 2013;Newsome et al 2013;Newsome 2014;Queensland Government 2015). In particular, the trend for outdoor spaces such as national parks to accommodate increasing recreational demand, including a burgeoning motorized recreation culture is occurring in parallel with myriad challenges to natural and protected areas globally.…”

“…While global organizations such as the IUCN are engaged in tackling immediate environmental threats, researchers have argued that some recreation activities and related outdoor adventure sports are also potentially a significant threat to the biodiversity of many natural areas (e.g., see Buckley 2004;Pickering and Hill 2007;Cater and Hales 2008;Burgin and Hardiman 2012;Newsome 2014). Some recreational activities have the potential to evolve from small and relatively low-impact situations into larger and increasingly higher impact organized events.…”

“…Some recreational activities have the potential to evolve from small and relatively low-impact situations into larger and increasingly higher impact organized events. This comes with commercialization of such activities attracting more participants, and associated businesses seeking to increase markets and use such events as marketing tools (Buckley 2006;Newsome and Dowling 2006;Burgin and Hardiman 2012;Jones et al 2013;Newsome et al 2013;Newsome 2014).…”