ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND NORTH GEORGIA WILDERNESS

Angebote / Angebote:

This study examines the geographic access of censusblock groups (CBGs) to the use and non-use values ofwilderness areas in North Georgia to determinesocioeconomic inequalities between populations incontext of the Eastern Wilderness Act. Wilderness useand socioeconomic status are analyzed using GIS basednetwork analysis to determine travel time from theCBG centroid to the nearest wilderness area trailaccess point. Wilderness non-use values andsocioeconomic status are analyzed using straight-linedistance from the CBG centroid to the wilderness areacentroid. Overall, results show that environmentalinequity with respect to wilderness use-and non-usevalues may exist when race, gender, and retirementincome are considered. Discussion explores thepossibility that the location of vacation homes nearwilderness may increase property values and taxes andmay adversely affect low-income populations.Implications include the need to manage for anincreasing elderly population, the furtherinvolvement of elderly and low-income population inthe public process of wilderness management, and theneed for similar research in areas beyond southernAppalachia.