Fostering Pro-environmental Behavior Among National Park Visitors: Testing Communication Strategies for Campfire Management

Effective communication is a key instrument for managing visitor impacts in natural areas. This study examines how passive (pamphlets) and active (face-to-face) communication strategies influence campfire behavior, with a focus on reducing the use of ancient trees for firewood. While campfires are a cherished activity worldwide, they can cause severe ecological damage. Using a multi-methods approach that integrates social and natural sciences, we conducted a quasi-experimental field study combining visitor interviews, surveys, observations, and environmental assessments. Our main analysis used a multiple regression model that reflects how communication operates under real-world conditions by accounting for visitor volume, visitor characteristics, and weather. Based on registered tree damage incidents, our results show that both communication types effectively reduced the number of tree damage incidents by 57% compared to days without communication. During communication periods, visitors more often refrained from making campfires or relied on provided firewood. The two communication strategies were similarly effective, challenging the common assumption in the literature that direct interaction works best. This suggests that simple, low-cost approaches to influencing visitor behavior can be powerful tools for environmental management, particularly in settings where staff capacity is limited.