The Effects of Climate Change on Outdoor Recreation in the United States

Climate change is already affecting the ability of individuals to participate in outdoor recreation. In the coming decades, these impacts are expected to become more noticeable. Some geographic regions and outdoor recreation activities will see increased participation rates while others will be negatively impacted, potentially significantly. These impacts will have numerous ripple effects, including shifts in the economic vitality of recreation-dependent communities to the sustainability of existing management approaches used by local, state, and federal agencies. This webinar will present the state-of-the science about what is known about how climate change will affect outdoor recreation across the United States. The presentation will highlight specific geographic regions and outdoor recreation activities that will continue to be impacted in the near future. The presentation will finish with a discussion of solutions that local, state, and federal management agencies can put in place to adapt to future impacts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Understand the distinct ways in which climate change impacts outdoor recreation
• Know how the impacts of climate change will impact specific geographic regions and activities differently
• Identify potential solutions that local, state, and federal management agencies have, and can, use to adapt to climate-related impacts.

Location

International

Trail Core Competencies

No skills listed.

Relevant Trail Types

General. All trail types are relevant.