UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Laven, Daniel Nathan
Dept./Program:
Natural Resources
Year:
2006
Degree:
PhD
Abstract:
Management of U.S. national parks has evolved to reflect changes in the American conservation movement. Today, the mission of the National Park Service (NPS) has grown to include stewardship of cultural resources, natural resources, urban-proximate parks, designated wilderness areas, historic structures, as well as national heritage areas (NHAs). NHAs are an alternative approach to protected area management. These areas are operated through partnerships with local communities, NGOs, as well as other government agencies. NHAs seek to integrate resource, societal, as well as economic values and objectives at the landscape scale. Since the first NHA received congressional designation in 1984, NHAs have become an increasingly popular strategy for protecting landscapes. To date, congressional designation has been granted to 27 NHAs, and NHAs are now one of the fastest growing initiatives involving NPS. NPS is currently formulating policy towards implementing a system of NHAs in response to this growth and interest. Despite this momentum, little theoretical or empirical research has been done to examine the efficacy of the NHA model. This dissertation addresses the question: How do NHAs work? This research straddles the realms of policy analysis and evaluation, and employs a policy evaluation framework and a multi-case study design. Data were collected at three NHAs, and qualitative (content and theme analysis) and quantitative (network (NetDraw and p*)) analyses were performed. Study findings include a NHA program theory model, analysis of "success factors" associated with the NHA process, as well as considerations for developing a system of NHAs. Findings from this study can also facilitate policy learning (i.e., adaptive management) by giving feedback to policy-makers, program managers, and program participants as well as provide the conceptual and methodological foundation for further evaluation research on NHAs and related models of protected area management.