ABSTRACT
One of the anticipated changes that will have a profound and pervasive effect on the entire realm of outdoor recreation and patterns of use is that of demographic change. These changes will impact both the magnitude and characteristics of outdoor recreation use. In part, due to an aging populationand changing ethnic composition, overall rates of increase in outdoor recreation are expected to decrease. This decrease will be particularly evident in the more active forms of outdoor recreation such as backpacking and camping. From a research perspective a number of implications can be seen. As suggested by Stokols and Altman research efforts on interface and other recreational areas will need to include: the assessment of attitudes, methods and measurement of public opinion and input, anticipated and observed behaviors, and the realized benefits and values associated with the various uses of the wildland-urban interface.
