Sammie Powers, Assistant Professor, Recreation Management, School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM); Hung-Ling Liu, Associate Professor, Recreation Management, SRTM; and Ellen Rodgers, Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), received funding from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) for the project: "Appalachian Conservation Strategy Feasibility Pilot: Conservation and Human Dimensions Stakeholder Engagement Action Plan Project."
They are collaborating with Nate Trauntvein, Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, and Elizabeth Covelli Metcalf, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Affairs and Joel Meier Distinguished Professor of Wildland Management, University of Montana, on this project.
The researchers will employ a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) approach to support the identification and engagement of diverse stakeholders, especially those who have historically been excluded from conservation planning and decision-making. Geospatial mapping of a conservation stakeholder network, followed by assessing conservation attitudes and priorities among stakeholders will help assess the feasibility of and inform next steps for conservation planning in the Appalachian landscape. The project will result in the development of a conservation stakeholder engagement plan for the ATC to be used to support large-scale Appalachian conservation planning.
Powers, Liu, and Rodgers received $49,997 from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for this project. Funding began in April 2023 and will end in late Oct. 2023.
###
About George Mason University
George Mason University is Virginia's largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 38,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.