Exploring Place Meanings Stakeholders Have About Everglades National Park

By applying the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism, this study explores the meanings stakeholders hold about Everglades National Park (EVER). Based on our analysis, four themes reflecting what EVER means to participants emerged: (1) A place with unique natural resources and biodiverse ecosystem habitats that should be preserved. (2) A place to see different habitats and enjoy recreation and tourism. (3) An ancestral home to look after and take care of. (4) A place for financial investment to support livelihood. We found these dimensions to be interconnected altogether playing a crucial role in shaping their experiences and meanings. Study findings illuminate the meanings of natural places social factors into protected area management. Future research should explore more the meanings stakeholders create regarding national parks, and protected areas to be able to design management strategies that reflect such meanings.