Displacement Concerns in Southern California National Forests: Climate Change and Recreation Impacts

Strategic Insights -

According to research conducted at Michigan State University, many southern California residents rely on national forests for recreation, but with climate change and increasing popularity, displacement due to degraded conditions and closures is a growing concern. The study, funded by the U.S. Forest Service, aimed to understand how recreationists experience and react to displacement, highlighting the need for alternative recreation opportunities. The research involved a survey of 3585 southern California residents who visited national forests between summer 2020 and the study period.

Key Takeaways:

  • Displacement due to road closures and extreme heat is the most common reason for recreationists to change their plans, according to a survey of 3585 southern California residents who visited national forests.
  • Recreationists are more likely to displace due to crowding and poor resource conditions in wildfire-prone areas.
  • The USDA Forest Service may need to consider group differences in recreation motivations when suggesting alternative high-quality recreation opportunities for displaced recreationists.
  • The study highlights the importance of understanding recreationist behavior in response to displacement to inform management decisions and ensure accessible recreation opportunities.
  • Alternative recreation experiences can help mitigate the negative impacts of displacement on recreationists, but more research is needed to ensure the sustainability of these experiences.
  • The study's findings have implications for outdoor recreation and tourism management, particularly in areas prone to wildfires and crowding.

Statistics:

  • 3585: The number of southern California residents surveyed who visited national forests between summer 2020 and the study period.
  • 50: The volume of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-research Planning and Management where the study was published.
  • 2023: The year the survey was conducted.
  • 2020: The year when the survey respondents started visiting national forests.

Sources:

  • Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-research Planning and Management. "PLAY AND PERIL: Displacement drivers and types across recreation motivations in Crowding and Wildfire-prone Southern California National Forests." Volume 50, 2025.
  • NewsRx. "Report Summarizes Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management Study Findings from Michigan State University (Play and Peril: Displacement Drivers and Types Across Recreation Motivations In Crowding and Wildfire-prone ...)." Leisure & Travel Week. July 19, 2025; p 43.