Social carrying capacity assessment from questionnaire and counts survey: Insights for recreational settings management in coastal areas

Abstract

Because of demographic and tourism increase, coastal areas are facing higher numbers of recreational users. Together with other factors (environmental quality, protection status), the level of use affects the spatial distribution of users. This level also affects the quality of user experience, because beyond a certain level, the number of users results in decreased user satisfaction; this is the social carrying capacity (SCC), which depends on user and site characteristics. This study assessed the SCC in a popular coastal area and examined how it influences the spatial distribution of users. Boat and visitor counts as well as data from a questionnaire-based survey were analyzed to assess i) crowding perception, ii) factors affecting the disturbance associated with use level, and iii) user's coping strategies when managing high use levels. The results demonstrated that crowding perception and disturbances associated with use level depend on-site characteristics, use level, and user characteristics. Boat type was the main factor affecting user's coping strategy. SCC significantly differed between sites and according to the use level anticipated by users. The SCC was fulfilled at every site within the marine protected areas, except for the sites experiencing the lowest use level. This study provides novel and valuable information for the field of recreational use management, when attempting to achieve either sustainable use goals through SCC assessment or biodiversity conservation goals through the effect of SCC on the spatial distribution of pressures related to recreational uses. Highlights ► Recreational users count and survey data were collected on same sites. ► Recreational users often under estimate the number of present visitors and boats. ► Number of boats and visitors is the main disturbance due to use level. ► Every MPA sites reached the social carrying capacity. ► Facing high use level, the coping strategy of users depends on boat type.

La evaluación de la capacidad de carga perceptual en el Camino de Santiago Francés: una aproximación cuantitativa

“…Entre las variables que Stokols et al (1973) enuncian como más determinantes a la hora de percibir la masificación, destacan el estatus educacional y socioeconómico del individuo, el tamaño del grupo, las tradiciones culturales del individuo y la relación que tenga con el espacio, es decir si es residente en la zona, en la región o visitante. Dichas variables van a ser adoptadas en muchos de los estudios posteriores (Kalisch, 2012;Neuts & Nijkamp, 2012) y, además, se incluirán tipologías: sociodemográficas (Kuentzel & Heberlein, 2003;Kalisch, 2012;Gonson, Pelletier, & Alban, 2018), temporales (Tarrant & English, 1996;Shelby & Vaske, 2007;Kailisch, 2012), espaciales (Shelby & Vaske, 2007;Vaske & Shelby, 2008) o motivacionales (Neuts & Nijkamp, 2012).…”

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Perceptual Carrying Capacity and Trade Fairs - Eye Tracking Experiment

“…The quality of this experience might be diminished by both the crowding effect and ecosystem degradation caused by high use level (e.g. Gonson et al, 2018). How each person subjectively views density levels in a specific place is called perceived crowding (Shelby and Heberlein, 1984) and it is usually defined as a negative assessment of visitor density within a given area (Graefe et al, 1984).…”

Research on Urban Bearing Capacity of Gas Supply Stations

“…This action plan focused on the renovation of small coal-fired boilers and the acceleration of the construction of centralised heating, "coal to gas" and "coal to electricity" projects. To accelerate the adjustment of the energy structure and increase the supply of clean energy, this policy also proposed a series of measures, such as controlling total coal consumption, accelerating and comprehensive bearing capacity of cities [15]. Related studies started relatively late in China and mainly focused on the fields of natural resources, ecological environment and infrastructure.…”