Sustainable Trail Management in Costa Rica National Parks: The use of photography for trail surfacing decisions under tropical rainforest conditions

Juan

Description

Resumen
El Parque Nacional Volcán Poas (PNVP) es el parque mas visitado de Costa Rica. Sus facilidades físicas, accesibilidad, y su proximidad a las mayores ciudades del país hacen del PNVP un destino preferido por visitantes locales y extranjeros. Ademas de su cono volcánico activo, los senderos del parque son muy apreciados. Las condiciones lluviosas que prevalecen a través del año y la alta visi-tación anual hace muy importante determinar las preferencias de los visitantes por el tipo de superficie para poder garantizar la sostenibilidad de los senderos del parque. El propósito de este estudio fue el de explorar la viabilidad de utilizar fotos en combinación, con encuestas para identificar las características socio-demográficos y otras variables relacionadas y que afectan la selección del tipo de superficie pre-ferida por los visitantes en condiciones de alta precipitación , con el fin de poder indicar a la administra-ción del PNVP, como mejorar las decisiones y asignación de los recursos presupuestarios relacionados con el diseño, construcción, conservación y mantenimiento de los senderos del parque. El estudio se realizó durante los meses de mayo, junio y julio del 2005.
Abstract
Volcan Poas National Park (VPNP) is Costa Rica’s most visited park. Its facilities, accessibil-ity, and proximity to the major cities of the country make VPNP a preferred destination for local and foreigner visitors. Aside from its active volcanic cone, the park trails are a major asset. The extremely wet conditions prevailing throughout the year and heavy visitation made it essential to determine visi-tor’s trail surface preferences to guarantee park trail sustainability. The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of using photos in combination with a regular survey to identify the socio-demographic characteristics and other trail related variables that affect trail surface selection to guide management decisions and resource allocation related to trail design, construction, and maintenance. The study was conducted during May, June and July of 2005.

Sujets

• Fotografía
• Selección
• Costa Rica
• Photographie

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: Español

Extrait

Vol. 7 Nº1 págs. 29-42. 2009

www.pasosonline.org


Sustainable Trail Management in Costa Rica National Parks: The use
of photography for trail surfacing decisions under tropical rainforest
1conditions

ii
Juan A Aguirre G.
Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Costa Rica)


Resumen: El Parque Nacional Volcán Poas (PNVP) es el parque mas visitado de Costa Rica. Sus
facilidades físicas, accesibilidad, y su proximidad a las mayores ciudades del país hacen del PNVP un
destino preferido por visitantes locales y extranjeros. Ademas de su cono volcánico activo, los senderos
del parque son muy apreciados. Las condiciones lluviosas que prevalecen a través del año y la alta visi-
tación anual hace muy importante determinar las preferencias de los visitantes por el tipo de superficie
para poder garantizar la sostenibilidad de los senderos del parque. El propósito de este estudio fue el de
explorar la viabilidad de utilizar fotos en combinación, con encuestas para identificar las características
socio-demográficos y otras variables relacionadas y que afectan la selección del tipo de superficie pre-
ferida por los visitantes en condiciones de alta precipitación , con el fin de poder indicar a la administra-
ción del PNVP, como mejorar las decisiones y asignación de los recursos presupuestarios relacionados
con el diseño, construcción, conservación y mantenimiento de los senderos del parque. El estudio se
realizó durante los meses de mayo, junio y julio del 2005.

Palabras clave: Fotografía; Selección del tipo de superficie; Senderos; Selección; Condición lluviosa;
Costa Rica.


Abstract: Volcan Poas National Park (VPNP) is Costa Rica’s most visited park. Its facilities, accessi-
bility, and proximity to the major cities of the country make VPNP a preferred destination for local and
foreigner visitors. Aside from its active volcanic cone, the park trails are a major asset. The extremely
wet conditions prevailing throughout the year and heavy visitation made it essential to determine visi-
tor’s trail surface preferences to guarantee park trail sustainability. The purpose of this study was to
explore the feasibility of using photos in combination with a regular survey to identify the socio-
demographic characteristics and other trail related variables that affect trail surface selection to guide
management decisions and resource allocation related to trail design, construction, and maintenance. The
study was conducted during May, June and July of 2005.

Keywords: Photos; Trail surface selection; Rainy conditions, Costa Rica.




ii • Juan A Aguirre es Decano de Extension Universitaria y profesor de Emprendedurismo. Facultad de Ciencias
Empresariales. Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnologia. San Jose. Costa Rica.. E-mail:
[e-mail] - [e-mail]
© PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural. ISSN 1695-7121 30 Sustainable Trail Management in Costa Rica National Parks: ...

