Smoke, Travel, and Recreation Decisions: Sharing Research at IASNR 2026

By Shahriar Md Arifur Rahman

From June 21–24, 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the International Association for Society and Natural Resources (IASNR) Conference, hosted by Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The conference brought together researchers, graduate students, and natural resource professionals from diverse disciplines to share their research and exchange ideas on the relationships between people, the environment, and natural resource management. It provided a valuable platform for scholarly exchange and exploring emerging challenges in environmental and recreation research.

At the conference, I delivered an oral presentation titled “The Influence of Air Quality Thresholds, Exposure Gradients, and Travel Distance on Recreation Visitation During Wildfire Smoke Events.” The study examined how wildfire smoke influences outdoor recreation visitation at Ponderosa State Park in Idaho. Using more than 33,000 reservation records from 2017 to 2023, combined with particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure estimates and visitors' travel distances, the research explored how air quality conditions at recreation destinations and visitors' home locations influence visitation patterns. It also investigated whether visitors respond differently depending on travel distance, the severity of smoke exposure, and how many days before their planned arrival smoke occurs.

One of the central ideas of this research is that recreation decisions are influenced not only by smoke conditions at the destination but also by how those conditions compare with visitors' home environments. The findings suggest that visitation tends to decline when Ponderosa State Park is smokier than visitors' home locations, particularly when these differences occur one day before arrival. The study also explored whether visitation changes after PM_2.5 concentrations cross public-health-relevant thresholds and how travel distance may influence these decisions. By integrating environmental exposure data with actual visitation records, this research provides insights into how wildfire smoke affects recreation behavior and highlights the importance of timely air quality information for park management and visitor communication.

Beyond presenting my research, the conference was a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow researchers and learn about ongoing work in natural resource management. My labmates, Amber and Brey, also presented their studies, making it a rewarding experience for our Parks and Recreation Lab. One of the highlights was meeting my dissertation committee member, Dr. Ashley D’Antonio, Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society at Oregon State University, in person for the first time. She was very welcoming and encouraging, making the experience even more memorable.

Overall, IASNR 2026 was a valuable opportunity to share our research, receive feedback, and engage with a broader academic community. I appreciated the chance to represent our lab and the University of Idaho while building connections and gaining new perspectives that will contribute to my ongoing doctoral research.