Managing the Messy Middle: Toward a Typology of Dilemmas in Nature-Based Recreation

Nature-based recreation systems are complex social-ecological systems (SESs) characterized by competing uses, heterogeneous users, and dynamic feedbacks. As participation grows and recreational modes diversify, managers face mounting challenges in sustaining both ecological integrity and user experience. This paper operationalizes the Coupled Infrastructure Systems Framework (CISF) to develop a systems-based typology of recreation management dilemmas. We identify four primary and four secondary dilemma archetypes that emerge from management interventions or feedback loops. Using coded case studies across diverse recreation modes, we explore how exogenous shocks, endogenous dynamics, and system characteristics shape dilemma emergence and visibility. Our findings highlight the importance of user heterogeneity, monitoring capacity, and feedback stability in shaping management outcomes. We conclude by outlining a portfolio of interventions and discussing how managers can anticipate unintended consequences, tailor strategies to local contexts, and use system-specific models to inform management. This typology offers a foundation for future modeling efforts and supports more adaptive, equitable, and resilient recreation governance.