Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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​Social Science to Support Management of Polar Bear Viewing at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Description: 

A current area of concern for the Arctic Refuge is the demand for commercially-guided, water-based polar bear viewing and the related quality and sustainability of visitors’ experiences. The overall purpose of this project was to provide the necessary social science research, expertise, and support to accurately and defensibly guide visitor management and related visitor capacity decisions. Data were collected from adult visitors to the Kaktovik Area of the Arctic Refuge. The study occurred over a two year period. Phase I data collection in 2017 and Phase II in 2018. ​

Objectives:

Specific objectives of this study include:

1. Understand visitors, visitor use, visitor attitudes, and visitor perceptions.
   
   
2. Identify indicators and thresholds.
   
   
3. Assess how acceptable management alternatives (current and future) are to visitors.

Collaborators: 

Clemson University
Central Michigan University

Additional Resources: 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge