Latvian Council of Science Grant Agreement No. lzp-2020/2-0167
The aim of the study is to explore the changes in the societal preferences for outdoor recreation (with special emphasis on forest areas) in the result of COVID-19 crisis. Restrictions related to the pandemic have changed the pattern of visitor flows to the nature territories, including forests, thus increasing the recreational pressure. The issues will be studied using surveys that include participatory GIS, allowing to obtain spatial data. Information on forest management challenges will be gathered via semi-structured interviews with managers of forests and nature areas.
The results of the research will be presented in two scientific and at least one popular science publication, as well asi n open-access dataset showing the spatial changes in recreational trends. The findings will be summarized in recommendations for forest managers.