Mapping Where You Cannot Go: Spatial analysis of posting patterning as a tool for preserving Maine’s open lands tradition
Document Type
Event
Department
Geography-Anthropology
Abstract
There is a tradition of free access to undeveloped private land in Maine for recreation – called the Open Land Tradition – that has long been a pillar of the Maine lifestyle and has become increasingly important for local economies. In 2019, outdoor recreation accounted for 4.2% of Maine’s GDP, or $2.9 Billion (US Department of Commerce - Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2019). Slightly more than 90% of land in Maine is privately owned, meaning that a vast majority of outdoor recreation in Maine takes place on private land. This Open Land Tradition, however, cannot be taken for granted. Studies show that there has been a 25% increase in the posting of No Trespassing signs on privately owned land in Maine (Acheson et al, 2009). There are many efforts in Maine to promote amicable and beneficial relationships between landowners and land users in an effort to preserve the Open Land Tradition, but such efforts are often without the specific knowledge of posting patterns on the ground. As with the conservation of wildlife habitat, patterns matter as much as quantity. Literature and data indicate that there may be predictors that can identify areas where recreational access is more likely to be restricted—parcel size, new ownership, and increased intensity of use. Mapping these predictors will enable planners, community groups, and policy makers to see where valued landscapes are at the greatest risk and to focus their efforts on these areas and the predictors affecting them while prioritizing landowner needs and economic development. This project develops and tests a method for such mapping.
Mapping Where You Cannot Go: Spatial analysis of posting patterning as a tool for preserving Maine’s open lands tradition
There is a tradition of free access to undeveloped private land in Maine for recreation – called the Open Land Tradition – that has long been a pillar of the Maine lifestyle and has become increasingly important for local economies. In 2019, outdoor recreation accounted for 4.2% of Maine’s GDP, or $2.9 Billion (US Department of Commerce - Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2019). Slightly more than 90% of land in Maine is privately owned, meaning that a vast majority of outdoor recreation in Maine takes place on private land. This Open Land Tradition, however, cannot be taken for granted. Studies show that there has been a 25% increase in the posting of No Trespassing signs on privately owned land in Maine (Acheson et al, 2009). There are many efforts in Maine to promote amicable and beneficial relationships between landowners and land users in an effort to preserve the Open Land Tradition, but such efforts are often without the specific knowledge of posting patterns on the ground. As with the conservation of wildlife habitat, patterns matter as much as quantity. Literature and data indicate that there may be predictors that can identify areas where recreational access is more likely to be restricted—parcel size, new ownership, and increased intensity of use. Mapping these predictors will enable planners, community groups, and policy makers to see where valued landscapes are at the greatest risk and to focus their efforts on these areas and the predictors affecting them while prioritizing landowner needs and economic development. This project develops and tests a method for such mapping.
