Bridging policy and practice: Organizational and psychological factors shaping outdoor recreation in Brazilian protected areas

Outdoor recreation in protected areas provides societal benefits and supports conservation but also poses environmental and social challenges. Protected area professionals (PAPs) are responsible for planning and managing this complexity, and yet, little is known about the factors affecting their decisions and behaviors related to outdoor recreation. Understanding these aspects can help agencies to improve acceptance of policies and implementation of actions. This study examines organizational and psychological factors shaping the outdoor recreation decisions among PAPs at the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Brazil's federal protected area agency, whose evolving organizational climate offers a key opportunity for analysis. Using semi-structured interviews with 41 PAPs and reflexive thematic analysis, our findings reveal a shifting organizational climate where outdoor recreation is increasingly viewed as a tool for conservation rather than a threat. However, deep-rooted belief systems, limited operational capacity, and inconsistent policy implementation continue to pose barriers. While ICMBio has expanded training programs and developed public use policies, implementation remains uneven due to workforce constraints, liability concerns, and competing conservation priorities. Addressing these factors can bridge policy and practice, enhancing management capacity and readiness for increasing recreation demand.