The ROS planning system: Evolution, basic concepts, and research needed

Abstract This paper describes the evolution of the concept of the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)—a largely resource‐based approach to providing recreational diversity. It explains the needs of the USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management for a recreation resource planning system and relates those needs to the development of the ROS system to guide recreation planning of large areas. The basic concepts and tenets of the ROS system are explained and needed research is outlined. Keywords: Recreation opportunity spectrumrecreation planningrecreation planning systemsrecreation inventory and classification