A management planning framework based on ecological, perceptual and economic carrying capacity: The case study of Vikos-Aoos National Park, Greece

Abstract

ponent of life (Seabrooke and Miles, 1993). of the resource base to continue to provide for Today there are large numbers of people using recreational use is generally viewed through the countryside and natural resources for the concept of carrying capacity. Carrying captheir recreation, often congregating in re- acity can be distinguished into ecological carstricted spots causing pressure on the natural rying capacity, defined as the maximum level resources. Moreover, the demand for new nat- of recreational use in terms of numbers and ural unspoiled areas has diverted tourism to activities that can be accommodated by an search for new tourist products and des- area or an ecosystem before an unacceptable or tinations which inevitably include nature re- irreversible decline in ecological values occurs serves. National parks have always been (Pigram, 1983); and perceptual carrying capexploited as recreational and tourist at- acity, defined as the level of recreational use tractions. In 1872 Yellowstone Park was foun- which maximizes aggregate satisfaction to inded for the enjoyment of the people (Packard, dividuals (Brotherton, 1973). Moreover, an 1972). The IV World Congress on National economic aspect of carrying capacity is reParks and Protected Areas, clearly accepted cognized as the level of use of a site or facility and recognized the value of tourism as a that is required to yield a given financial reuse of national parks, provided that it was turn (Patmore, 1983). Yet, carrying capacity environmentally and culturally compatible remains a highly elusive concept and its im- * Corresponding author with the maintenance of ecological integrity plementation is linked with the practical prob(McNeely, 1994). In this respect, parks can