University Presentation Showcase: Graduate Poster Gallery
Preview
Creation Date
Spring 3-2021
Major
Recreation and Park Administration
Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Dr. Brian G. Clark, Ed.D.
Mentor Department
Recreation and Park Administration
Abstract
As Kentucky moves toward a more sustainable future, natural areas and land recovery efforts suggest an alternative and renewable source of revenue. Not only can this mean tangible financial revenue, but wealth in terms of Ecosystem Services as well. Provisioning Services can be extracted like vegetables, drinkable water, and medicine. Regulating services provide protection like carbon sequestration and flood mitigation. Supporting services like photosynthesis and the water cycle make life possible. Finally, Cultural Services provide the aesthetic and recreational venue to satisfy finer psychological and human self-fulfillment needs. Here we find a particularly alluring benefit for the recreation professional. Reclaimed land can be reinvented for varying tourist attractions and other economic alternatives. As aesthetic and cultural landmarks, natural areas imply an opportunity to attract visitors internationally. Likewise, they appeal to outdoorsmen and adventurers. The introduction of elk in Kentucky generates $5 million dollars in revenue through hunting guides and sightseeing tours alone (Whang, 2020). World class climbing presents untapped opportunities. This literature review identifies avenues for Kentucky to expand their repertoire of enterprise to include not only existing natural areas, but to explore opportunities for altered and restored landscapes as well.
Keywords:
Economic Diversification, Tourism, Natural Areas, Commodity Dependence, Reclaimed Land, Reforestation
