Visitor perception of recreational ecosystem services and their role in landscape management of Gölcük Nature Park, Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to assess the perceived recreational ecosystem services (RES) of Gölcük Nature Park (Isparta) – a legally protected area- in order to evaluate its operational potential in relation to current management practices. To identify the perceived and preferred RES, an in-situ questionnaire survey was carried out. The long- term development plan for the site was used as secondary data to assess the management and development conflicts with perceived recreation provision. Descriptive statistics, t-test and one-way ANOVA test and bivariate calculations were used to analyze the data. The geomorphological structure of Gölcük Nature Park was found to constitute a significant resource for its perceived RES provision and sensory experience. Age and frequency of visit had any influence on neither perceived RES provision nor visitor preferences. On the other hand, while gender and education level were found influential on the appreciation of the RES to some degree, income and education level were found as determining factors in the context of visitors’ preferred activities. Based on our findings, we concluded that the perceived RES and the long-term development plan goals do not overlap at all since visitor characteristics and socio-spatial data were ignored during analysis and synthesis. Novel frameworks that integrate natural and social sciences need to be developed and authorities need to be receptive and adaptive to implement such approaches. In this regard, ES concept might be useful to identify strategies on conservation and recreational use.