Minimising Visitor Impacts to Protected Areas: The Efficacy of Low Impact Education Programmes

Recreational trampling negatively impacts vegetation structure of an Australian biodiversity hotspot

“…The significance of such behaviour will depend on the levels of visitation, the extent to which new areas are visited, presence of other recreational activities that may damage vegetation and the efficacy of existing trail management practices (Newsome et al 2013). Practices vital to keeping visitors on formed paths include a comprehensive programme of trail management and monitoring and it is important that resources, expertise and staff are available to achieve trail sustainability However, when planned, installed and maintained trails can be effective in directing and managing visitor access (Marion and Leung 2004; Educational programs are also widely employed in protected areas to encourage appropriate tourist behaviours (Boon et al 2008;CALM 1999;Cole et al 1997;Littlefair 2004;Marion and Reid 2007;Newsome et al 2013). In Western Australia this is particularly important because of the risk of both on and off-trail activity spreading plant pathogens such as Phytophthora cinnamomi (dieback disease).…”

“…Genus present and dominant at study sites Plant characteristics Table 3 Recommendations for additional management attention in regard to increasing wildflower tourism in biodiversity hotspots Management strategy Additional information Educational programs for tour operators that convey messages about the effects of trampling and the low resilience and resistance of these highly valued plant communities Boon et al (2008), Cole et al (1997), Littlefair (2004), Parks and Wildlife (2015) The installation of interpretive panels at tourism activity nodes that highlight the sensitivity of the vegetation and provide information about the consequences of trampling on vegetation and species of tourism interest Boon et al (2008), Cole et al (1997), Marion and Reid (2007), Newsome et al (2013) Effective trail signage to minimize visitor movement off formal trails and the potential creation of informal trails Marion and Leung (2004), Newsome et al (2013) Provision of boardwalks that allow for discovery and seclusion opportunities while minimising the movement off formal trails by visitors , Newsome et al (2013) Creation and design of new trails and/or upgrading existing trails Mende and Newsome (2006), Leung (2004, 2011), Marion and Reid (2007), , Ongoing monitoring with a view to closing some sites so that there is scope for the recovery of sites damaged by trampling Leung et al (2011), Monz et al (2010a,b), Newsome et al (2013), Walden-Schreiner et al (2012) Where appropriate placing physical barriers to minimise the movement off formal trails Barros et al (2013), Kim and Daigle (2012), Roovers et al (2004) Further research in shrub-dominated communities in other biodiversity hotspots to build knowledge regarding the resilience and resistance of these communities to trampling and other impacts associated with tourism Ballantyne et al (2014), Newsome et al (2013) …”

Extreme sports in natural areas: looming disaster or a catalyst for a paradigm shift in land use planning?

“…While there has been no discernable impact on the fauna of the canyons to date Burgin 2010b, 2011), there is the potential for them to be degraded if canyoning's popularity continued to grow or morphed into a more extreme derivation. Despite this potential to minimise impacts, environmental degradation will continue (Newsome et al 2002, Marion andReid 2007). To maximise biodiversity conservation on protected lands a major paradigm shift is required.…”

Poučne staze za samostalni obilazak u zaštićenim područjima i njihov značaj za ekološko obrazovanje posjetitelja

“…Th e spatial potential of building tourist networks has long been recognised in developed countries (Briedenhann and Wickens, 2004) and developing countries (Lourens, 2007). Th ese networks hold huge potential to aid in the distribution of the attendance burden on localities, the spatial distribution of tourism revenues, the integration of less well-known sites within an existing tourism product, the raising of awareness of destinations, the prolonging of visitor stays, the encouragement of tourists to spend more money at destinations, the attraction of new visitors, the inspiration of new visitors to return and the expansion of sustainable visitation (Marion and Reid, 2007). Tourist trails are a broad concept that primarily involves a concentration of activities and sites with the same thematic or geographical concept to stimulate businesses to form new, related products (Greff e, 1994).…”