Park Zone Research Articles

Prohibiting spearfishing boosts conservation outcomes for partially protected areas

Partially Protected Areas (PPAs) are a ubiquitous management tool, yet their ecological effects are often poorly understood. Here, we compare conservation outcomes for two different kinds of PPAs (allowing limited line fishing, but with or without spearfishing) on sheltered and exposed sides of coral reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef. Compared with No-Take Marine Reserves (NTMRs), Conservation Park Zones (CPZs; spearfishing allowed), had lower biomass and density of primary fisheries targets. Conversely, Special Management Areas (SMAs; spearfishing prohibited) had similar biomass and density of primary targets to NTMRs, and had greater densities of coral trout (a key fishing target), compared to CPZs. No zoning patterns occurred for non-target species. Both PPA zones supported greater biomass of targets compared to less regulated Habitat Protection Zones, which have more allowable fishing activities. These results indicate that partial protection measures limiting fishing activities can create conservation outcomes for targeted fishes. In particular, we provide evidence to support the premise that prohibition of spearfishing can significantly boost conservation outcomes for PPAs. Zoning outcomes did not differ between exposed and sheltered sides of reefs, despite exposed sites consistently supporting a greater biomass and density of fishes. The success of PPAs, and in particular SMAs, in the region is likely due to a combination of factors including: strong enforcement and subsequent compliance of fishing restrictions, the presence of adjacent effective NTMRs, and a long duration of protection. Our results highlight the valuable contributions that PPAs can make to conservation outcomes in well managed MPAs.

Optimization strategy of national park resource utilization system—Take Bawangling Zone of Hainan Tropical Rain Forest National Park as an example

The national park with Chinese characteristics is the highest level of protection of a kind of natural protection, its establishment marks the park will implement the strictest ecological protection means. It is of great value to construct the utilization system of national park resources under the new natural protected area system in the new era to avoid the misunderstanding of “ecological protection only” and explore how to carry out the sustainable utilization of resources in the reform of national park system and mechanism. According to the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and Delphi method, the evaluation framework, indicators, reference standards and weights of resource utilization under the national park system were determined in combination with the requirements of constructing the protected natural area system and the total value of resource ecosystem services (including harvest value, existence value and future value). Based on the application research of Bawangling zone of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, the optimal resource utilization system in the future was proposed, and two optimization strategies of ecological adjustment of resource utilization system and construction of suitable resource utilization system were put forward.

TOWARDS CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY: ESTIMATING ON-CAMPUS VEHICLE CO2 EMISSIONS IN UNIMAS

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from motor vehicles is a one of major contributing factors to global warming. Efforts to reduce CO2 emissions should involve all parties including universities. In 2017, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) has committed to reduce CO2 emissions from its campus upon joining the low-carbon campus initiative. Thus, the current study aims to estimate the baseline of on-campus vehicle CO2 emissions by using mobility analysis of 5,294 entry vehicle data from two main gates (West and East) and 15 parking zones in the campus. Parking volume observations and traffic assignment analysis using the Bureau of Public Roads functions were undertaken to determine the links’ volumes. Subsequently, vehicle CO2 emissions were derived from the estimated vehicle fuel consumption. The results reveal that a total of 1,333.4 kg of CO2 emissions were expelled by on-campus motorised vehicle movements (which were predominantly petrol cars that comprised 80% of the observed vehicle trips). Additionally, the study discovered that the average on-campus vehicle CO2 emission was 12.4 kg per kilometre which far exceeds the European Standard for road traffic CO2 emissions. Thus, to achieve the status of a low-carbon campus, it is imperative for the university management to properly address Sector 3 CO2 emissions from the transportation segment by employing effective strategies and policies to significantly reduce private vehicle dependency among university staff and students.

