Conservation By Geography

 

Parks and recreation areas in relation to regional ecological and social values
Parks and recreational areas serve a variety of purposes, ranging from creating opportunities for recreation, to celebrating historical places, to conserving nature for citizens’ enjoyment and education. Many of these areas contribute to conserving Western Lake Erie coastal areas and provide residents with access to nature, which is a critical benefit in urban areas where the majority of natural land cover has been converted to other uses. A variety of studies relay ways in which people are increasingly disconnected from nature, corresponding to an increase in health problems like obesity and to decreasing happiness and social cohesion among members of society. The availability of parks and access to nature is therefore important for the physical and mental health of residents of the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). A survey of 71 local natural resource professionals and conservation practitioners conducted for the Lake Erie Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (LEBCS) revealed that the most important ecosystem service provided by Lake Erie and its coastal area is recreation and tourism. Ohio state parks like East Harbor, Maumee Bay, Marblehead Lighthouse, and several island parks recorded 0.9-1.5 million visitors per park in 2011 alone, indicating the importance of these places to the region’s residents and visitors. This data layer is included to represent regional access to nature through parks and recreational areas.