Guiding visitors in nature and landscape protection

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Under visitor management measures be taken to influence visitors in terms of their spatial, temporal and quantitative distribution and their behaviors and attitudes to the subject of protection. With the help of visitor guidance, negative effects on the protected objects are to be minimized and the highest possible quality of relaxation and experience is guaranteed.

Information on visitor management in Westruper Heide
Core zone in the Sihlwald

The visitor control is a measure of visitor management in nature and landscape protection . The information from the monitoring of visitors and the ecosystem serves as the foundation for a successful visitor management .

Starting points

The focus of visitor guidance is on people and the preservation of the quality of experience in protected and natural recreation areas . Targeted integration of visitors into the visitor management process ensures successful implementation and achievement of nature conservation goals. Visitor management is local and (supra) regional. It primarily starts with the guest's stay in the protected or recreational area, but begins in their living environment.

With a view to holistic environmental education , visitor guidance is geared towards all age groups. Children, as the visitors of tomorrow, are important addressees of visitor management. The needs, motives and activities of the various target groups and visitor types must be taken into account during implementation.

aims

The goals of visitor management are divided into

  • Ecological goals: conservation of resources, emission reductions, reduction of the disturbance influence on wild animals
  • Economic goals: increasing the number of visitors, the length of stay, spending behavior, maintaining / creating jobs and income, reducing land prices, cost of living; Utilization and repair of tourist infrastructure, low expenditure for area management
  • Social, psychological and cultural goals: Assured recreational and adventure value for guests and locals, reduction of user conflicts, preservation of natural and cultural places and their accessibility, promotion of acceptance and identity of the population and guests
  • Safety objectives: Avoidance of accidents
  • Conservation objectives: Protection of cultural assets (buildings, sculptures, historical gardens, etc.)
  • Political-administrative goals: Demonstrating the ability to direct visitors, funding from the public sector, degree of participation of the locals, right to have a say (implementation of sustainable tourism strategies versus short-term profit interests of individuals).

Strategies

Before a strategy is chosen, an inventory of the area and the visitors is necessary in order to precisely identify possible conflicts of interest between protection and use.

There are two approaches to formulating visitor management strategies. On the one hand, the strategies can be structured according to target orientation.

  • Expectations: timely and correct information in advance of the visit prevents disappointed expectations and conflicts
  • Reduction of the influence: temporal spatial distribution and bundling, change of activity, temporal and spatial separation of activities, alternatives outside the protected area
  • Increase in supply: time, space, quantity, access
  • Increase in durability: choice of material, amount of infrastructure, maintenance intensity
  • Usage limitation: amount, activity, behavior, spatial-temporal etc.
  • Participation : timely and sustained involvement of those affected, principle of the same level

On the other hand, the strategies can be broken down according to the level of measures. This includes appeal strategies that provide information to the actors involved with the aim of creating insight for those responsible. Convention strategies are the planning of control measures and the setting of priorities with regard to certain uses or individual agreements and arrangements between owners and interested user groups. With standard strategies, protection goals can be enforced on the basis of restriction or prohibition.

activities

In terms of visitor management measures, a distinction can be made between soft (indirect / psychological) and hard (direct) measures.

Soft measures work through education, social norms, (early) concise information, offers and alternatives, exemplary behavior, persuasion or leadership. They influence the decision of the visitors and aim at self-determination and freedom. These decision-making measures have a long-term effect and require constant repetition.

Hard measures work through regulations (prohibitions and orders, penalties, charges, commercial restrictions, limitations) or measures such as fences or pricing policy. Strict controls and sanctions in the event of violations are essential for the successful implementation of these measures. Careful monitoring in advance serves as a basis for argumentation and is a prerequisite for the acceptance of the measures.

Nature trail / nature experience trail

Guiding visitors in the Dead Täler nature reserve through the thematic “Orchid Path” with path delimitation

In the course of the experience orientation of society, the longing for untouched nature and informal learning, nature trails are trendy , because they combine environmental education, information and " edutainment " with the experience of the landscape and nature. The design of the nature trail is to be geared towards the target group according to the visitor structure. The construction and maintenance of a nature trail cause high costs. Regular maintenance of the nature trail guarantees long-term attractiveness.

