Explores psychological motivations and benefits of recreation, as well as approaches to ensure sustainable recreation and tourism enterprises. Includes recreation and tourism behavior, social and/or ecological impacts of tourism, and planning, management and policy.

Research in recreation explores the motivations and experiences of visitors to parks, marine protected areas, and developed recreation settings, as well as public attitudes toward resource management. Other FES members work to develop ecotourism venues that benefit both natural ecosystems and local human livelihoods.