How do National Parks Operate During Wildfires Elsewhere?

Abstract

Simultaneous large forest fires started throughout Türkiye (Turkey) in the summer of 2021. The wildfires were a major challenge at the Dilek Peninsula-Great Menderes Delta National Park in an international tourism city. Fortunately, the wildfires did not affect the national park. However, stakeholders and officials (e.g., the national park manager, the governor of the city) demonstrated diverse tendencies, perspectives, and behaviours. For instance, local communities and non-governmental organisations worried about the initiative to keep the national park partially open. The main argument of this teaching case study is that decision-making during a crisis requires a multi-dimensional approach that considers both supporting and opposing forces. The case content satisfies a two-part purpose: (1) helping students experience decision-making in a crisis setting that intersects with the macromarketing–public policy interface and (2) providing students with insight into the tensions among tendencies, perspectives, and behaviours during decision-making (according to the tri-component attitude model). To do so, the author collected primary qualitative data, used a version of Bloom's taxonomy as the learning model, tested the case study, and clarified the text. The high clarity score and the precision it brings make the information in the case study drawable in research models. The contribution of the teaching case study is that it strengthens the idea that teaching case studies can give students near-professional or near-academic experiences. For instance, educators can use the case study in macromarketing discussions and consumer behaviour courses. Practitioners such as human decision-makers can exercise the case content to improve decision-making skills. Policymakers can utilise the case content to enhance stakeholder engagement.