Impacts of recreation and tourism on plant biodiversity and vegetation in protected areas in Australia

Recreational trampling negatively impacts vegetation structure of an Australian biodiversity hotspot

“…Trampling is one of the most visible forms of disturbance to vegetation as a result of recreational use resulting in loss of vegetation height and cover, damage to soils and changes in plant community composition (Kelly et al 2003;Cole 2004;Hill and Pickering 2006;Pickering and Hill 2007;Monz et al 2010a, b;Ballantyne and Pickering 2013;Newsome et al 2013). Trampling of vegetation and soils can occur when recreational users leave an established trail to take a photograph, investigate a flower or create an informal trail for their own purpose (Pickering and Hill 2007;Ballantyne and Pickering 2012;Barros et al 2013;Newsome et al 2013).…”

“…Trampling of vegetation and soils can occur when recreational users leave an established trail to take a photograph, investigate a flower or create an informal trail for their own purpose (Pickering and Hill 2007;Ballantyne and Pickering 2012;Barros et al 2013;Newsome et al 2013). Knowledge about the relationship between the effects of trampling and the sensitivity of vegetation is essential in effectively managing these interactions (Liddle 1997;Cole 2004;Hamberg et al 2010;Pickering et al 2010).…”

“…Knowledge about the relationship between the effects of trampling and the sensitivity of vegetation is essential in effectively managing these interactions (Liddle 1997;Cole 2004;Hamberg et al 2010;Pickering et al 2010). Moreover, understanding this relationship is particularly important in areas of high conservation value (Hopper and Gioia 2004;Pickering and Hill 2007;Hopper 2009;Sloan et al 2014). …”

Blending a heritage of recreation and tourism with conservation of natural heritage: an example from Penguin Island, Western Australia

“…Confinement of visitor access to beaches and designated pathways significantly reduced impacts on the island's vegetation and bird nesting sites (Goodlich, 2002;Meinema, 2010). Hence the site hardening has been done such that it does protect biodiversity, as advocated by Andersen (1993) and Wearing and Neil (2009), rather than damaging it as Pickering and Hill (2007) warned. The site hardening and restriction of visitor access was designed in such a way that it does not detract from the recreational visitor experience, avoiding the negative social impacts indicated by McArthur and Hall, (1993) and Bell (2008).…”

“…This could be seen to impinge on the tradition of protected areas as resources for recreation and tourism use. From a conservation view point, Pickering and Hill (2007) noted construction of hardened visitor facilities in themselves had negative impacts on biodiversity because of the need for vegetation clearing and soil removal among other impacts. Thus, extensive site hardening could potentially negatively impact on both the natural and recreational heritage of a site.…”