Download Understanding the Sustainable Use of Resources for Outdoor Recreation - Prof. Edwin E. Kru and more Study notes Humanities in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Recreation Carrying Capacity -- Fact or Fiction? “...shall be preserved for the use & enjoyment of the American people...in such manner as will leave them unimpaired for future generations...” RRT 287 -- Prof. Ed Krumpe 2 The Roots of Carrying Capacity The maximum number & density of animals a given unit of land can support on a sustained basis without destruction of the resource base. 3 The Roots of Carrying Capacity The maximum number & density of animals a given unit of land can support on a sustained basis without destruction of the resource base. No. of aSpecies Time Browse 2 4 The Roots of Carrying Capacity The maximum number & density of animals a given unit of land can support on a sustained basis without destruction of the resource base. No. of aSpecies Time Browse Deer 5 The Roots of Carrying Capacity The maximum number & density of animals a given unit of land can support on a sustained basis without destruction of the resource base. No. of aSpecies Time Browse Deer Predators 6 Major Assumptions of Recreation Carrying Capacity The amount of impact is related to the amount of use. Decreasing the amount of use will decrease the impacts. Researchers can calculate the magic number of users, below which impacts will be acceptable. 5 13 Different Kinds of Capacities are Interrelated Facilities Capacities Parking lots, Trailheads, Lodging, Roads... Physical Capacities Canyons, Cliffs, Water, Shorelines... Ecological Capacities T&E Species, Riparian areas, Soils... Social Capacities Encounters, Crowding, Behavior… 14 Critical Limiting Factors Density independent factors Things which affect a population but which are not related to population density The “weak link” or anomaly which limits how a site is used for recreation Useable flat land, access, water, weather . . . Sometimes social factors are more limiting than physical or ecological factors. 15 Critical Limiting Factors 6 16 Why do we want to determine Recreation Carrying Capacity? Because of legal mandates & Because we want to control Recreation Impacts! 17 Recreation Impacts Vary with the type of use. Vary with the timing of use. Vary with the distribution of use. Vary with the environmental setting. Vary with mitigating actions taken by managers. Vary with people’s expectations & norms. 18 Recreation Carrying Capacity The amount and type of use that an area can sustain over a given time period, given goals to maintain the physical environment and the experience of the visitor. 7 19 Carrying Capacities Differ -10 -5 0 5 10 0 10 30 90 1000 Sidewalk Cocktail Party Wilderness Very Satisfied Very Unsatisfied Number of People Encountered 20 Prerequisites for Defining Recreation Carrying Capacity Clear statement of Desired Future Conditions that include: Goals defining the experience that is to be sustained over time Goals describing the resource conditions that are to be sustained over time Definition of amount and type of use.