Introduction Many forms of assessing trail problems
have been use over the past half a century.
Tropical rainforests are characterized by Many methods have relied on direct mea-
their low resistance and intermediate to surement of the problems and the others on
high resilience to impact associated with interviews with visitors. The very recent
human visitation. Trail erosion caused by advances in digital photography open new
recreational use threatens the resources in options not available before. The blend of
many parks. Managers of wilderness areas immediate recollection with well structured
are normally mandated to assess recrea- traditional survey techniques has been
tional use impacts on trail erosion and de- pointed out by many outdoor recreation
gradation. The assessment of erosion in- researchers as offering great potential
cludes a body of work that spans almost 40 (Manning and Freimund, 2004; Stewart
years in developed countries, some exam- and Floyd, 2004).
ples of the methods used for trail erosion The used of photography may be recent
assessment being: condition class assess- but definitely not new. Several studies have
ment, morphometric assessments, cen- demonstrated that altering the format
sus/tally assessments, census of erosional (question wording or presentation format)
events, and photographic assessments us- can alter responses obtained from norma-
ing stereo photography to name a few (Bay- tive questions. It appears that closed for-
field and Lloyd 1973; Bratton et al, 1979; mats, like photographs, offer a cognitively
Jewell and Hammitt, 2000; Giles, 2002; easier and more meaningful approach. In
Turton, 2005). the case of Image Capture Technology
The idea of trade of is essential to visi- (ICT), respondents indicated that the im-
tor’s surface choices. Normative research in ages served as useful reminders of their
outdoor recreation is conventionally con- visit and helped them to articulate their
ducted using quantitative methods that norms. The use of visitors employing pho-
generate numerical estimates of respon- tography is becoming normal technique as
dent norms or evaluative standards of qual- a “recollection and evaluation of the expe-
ity for park and outdoor recreation condi- rience” particularly in the United States
tions. Cognitive mapping as a means of and around the world (Hall and Roggen-
gathering data related to recreational use buck, 2002; Freimund et al, 2002; Vistad,
patterns (RUP) and impacts on the hiking 2004; Turner and Funicelli, 2000; Lueng
trail system alludes to an individual's abili- and Marion, 2000; Gimblett, 1987; Hem et
ty to construct a mental representation of al, 2004; Arriaza, et al 2005; Fairweather
the geographical environment. Visitor and Swaffield, 2001; Taylor et al, 1998;
management in parks, wilderness, and Flick and Taylor, 2002; Stedman et al,
other protected areas requires information 2003; Loeffler, 2004; Nelson, et al, 2001).
about visitor-environment interactions and Two studies, Rollins and Mcallum and
particularly the distribution and flow of Kim et al, reinforce the idea that digital
visitors in space and time (Manning et al, photography could be used in assessing the
2005; Lankford et al, 2004; Cole and visitor’s surface preferences under very
Daniel, 2004; Leung and Marion, 2000). rainy conditions at VPNP. The first study
The importance of trail analysis and used the normative approach involving
visitors impact on trails has been well digital photography in a recreation setting
documented around the world (Holden, to depict progressively more intense
2002; Nepal and Nepal, 2001; Bratton and changes in conditions, and in the second
Hickler, 2002; Magro, 2003; Ploner and photos of different methods were used for
Brandenburg, 2004; Bruehler and Sonde- selecting impact indicators for trail man-
gaard, 2004; Hornsten, 2000). The work in agement conditions by comparing a photo
Belize and Costa Rica clearly demonstrates survey method (PSM) with a written sur-
the importance of adequate trail manage- vey method (WSM). The major photo com-
ment in the overall management of any ponents in order of importance were six:
national park (Farrell and Marion, 2001; area of large rocks on trail, area of wood
Lueng and Marion, 2000). steps, area of bare roots, area of bare soil,
PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 7(1). 2009 ISSN 1695-7121

Juan A. Aguirre 31

area of small stones, and area of stone Sampling Size and Method of Selection.
steps (Rollins and Mcallum, 2001; Kim et The interviews were conducted during
al, 2003). the months of May, June and July of 2005
In Costa Rica, because of the heavy visi- months that represent, the beginning, take
tation pressure and the permanent short- off and stability of the rainy season in the
age of funds for trail maintenance, the na- park. The sampling size, was determine
tion national park system needs new ways using the “rule of a minimum of 5 surveys”
to reduce cost and sharpen management or what is known as the subject to variables
decisions related to trail management. ratio(STV) per item, when multivariate
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to type of analysis is conducted to have a 95%
explore the feasibility of using photos in probability level or a 5% error. (Bryan and
combination with a regular survey to iden- Yarnold,2003).
tify the socio-demographic characteristics of However by personal decision and to be
the visitors, their reasons for coming to the on the safe side, since there was not pre-
park, trail physical characteristics, and the vious studies of this nature in the country ,
trail surface preferences as a result of the we multiply by a factor 5, the “STV” rule,
heavy rain conditions affecting trail use in meaning that for every item measure we
VPNP to guide management decisions and finish with 25 surveys.
resource allocation related to trail design, The decision made, to increase by a fac-
construction and maintenance. tor of five the “STV rule