The University of Illinois had a strong presence at the annual International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. Team member Dana Johnson shared preliminary findings on her research about characterizing the Denali region as a social-ecological system. She presented the results of a semi-quantitative fuzzy cognitive mapping exercise that was conducted with individuals in communities surrounding Denali National Park and Preserve. Early findings suggest that most residents of this region find sense of community, open access to land, and tourism central to characterizing their home.
The team will continue conducting these mapping exercises during the field season in Denali this summer. Results will provide insights into how individuals process information about the social-ecological system in which they live. Additionally, these results will be used to help develop subsequent phases of the research process.