Depending on the design of the path, a distinction is made between the following types of educational paths:

  • Educational trail, themed trail
Educational trails convey information on various content almost exclusively in a descriptive way. Information boards or brochures are used as media. The visitors do not develop the content themselves, their role is limited to the passive reading of texts. The term "educational trail", which has a rather negative image, has recently been replaced by the more neutral term "theme trail".
  • Interactive path
In contrast to the educational trail, visitors are actively involved in the interactive trail. You develop the information independently. This is often done by turning, plugging, sliding, etc. A very simple and often used method of interactive communication is the folding board: the visitors are asked a question, they have to open the board to check the answer.
  • Sensory path
The aim of sensory paths is to use the senses (grasp, hear, smell, see, taste, feel) and experience the body to find a new approach to nature and thus to experience nature.
  • Adventure trail
Adventure trails are a combination of the types described above. Most of the stations must aim at interactive and sensory communication. This enables the visitors to experience the contents of the path holistically both by addressing the various senses and by interactive inclusion.

A nature trail can be created on various topics. The most important topics are: nature, forest, water, geology, cultural landscape, mining, history, art and culture, mythology, religion, health, astronomy, sensitization of the senses.

Different media are used depending on the type of nature trail: information board, interactive installation, sensory installation, brochure, models, guided tours, mobile backpack.

Visitor and conservation centers

A visitor center includes the following aspects

  • Behavioral control: information about protected property, visit recommendations, bonding through experience and emotions
  • Timing: opening times of exhibitions and animal enclosures reduce the length of stay
  • Spatial control: bundled infrastructure, nature trails, enclosures
  • Income: sale of local products, souvenirs, jobs, construction contracts

Development concept

The use of the network of paths in a park is planned in the development concept. It corresponds to a structure plan that defines the various uses in the protected area (including core zone, etc.). The tourist development concept (TEK) determines which uses are possible where, which paths are used by hikers, riders, etc. and which work steps are carried out for the implementation of the nature park when and by whom.

Zoning of protected areas

Depending on the biophysical conditions and the problem, park managers must achieve an appropriate combination of densification and dispersion of recreational use by designating areas of different intensive use. Through a differentiated spatial separation of functions, areas are assigned a specific degree and intensity of human activity and nature conservation. The classification ranges from areas with intense human activity (villages, settlements, visitor centers) to wilderness areas without any human influence.

A division into zones can also be used for a limited time. This can lead to daily, weekly or seasonal restrictions on use in an area. Criteria for the division into zones are, in addition to the condition of the park, the management objectives for the park, the location of significant natural values ​​and features, the demand for recreational uses and tourist services, as well as the regional supply of resources, possibilities and special features.

Desired and acceptable states are assigned to each zone, which are linked to possible management measures (e.g. group size regulation) and quantitative standards (LAC).

The number and description of the zones must be adapted to the respective situation. A number of three to ten zones is easy to handle for park management.

Success factors in visitor management

Visitor management should create a win-win situation for everyone involved . The prerequisite for this is that all those affected are informed in good time. In addition, the measures must be traceable. A combination of different measures is more promising than individual measures. Purely informative measures show little effect. A spatial and regional approach to planning prevents problems from being shifted to neighboring rooms.

