Jeff Marion, Ph.D.
Jeff is a Research Biologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center at Blacksburg, VA.
Jeff Marion grew up exploring the woods, streams, and caves of Kentucky, developing strong interests in nature study and high adventure outdoor activities. One of four Eagle Scouts in his family, he served for five summers at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, teaching backpacking and climbing skills. Coursework in biology, ecology, and geology at Wittenberg University led to a B.S. in Biology (1979), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Recreation Resources Management from the University of Minnesota (1982/84). Graduate studies focused on recreation ecology research, combining strong personal interests in the ecological sciences with his continuing passion for outdoor recreational pursuits, particularly backpacking, climbing, caving, and canoeing. His doctoral research measured camping-associated environmental impacts in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to investigate relationships between biophysical impacts, amount ofuse, and plant community, soil, and ecological classifications.
Professional Experience
8/97-2001 - DOI, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader for the PWRC Virginia Tech Field Station. Conducted recreation ecology research to evaluate visitor impacts to protected natural areas.
11/94-7/97 - DOI, National Biological Survey, Div. of Cooperative Research, Blacksburg, VA Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit. Conducted recreation ecology research.
6/85-10/94 - DOI, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Region Title: Research Biologist Duty Stations: 1) Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA and 2) Delaware Water Gap NRA; Milford, PA Dates: 1) 10/89-10/94 2) 6/85-9/89 Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit (when at VT). Conducted recreation ecology research.
12/84-5/85 - University of Wisconsin, Park, Recreation & Resource Management program, River Falls, WI Title: Assistant Professor
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Recreation Resources Management, 3/82-7/84, Univ. of Minnesota - Forest Resources
M.S. Recreation Resources Management, 9/80-3/82, Univ. of Minnesota - Forest Resources
Environmental Science, 9/79-6/80, Duke University - School of the Environment (transferred)
B.A. Biology, 9/75-6/79, Wittenberg University
Science and Products
Camping impact management on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The Protected Areas Visitor Impact Management (PAVIM) framework: A simplified process for making management decisions
Trail impacts and trail impact management related to ecotourism visitation at Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Visitor impact assessment and monitoring systems: Evolution and current development
Management practices that concentrate visitor activities: Camping impact management at Isle Royale National Park, USA
Trail resource impacts and an examination of alternative assessment techniques
Trekking poles: Can you save your knees and the environment?
Development of the United States Leave No Trace programme: A historical perspective
Integrating resource, social, and managerial indicators of quality into carrying capacity decision-making
Determining the ecological footprint of recreation activities to support management decision
The role of recreation ecology in sustainable tourism and ecotourism
Identifying and assessing ecotourism visitor impacts at selected protected areas in Costa Rica and Belize
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 121
Camping impact management on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
This report addresses the management of overnight use and associated impacts along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.). This effort was initiated in response to agency and Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) management concerns regarding the resource and social impacts of increasing overnight visitation, particularly in high use areas. Report findings and recommendations are primarily baAuthorsJ. L. MarionThe Protected Areas Visitor Impact Management (PAVIM) framework: A simplified process for making management decisions
Ecotourism and protected area visitation in Central and South America have resulted in ecological impacts, which some protected areas managers have addressed by employing visitor impact management frameworks. In this paper, we propose the Protected Area Visitor Impact Management (PAVIM) framework as an alternative to carrying capacity and other frameworks such as Limits of Acceptable Change. We usAuthorsT. A. Farrell, Jeffrey L. MarionTrail impacts and trail impact management related to ecotourism visitation at Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Protected area visitation and ecotourism in Central and South America are largely dependent upon a relatively undisturbed quality of natural resources. However, visitation may impact vegetation, soil, water, and wildlife resources, and degrade visitor facilities such as recreation sites and trails. Findings are reported from trail impact research conducted at Torres del Paine National Park in PataAuthorsT. A. Farrell, J. L. MarionVisitor impact assessment and monitoring systems: Evolution and current development
Managers of protected areas are increasingly concerned with recreation impacts to the resource and how they should be managed. Impact management programs must be based on information about the severity and extent of impacts and how they are changing over time. This information need has generated considerable interest in the development of visitor impact assessment and monitoring (VIAM) systems.AuthorsY.-F. Leung, J. L. Marion, D.N. ColeManagement practices that concentrate visitor activities: Camping impact management at Isle Royale National Park, USA
This study assessed campsite conditions and the effectiveness of campsite impact management strategies at Isle Royale National Park, USA. Protocols for assessing indicators of vegetation and soil conditions were developed and applied to 156 campsites and 88 shelters within 36 backcountry campgrounds. The average site was 68 m2 and 83% of sites lost vegetation over areas less than 47 m2. We believeAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, T. A. FarrellTrail resource impacts and an examination of alternative assessment techniques
Trails are a primary recreation resource facility on which recreation activities are performed. They provide safe access to non-roaded areas, support recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, and wildlife observation, and protect natural resources by concentrating visitor traffic on resistant treads. However, increasing recreational use, coupled with poorly designed and/or maintained traiAuthorsJ. L. Marion, Y.-F. LeungTrekking poles: Can you save your knees and the environment?
The increasing use of trekking poles has stimulated a growing awareness of some environmental and social impacts associated with their use. These impacts have not been documented in the scientific literature. This article reviews the impacts of trekking pole use to provide a basis for further dialogue, and suggests how they may be altered or used in ways that will minimize impact.AuthorsJ. L. Marion, T. A. Martinez, R. D. ProudmanDevelopment of the United States Leave No Trace programme: A historical perspective
This paper describes the historical development of the U.S. Leave No Trace (LNT) educational program. It begins with a review of the need for the program and traces it?s conception and early development in the 1970`s, revitalization in 1991, creation of Leave No Trace, Inc., and the current status. The paper concludes with a discussion of the program?s elements that have made it successful and recAuthorsJ. L. Marion, S. ReidIntegrating resource, social, and managerial indicators of quality into carrying capacity decision-making
In park and wilderness management, integrating social and resource indicators is essential to meet park mandates that require the protection of both experiential and resource conditions. This paper will address the challenges we face in integrating social and resource data and outline a study in progress in Yosemite National Park. This study will develop and apply a management model that integrateAuthorsP. Newman, J. Marion, K. CahillDetermining the ecological footprint of recreation activities to support management decision
This paper reviews recreation impacts, impact monitoring methods, and impact management strategies and actions for managing visitation in mountain environments.AuthorsJ. L. MarionThe role of recreation ecology in sustainable tourism and ecotourism
No abstract available.AuthorsY.-F. Leung, J. L. Marion, T. A. FarrellIdentifying and assessing ecotourism visitor impacts at selected protected areas in Costa Rica and Belize
Protected area visitation is an important component of ecotourism, and as such, must be sustainable. However, protected area visitation may degrade natural resources, particularly in areas of concentrated visitor activities like trails and recreation sites. This is an important concern in ecotourism destinations such as Belize and Costa Rica, because they actively promote ecotourism and emphasizAuthorsT. A. Farrell, J. L. Marion - News