Positions

Research Areas research areas

Overview

  • I am a social scientist and an expert in recreation management and policy, specializing in visitor use management within parks and protected areas (PPAs). My work aims to enhance visitor experiences, protect natural and cultural resources, and promote economic opportunities in and around PPA settings. In collaboration with land managers, elected officials, and the outdoor industry, I conduct scientifically rigorous research to support informed decision-making and policy development in and around PPAs.

    My expertise encompasses a wide range of areas including visitor use management, carrying capacity, managed access, visitor education, needs assessments, program and facility evaluations, economic impact, workforce development, ecological impacts, energy development, and climate change.

    For additional information, please refer to the Applied Recreation Research Collaborative (ARRC) lab's website at www.unharrc.org
  • Principal Investigator On

  • USFS NVUM '25  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2024 - 2028
  • Statewide Outdoor Recreation  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2022 - 2027
  • Community Needs Assessment and  awarded by Town Of Durham 2023 - 2025
  • RMP Forest Service Internships  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2023 - 2024
  • Green Mountain National Forest  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2019 - 2024
  • US Forest Service: Green Mountain National Forest-National Visitor Use Monitoring Program  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2019 - 2022
  • National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM)  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2019 - 2020
  • National Vistor Use Monitoring  awarded by US DA, United States Forest Service 2019 - 2020
  • Assessing Recreationists’ Perceptions of Offshore Wind Energy Development in New Hampshire (*Linked to NH Sea Grant 2018-2021 Omnibus*)  awarded by New Hampshire Sea Grant 2019 - 2020
  • National Visitor Use Monitoring Program-White Mountain, Green Mountain, and Finger Lakes National Forests  awarded by USDA Forest Service 2024 -
  • Community Needs Assessment and Visitor Use Management Study for the Town of Durham New Hampshire Parks and Recreation  awarded by Durham Parks and Recreation 2023 -
  • New Hampshire Visitor Use Management Working Group  awarded by USDA Forest Service 2022 -
  • Proactively Assessing Green Mountain National Forest Visitors’ Attitudes, Perceptions, Behaviors, Decision-Making, and Management Preferences  awarded by USDA Forest Service 2022 -
  • USDA Forest Service and University of New Hampshire- Public Lands Corp Prog  awarded by USDA Forest Service 2022 -
  • Teaching Activities

  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course
  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course 2024
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2024
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2024
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2023
  • Independent Study Taught course 2023
  • Rec Admin & Organization Behav Taught course 2023
  • Teaching Practicum Taught course 2023
  • Independent Study Taught course 2022
  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course 2022
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2022
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2022
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2022
  • Independent Study Taught course 2022
  • Mktg Recreation Taught course 2022
  • Independent Study Taught course 2021
  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course 2021
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2021
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2021
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2021
  • Independent Study Taught course 2021
  • Rec Admin & Organization Behav Taught course 2021
  • Independent Study Taught course 2020
  • Program and Event Marketing Taught course 2020
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2020
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2020
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2020
  • Venue Mgmt Design & Operations Taught course 2020
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2020
  • Independent Study Taught course 2020
  • Program and Event Marketing Taught course 2020
  • Independent Study Taught course 2019
  • Mgt & Design Recreation & Park Taught course 2019
  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course 2019
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2019
  • Rec Admin & Organization Behav Taught course 2019
  • Mgt & Design Recreation & Park Taught course 2018
  • Mgt & Design Recreation & Park Taught course 2018
  • Program and Event Marketing Taught course 2018
  • Teaching Practicum Taught course 2018
  • Hist Outdoor Pursuits North Am Taught course 2018
  • Mgt & Design Recreation & Park Taught course 2018
  • Mgt & Design Recreation & Park Taught course 2018
  • Program and Event Marketing Taught course 2017
  • Recreation Resource Management Taught course 2017
  • Full Name

  • Michael Ferguson