Successful visitor management concepts

activity place problem Actors involved in the process Approach / measures Period
Mountain biking Uetliberg , Zurich (Canton of Zurich) Impairment of the vegetation on Zurich's local mountain by mountain bikers (especially downhillers). Conflict of use between hikers and mountain bikers Green City of Zurich, Sports Office of the City of Zurich, Office for Nature and Landscape Canton Zurich (Forest Department), City Police Zurich, property owners of the Uetlibergwald (municipality of Stallikon and canton), Swiss Cycling Association , IG Velo , Triemli district association, Zurich working group for hiking trails, teaching - and research forest of the ETH, Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg-Bahn (SZU). Creating and signing a Charter "walking and bicycling on Uetliberg", restriction of the transportation of bicycles with the SACU to the Uetliberg, construction of two bike trails , opening a forest road for bicycle traffic in the ETH Forest, improving the signaling in the entire Uetliberggebiet. 2005 to 2008
Variant skiing Engelberg (Canton of Obwalden) Impairment of wild animals and pollution of the local flora and fauna by " freeriders " (skiers and snowboarders away from the controlled slopes) and snowshoeers . Government council, canton Obwalden, community Engelberg, building and spatial development department Obwalden, piste patrollers, game rangers Obwalden, chief forester Obwalden, Hegechef Engelberg, police, Bergbahnen Engelberg Titlis (BET) AG, aerial cableway Engelberg-Brunni AG, mountain guide association Engelberg, Engelberg monastery AG. Elimination of protection zones, communication / public relations, structural measures, controls. 2005 to 2007

The planning zone is a legally binding immediate measure with a time limit. As a definitive solution, a cantonal game protection zone will be eliminated in 2011 and year-round usage regulations will be drawn up.

Those seeking relaxation Reuss level (cantons of Zurich and Aargau) Impairment of the flora and fauna, pollution and threat to biodiversity and the beauty of the landscape by those seeking relaxation. Nature conservation experts, planning offices, advisory commission of the Aargau government council, managers, residents, users, those looking for relaxation. Control concept, catalog of measures, expansion of the core area, selective expansion of leisure activities, communication / public relations, information and supervisory service, structural measures. 1999-2001
Orienteering All of Switzerland Impairment of flora and fauna and habitats worthy of protection through orienteering events. Swiss Orienteering Association, Orienteering + Environment Commission, FOEN , orienteering clubs, regional associations, other organizations, honorary members, sponsors, local authorities (especially game rangers, forest authorities), forest owners, hunting societies, nature conservation organizations. Flyer (catalog of measures), quiet zones, restricted areas, corridor-like walkways and areas with diverging walking directions, open spaces, promotion of public transport, success control. Ongoing implementation of measures at orienteering events
Those seeking relaxation Greifensee protected area Impairment of flora and fauna by people and dogs roaming free. Nature conservation department of the Canton of Zurich , Greifensee Foundation , communities around Greifensee, nature conservation experts, private companies, managers, those looking for relaxation Unbundling of protection and use. Catalog of measures and implementation for ecological improvements, for selective optimization of structural measures, for recreational use and for information and supervision with a ranger service. since 1997
Sport climbing Basel Jura Damage to the rock flora , impairment of the flora and fauna Sections of the Swiss Alpine Club , Pro Natura, IG Climbing Basler Jura, Federal Office for the Environment, Canton of Baselland, civic communities Designation of sensitive zones, temporary and year-round route closings and opening of passages, raising awareness among climbers from 1995
water sports Lake Neuchâtel Establishing and complying with the official protected area boundaries Groupe d'Etude et de Gestion de la Grande Caricaie, participation of all concerned in the form of ad hoc committees Establishment of protection zones, seasonal bathing and boat bans for the winter months, complete closure of certain sections of the bank for shipping, establishment of a commission with representatives from all interest groups

See also

literature

  • U. Ammer: Leisure, Tourism and Environment. Environment. (= Environmental protection. Basics and practice. Volume 11). Economica Verlag, Bonn 1998, ISBN 3-87081-582-5 .
  • A. Arnberger: (Im) possibilities of visitor control - how does visitor control become successful? Lecture at the sanu workshop Success factors and limits of visitor management, March 24, 2010. Bern 2010.
  • A. Bernasconi, U. Schroff: Leisure and recreation in the forest. Basics, instruments, examples. (= Environmental knowledge. No. 0819). Federal Office for the Environment, Bern 2008.
  • PF Eagles, SF McCool: Tourism in national parks and protected areas: planning and management. CABI Publishing, Wallingford 2002.
  • PF Eagles, SF McCool, CD Haynes: Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management. IUCN Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK 2002.
  • Kenneth E. Hornback, Paul FJ Eagles: Guidelines for public use measurement and reporting at parks and protected areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK 1999.