The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (M-KMA) in northern British Columbia is globally significant for its size, special resource management, and cultural and ecological values. These characteristics were secured in perpetuity through the British Columbian Government’s M-KMA Act in 1998. However, today low public awareness and engagement are seen as threats to the M-KMA’s effectiveness and longevity. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research examined the role of awareness and engagement in safeguarding the M-KMA by conducting semi-structured interviews and a media analysis, both of which informed a public survey. Informing the research design were underlying theories in sense of place, place branding, and the relationship of planned behaviour to place-protective behaviour. Additionally, resource management practices like ecosystem-based management informed the research design and methods of public participation in policy formation.
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area (MK) in northeastern British Columbia, Canada is approximately 6.4 million hectares in size, with about 27% in parks and protected areas. I conducted and analyzed qualitative in-depth interviews, with the focus on the social perception of wilderness amongst users of the MK. Results indicate that users feel the MK is a prime wilderness area with exceptional opportunities to experience wilderness attributes such as solitude, both on the periphery and in the interior of the MK. To experience peace and quiet is one of the primary reasons for a visit to the MK. Where resource activity is encountered is critical to the wilderness experience. The closer a development is to the highway or in the beginning of a trip is more acceptable. Findings from this study can assist organizations such as the MK Advisory Board in identifying how specific resource development proposals might impact various wilderness experiences.
