Abstract

Climate change in parks and protected areas can affect visitor experiences, management priorities, and legislative requests for disaster relief funds. These impacts are unequal in distribution and intensity, similar to the views of people who live in different areas of the United States. Individuals tend to accept climate change when they directly experience weather-related impacts and often deny its existence in areas where this phenomenon is less visible. Perceptions are an important but under-studied explanation for public response to climate change. Qualitative interviews were conducted with eleven district managers in a Midwestern state park system to examine climate change vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation. A conceptual climate change resilience framework was developed, linking theory with practice. The newly developed model described the process of recovery from climate-related impact within the state park system. Some implications from this study were improved decision-making behavior and communication with stakeholders, such as park visitors.