Recreational area management using Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) approach

Environmental resources are valuable assets in the world which should be protecting as one of the human's main efforts. Nowadays, economic development, population growth and increasing of life business caused to increase the demand for recreational uses in natural areas. Analyzing of recreational demand factors in Iran indicated that need for outdoor recreation have been increased rapidly. Therefore, attention to the visitor's needs and preferences are very important as the main users. Recreational Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) approach is a comprehensive method to determine and allocate recreational area with a range of recreational opportunities in terms of the environment suitability and people's needs and preferences. In the present study the ROS approach have been described for recreational area management. This approach is based on the expectancy value theory and has been described by confirming that recreational behavior is goal-oriented and aimed at need satisfaction. ROS linked visitor's experiences with biological, physical and management attributes of settings. This approach has been prepared a map including 6 classes of recreational Opportunities in a range of primitive and undeveloped to modern and developed use. Recreational areas managers can protect recreational resources and provide people needs and preferences in recreational using ROS areas.