Anisotropy of the polyarenes distribution in the urban soil-plant systems under the conditions of transport pollution

The interaction of natural structures (urban ecosystems) and anthropogenic pollution flows caused by transport pressure is chaotic; this fosters anisotropy of the geochemical system properties. Detailed local models facilitate investigation of these processes. The research object is the RUDN University campus (Moscow) with the adjacent park zone. The flows of marker compounds (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs) were evaluated for the soil–plant roots–stems system. The status of soil-plant systems in functional zones of the studied area was characterized in detail, and the differences between accumulation and exchange of pollutants were demonstrated. Assessment of the anisotropy is based on translocation coefficients and the entropy increment of pollutants along the selected profiles through the conditionally background zone and through the highway. PAHs flows in the soil–roots and roots–stems subsystems are largely inconsistent. The study sheds light on a significant buffer role of the root system in the redistribution of PAHs flows from the soil, as well as the selectivity of migration depending on the PAHs molecular weights. The quasi-equilibrium modes of interacting elements of the soil-plant system are typified, and various types of periodic modes are identified. Such models are necessary to determine the status of the soil and plant systems of the city and optimize the transport load.

Optimization of On-Street Parking in the Historical Heritage Part of Lviv (Ukraine) as a Prerequisite for Designing the IoT Smart Parking System

The city of Lviv faces a scarcity of parking lots, especially in its central zone. A comparison of the results of the in situ studies carried out in 2016 and 2021 in the city center showed the efficiency of the planning activities, due to which the number of on-street parking spaces increased by 72%, whereas the amount of on-street parking spaces in prohibited areas decreased by 32%. The extremely high demand shows that parking spaces in the city center should always be charged. It is reasonable to develop and implement a smart parking system compatible with the concept of the internet of things. In this case, drivers can get a real-time map of available parking spaces. The implementation of such a system should be preceded by a reasonable organization of the on-street parking zones. The high population density of Lviv and the development of urban subcenters require the expansion of the existing parking zones not only in the historic center but also in the remote areas of the city to balance the high demand for parking spaces and to ensure the sustainable development of the whole transport system.

Diversity, risk and management feasibility of invasive alien plants in the border zone of Sicike-cike Nature Tourism Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Huda MK, Pasaribu N, Syamsuardi, Siregar ES. 2022. Diversity, risk and management feasibility of invasive alien plants in the border zone of Sicike-cike Nature Tourism Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 3156-3165. Invasive alien species (IAS) threaten native ecosystems and biota either directly or indirectly. Once colonizing, invasive plant species tend to dominate a landscape, hindering other native vegetation from growing. Thus, the invasion of alien plant species needs attention moreover in protected areas such as Nature Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Alam/TWA) Sicike-cike, Dairi District, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Besides its importance for nature conservation, TWA Sicike-cike is culturally essential for Pakpak Dairi ethnic community as well as economically for ecotourism. Yet, anecdotal evidence showed the presence of several invasive alien plants around the park. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and composition of invasive alien plants within the vegetation community in TWA Sicike-cike and to assess the risk value and management feasibility of the IAS. Purposive sampling using line transect method was conducted to collect data with a total of 120 observation plots established along 6 transects. Risk value was assessed based on invasiveness, impact and potential distribution. Management feasibility was assessed based on cost, current distribution and persistence. The results showed that Asteraceae was the most dominant family of invasive plants in the studied area with four species. At the species level, Imperata cylindrica was invasive alien plant species with the highest important value index (IVI) of 57.65% and a high-risk value of 235.8, followed by other species including Ageratum conyzoides, Chromolaena odorata, Clidemia hirta and Melastoma malabathricum. In terms of management feasibility, the existence of I. cylindrica is recommended for direct eradication, while other IAS management recommendations, included monitoring and area protection for further invasion by the species.

