Managing coastal recreation impacts and visitor experience using GIS

Abstract

A campsite monitoring program was initiated in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve/Haida Heritage Site to determine baseline levels of visitor impacts. These data were necessary to evaluate visitor management strategies and to act as reference points to measure changes in impacts over time. Using GIS, survey data were integrated with an ecological land classification, archaeological databases and a visitor use database. Analyses showed that although the campsites impacted only 0.0007% of the land base, 53 of the 75 campsites were ranked as either extremely or highly sensitive to human disturbance. The implications of this information to visitor management are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Gajda, Anna M. T.; Brown, Judson; Peregoodoff, Grant; Bartier, Patrick. 2000. Managing coastal recreation impacts and visitor experience using GIS. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 115-123