Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Health concerns will increasingly impact state park visitors as climate change creates a more volatile environment for outdoor recreation. However, this threat also represents an opportunity to educate visitors. This study presents areas of health concern identified by study participants alongside data on local hazards. We propose integrating both of these into the CDC’s Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) public health framework as a way to prioritize locally suitable areas for education efforts. Method: This project is based on data from interviews conducted with 17 participants recruited from the Missouri Parks Association, an advocacy group. Participants were asked about perceived climate-related health threats and how these may affect their park visits. Information on local hazards was compiled from regional climate change projections and public health data. Implications: Climate-related health threats identified by study participants were compared to data on public health trends and projected threats. We explore how this information can be integrated into the BRACE framework to help prioritize locally relevant areas for intervention, such as warning park visitors about tick diseases and flash floods on rivers. The next step of this 5-year, NSF-funded project includes conducting facilitated workshops with regional stakeholders to develop locally tailored adaptation plans for state parks.