NIGK14010U Outdoor Recreation - Planning and Management

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc Programme in Nature Management
Content

This course will focus on planning, management and governance of outdoor recreation in both a rural and urban perspective.  Outdoor recreation is high on today’s policy, research and planning agenda. First of all, planning authorities have focus on the link between outdoor recreation, active living and public health. Danish forests alone receive more than 75 million visits annually, and opportunities for outdoor recreation are an integrated part of afforestation policy, municipal landscape planning, urban green space planning, national agricultural policy, and nature policy. Furthermore, access to nature and green spaces with opportunities for outdoor recreation plays a key role in peoples’ choice of settlement, and development of outdoor recreation opportunities contribute to rural development by delivering economic benefits to rural societies.
The following themes will be included: public countryside access, nature protection, conflicts between user groups, zoning and multifunctional landscape approaches, public participation and collaboration between stakeholders, management of outdoor recreation facilities, monitoring and mapping of outdoor recreation including usages of interviews, surveys, GIS, GPS, and App’s in order to support planning and management of outdoor recreation.
The course will have an international set-up and include examples and cases from Denmark and other countries.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • Analyze outdoor recreation as a product of a human-nature relationship (the interrelationships of outdoor recreation activities, motivations, expectations, facilities, and natural settings).
  • Identify areas of conflict which planning and management must address.
  • Explain and describe the overall spatial planning framework, e.g. different countries legislations of public accessibility.
  • Describe and reflect on the key actors and stakeholders’ competences and point of view in relation to creating opportunities and regulating outdoor recreation (e.g. minimize conflicts between user groups and sector interests).

Skills

  • Apply a variety of planning frameworks for management of outdoor recreation, including approaches for monitoring and assessing outdoor recreation.
  • Identify relevant partners and manage the establishment of collaborative partnerships for outdoor recreation planning.
  • Identify key players and potential issues related to the formulation of policy and planning documents with relevance for outdoor recreation planning and management.

Competencies

  • Apply the main points of theory and evidence-based knowledge about outdoor recreation to planning practice and areas of conflict.
  • Plan, organize and coordinate a process from planning to realization and management of specific projects, objectives or initiatives for outdoor recreation.
  • Apply and justify the choice of specific methods and adapt them to current planning practice and management situations, including consideration of the actors that are relevant to involve and when in the process.
  • Fill out various operational roles within the outdoor recreation sector such as a leader, manager or consultant, including lead and advice on the initiation, development and implementation of professional or interdisciplinary networks and partnerships.

Manning, R.E. 2011. Studies in Outdoor Recreation. Search and Research for Satisfaction. Third Ed. Oregan State University Press.

Pigram, J.J. & Jenkins, J.M. 2006. Outdoor Recreation Management. Second ed. Routledge

+ additional up-to-date articles on selected issues

Bachelor degree in Natural Resource Management, Landscape Architecture, Geography, Biology, Exercise and Sports (idræt) or something similar
As a rule, the lectures will be based on a dialogue between teachers and students. The course includes theoretical exercises and active student participation, e.g. oral student presentations in line with the final exam setup.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 24
  • Excursions
  • 12
  • Lectures
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 120
  • Theory exercises
  • 10
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 25 min
The student have 24 hours to prepare a presentation (10 min), followed by a discussion (15 min) of the presentation in relation to the syllabus and the core areas of competence of the course.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

The assement is based on the intended learning outcomes.