Pluralities of place: A user's guide to place concepts, theories, and philosophies in natural resource management

Place ideas are capturing increasing attention in recreation and natural resource management. But there are important and sometimes incompatible differences among the various concepts. In this paper I describe some of the reasons for the growing interest in place concepts and distinguish between four basic approaches: attitude, meaning, ethical, and political. My aim is to provide a guide to managers so they can better appreciate the implications of these different approaches. Finally, I try to highlight throughout how and why these ideas apply to recreation and natural resource management issues.