АНАЛІЗ ОСНОВНИХ ФАКТОРІВ ВПЛИВУ ТА ВИМОГ ПРИ ФОРМУВАННІ РЕКРЕАЦІЙНИХ ПРОСТОРІВ НА РЕКУЛЬТИВОВАНИХ ТЕРИТОРІЯХ

The development of open deposits leads to land disturbance during mining and storage of overburden. Timely reclamation of spent disturbed lands on the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the requirements of the legislation is the direct responsibility of the subsoil user. Recreational reclamation is generally carried out near cities and large settlements in order to create recreation areas. It is mostly combined with water and forestry reclamation (lakes in quarries are put in order, beaches, recreation centers, trees, bushes, etc. are built on their shores). Creation of park zones on man-made landscapes is a completely new direction of research, which takes into account not only the quantitative indicator (area of green areas in the city per capita), but also the most rational and aesthetic way of placing greenery.
 The list of the main factors of influence on formation of recreational spaces on the fulfilled recreational territories, on the zonal geographical principle taking into account various characteristics of a relief and concrete district is offered. The essence and content of the impact on the potential of recreational areas of such factors as: socio-economic, demographic, resource-environmental; geopolitical, socio-psychological. Necessary requirements for the creation of new park zones in reclaimed areas are low demand for soil conditions, the impact of climate on the selected area, rapid growth at an early stage of development and their aesthetically attractive appearance.

Green infrastructure in Lviv – example of park zones

Abstract The combination of negative effects of urbanization and climate change in large cities poses a real threat to environmental, economic, and social stability in the world. The intensification of climate change and the analysis of its negative effects in cities show that climate change causes special threats in cities that are not specific to other types of human settlements. Assessing the vulnerability of urban ecosystems to climate change and planning measures to adapt cities to climate challenges is an important element of spatial infrastructure planning. The goal was to analyze the green infrastructure spatial arrangements on the example of green zones in Lviv. According to the results of field research and analysis of cadastral data, it was determined that most of the green areas are in the municipal property of the city, the only exceptions are the sites of the nature reserve fund of national importance. The total area of parks and squares of the city is more than 1,069 ha, of which 24% are areas of nature reserve. The provision of the urban population with public green spaces is about 14.82 m2.person−1. The green infrastructure is based mainly on objects – cores (e.g. parks and squares). There is also a reserve in the city to expand the boundaries of green areas. The combination of “cores” with green corridors and the use of point objects of green infrastructure will contribute to the continuity of the green spaces network, which in turn will provide more environmental and socio-economic benefits for the population.

Spatial Structure of an Urban Park System Based on Fractal Theory: A Case Study of Fuzhou, China

The rationality and efficiency of the spatial structure of an urban park system are critical in building a livable urban environment. Fractal theory is currently treated as the frontier theory for exploring the law of complex systems; however, it has rarely been applied to urban park systems. This study applied the aggregation, grid and correlation dimension models of fractal theory in Fuzhou, China. The spatial structure and driving factors of the urban park system were analyzed and an innovative model was proposed. The evidence shows that the spatial structure of the park system has fractal characteristics, although self-organization and optimization have not yet been fully formed, revealing a multi-core nesting pattern. Moreover, the core is cluster of four popular parks with weakening adsorption, and the emerging Baima River Park is located at the geometric center, which is likely to be further developed. The system structure is primarily driven by geographical conditions, planning policies, and transportation networks. Against this backdrop, an innovative model for the park system was proposed. The central park has heterogeneity and synergistic development, relying on the kinds of flow which can lead to the formation of a park city, a variation of a garden city. At the regional scale, relying on the geographical lines, the formation of a regional park zone could be realized. These findings provide new perspectives to reveal the spatial structure of urban park systems. The information derived can assist policy makers and planners in formulating more scientific plans, and may contribute to building a balanced and efficient urban park system.

PARASITOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF FOREST PARK ZONES OF THE CITY OF KURSK (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE SOLYANKA TRACT)

The Solyanka tract is a large forest area that adjoins the southern part of the city of Kursk. The forest park area is of great recreational importance, as it is an attractive place for citizens to relax. The article presents the results of parasitological studies of the soil of the Solyanka tract. In the course of the work carried out, the unsatisfactory condition of environmental objects was revealed according to parasitological indicators. Studies of 378 soil samples, the selection of which was carried out at three sites, showed the presence of parasitic agents in 117 (30.9%). Eggs of Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, Trichocephalus vulpis were found in the soil. The dominant in frequency of occurrence was the species Toxocara canis. The soil on the territory of the forest park zone located close to the residential complex turned out to be the most unfavorable in parasitological terms. The extensiveness of its contamination with pathogens of parasitic diseases was 34.8%. Analysis of the results of parasitological studies of the soil of the Solyanka tract showed that the highest percentage of positive samples (30.6%) was recorded in 2020, which is 1.3 more than in 2021. To determine the role of domestic animals in the contamination of the soil of the forest park zone, 126 samples of depersonalized dog feces were studied; T. canis eggs were found in 60.0% of cases. According to the research results, it was found that the main sources of invasive material entering the soil of the territory of the tract are dogs. The presence of pathogens of intestinal parasitosis in the soil of the forest park zone poses a potential threat to public health.

