Page 113 - A bird’s-eye view of recreation - Rogier Pouwels

Synthesis
Figure 4. Difference in the credibility, salience and legitimacy of the different ways of presenting the impact of visitors on Woodlark in the Veluwe (see Fig. 3 for the six ways of presenting the data).
6.3 Reflection on the dynamics of decision-making processes
In the New Forest (Chapter 5) I observed that the perception of what is credible, salient
and legitimate evolves during the decision-making process. Changes in perception
can originate from the process itself and from external developments (Fig. 5). In
Chapter 5 I discussed how the legitimacy of scientific knowledge about disturbance
by visitors was continuously challenged by a local dog owners group in the New Forest.
However, a survey in the area showed that most dog owners did not sympathize with
the aims of this local organization, which led to a shift in power between the different
recreation stakeholders and to acceptance of the legitimacy of this knowledge. My
observations corroborate those of Reed (2008) that the decision-making process
itself leads to empowerment, equity, mutual learning and trust between different
stakeholders and site managers. Cundill et al. (2012) and Reed et al. (2018) show that 6 mutual learning and increasing trust might lead to changes in the values and attitudes
of stakeholders and, in turn, to changes in the perception of the credibility, salience and legitimacy of the knowledge and tools used in the process. Changes in credibility, salience and legitimacy can also be affected by external developments. An example during my research in the New Forest was the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act). The two main purposes of this law are to improve opportunities for pedestrian access and to provide better conservation of wildlife, particularly in protected areas like the New Forest. Implementation of the CRoW Act may have consequences for parts of the areas that are normally closed to visitors. Another external development that could affect the credibility, salience and legitimacy of
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