GLIN==> Sea Grant Researcher to Determine Economic Impact of Birdwatching in Ohio

Sea Grant Researcher to Determine Economic Impact of Birdwatching in Ohio

 

March 1, 2010

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

COLUMBUS, OH - The average birdwatcher in Ohio is a Baby Boomer with an
average individual income over $50,000, often with at least one college
degree. With numbers like those, the state's 2.4 million birdwatchers are
obviously an important segment of Ohio's $39 billion tourism industry, but
until now, no one has studied exactly how much they impact the state's
economy. In the coming year, however, Ohio Sea Grant researcher Philip Xie
plans to find out, and the information he uncovers could be used by resource
managers, conservation groups, local officials, and tourism organizations to
create new programming, improve and preserve natural areas, and entice new
visitors-and their dollars-to the Buckeye State.

 

Xie, Associate Professor at Bowling Green State University, will focus his
study on six sites along the shores of Lake Erie, from Toledo to Conneaut.
"Using a 50- or 60-question survey, we'll ask if they're from out of state
or in state," he says. "How much are they spending to travel? How much on
food, accommodations, and equipment while they're here? Lastly, we'll ask
for feedback on what they like and what they'd like to see improved." By
talking to many different bird enthusiasts to pinpoint their expectations,
Xie's research can help resource managers, local governments, and tourism
groups hone their facilities and programming to satisfy a variety of
visitors.

 

Frank Lopez, who manages Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve
for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife, believes
the study will also give communities the hard data they need to back up
their conservation efforts. "In Ohio, conservation and land-use decisions
are generally made at the local level, so giving the decision-makers a full
picture of the economic value of wildlife resources and habitats could lead
to improved or additional access to public lands," he explains.

 

Preliminary data from this study will be available in spring 2011.

 

To read more about this Ohio Sea Grant-funded research, visit
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documents/twineline/v32i1.pdf.

 

The Ohio State University's Ohio Sea Grant College Program is part of NOAA
Sea Grant, a network of 30 Sea Grant Programs dedicated to the protection
and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For information on
Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.

 

###

 

Contact: 

Philip Xie, Bowling Green State University, pxie at bgsu.edu, 419.372.6917

 

 

Stacy Brannan

Associate Editor

Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory

1314 Kinnear Road

Columbus, OH 43212

614.247.7109

brannan.16 at osu.edu

 

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