Page 104 - A bird’s-eye view of recreation - Rogier Pouwels

A bird's-eye view of recreation
In this thesis I have demonstrated how scientific knowledge and tools can gain salience and legitimacy while maintaining their credibility when the three problems are tackled. First, I related the impact of local measures to regional conservation targets for bird species in three large natural areas that are characterized by high nature values and high visitor numbers. For the New Forest (UK) I determined the impact of changes in the capacity of car parks to changes in the population size of Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) (Chapter 2) and the impact of temporarily closing car parks to the population of wader species (Chapter 5). For the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen (Netherlands) I linked access restrictions in the central part of the area to the viability of the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) population in the area (Chapter 3). For the Veluwe (Netherlands) I determined the impact of visitor densities on the conservation targets of Woodlark (Lullula arborea), Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) (Chapter 4). Second, I provided new knowledge on the impact of visitors on the population size of Woodlark, Stonechat and Nightjar (Chapter 4). In this study I have demonstrated how existing monitoring data can be used to determine the impact of visitors on species. Third, the scientific knowledge and tools I present in my thesis have been used by the site managers of the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen and the New Forest to contribute to the debate with stakeholders about the interaction between outdoor recreation and bird conservation. The results of the Veluwe study are currently being used by the responsible authority to develop a regional plan for the area together with stakeholders. The fact that the knowledge and tools have been used in the debate between site managers and stakeholders could be interpreted as an indication that the new scientific knowledge and tools I contributed to this debate are perceived to be credible, salient and legitimate.
6.2 Key insights
In these four studies I integrated site-specific data and local knowledge into existing scientific tools and methods. The integration contributed to making scientific knowledge and tools context-specific and is critical for achieving salience and legitimacy in decision-making processes involving site managers and stakeholders (Fig. 1). Working with managers and stakeholders to integrate site-specific data and local knowledge with scientific tools and methods I gained four key insights, which I explain and discuss in the following four sections:
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