Assessment of risk to health of the population from soil pollution by heavy metals: theoretical- methodological and ecological aspects


 
 
 
 Existing methodological approaches to assessing the risk to public health from the effects of heavy metal pollution are highlighted. This article considers the influence of emissions from motor transport and industrial enterprises on the level of soil contamination by movable forms of heavy metals in different functional zones of the Odessa city. The degree of technogenic and chemical pollution of urban soils is determined by ecological indicators: concentration coefficient (Kc), hazard coefficient (Kn) and total pollution indicator (Zc). It is established that the indicators of the content of heavy metals in the humus horizons of the soils of Odessa city have a high variability and depend on the degree of industrial and transport impact. It was found that only the soils of the Botanical Garden have an optimal content of heavy metals. It is established that the soils are the most polluted by emissions from road transport in terms of lead (18 TVL), zinc (23 TVL) and cadmium (15 TVL). Accumulation of heavy metals was found in all studied soils of the city. The ecological condition of soils varies from optimal (park zone) to unsatisfactory condition (zone of joint influence of motor transport and industrial enterprises). In terms of total pollution, soils within the impact of road transport and industrial enterprises have a very high (extremely dangerous) level of pollution. The highest values of the total indicator of soil pollution were determined within the impact of road transport (Zc = 758.72) and the combined impact of industrial enterprises and road transport (Zc = 921.6). For the first time, a method was used to assess the risk to the health of the population of the Odessa city from the effects of soil contamination with heavy metals according to the probit regression model. It was determined that the study area of the city mainly has a high and dangerous risk to public health. The conducted researches allowed us to reveal the level of toxicity of the city soils and the level of danger to the health of the population, which will contribute to the implementation of appropriate measures to reduce pollution of the urban environment. The methodology for assessing the health risk from urban soil pollution by heavy metals is a promising approach to quality control of the system «environment – human health» and requires further research.
 
 
 

The role of protected areas in the formation of a comfortable urban environment formation

Aim : to determine the importance of protected areas (PA) in the formation of a comfortable urban environment formation. Methods . The following activities have taken place: collection of the route‐floristic descriptions, inventory of plantations, analysis of regulatory and stock materials, determination of the relative living condition of stands and calculation of ecosystem services. Results . PAs as unique natural objects have become a counterbalance to aggressive urban environments and serve as a tool for stabilising the ecological state of a territory as well as for keeping its population healthy. For the first time, in accordance with a systematic approach, the role of protected areas in different parts of urban life that define the comfort of an urban environment was analysed. The network of PAs of Khabarovsk includes 29 objects with a total area of 585.45 ha, which amounts to 1.51% of the total city area. The PA’s specifics were determined according to the urban planning and economic development of the territory and were divided into 6 categories: natural recreational complexes, nurseries, park zones, natural monuments, nature parks and public gardens. According to the systematic approach, we have analysed the role of protected areas in the formation of a comfortable urban environment for Khabarovsk. The example of the “Orekhovaya Sopka”, a protected area of local importance with an ability to intercept water in the form of precipitation, made it possible to increase the economic and ecological value of the protected urban lands in ecosystem service calculations. Conclusions . Urban PAs are protected natural objects with multipurpose use. The main function of PAs is to form a comfortable urban environment which is closely intertwined with architectural and urban planning and the economic, social and environmental spheres of urban life. The insignificant share of PAs in the total area of Khabarovsk indicates the necessity to expand their areas. It is proposed to use the indicator "PA’s share in the total area of a city" in urban environment quality index development.

Does land-use affect the temperature distribution across the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, México?

A combination of natural (tropical latitudes) and human induced (Climate Change, Urban heat island) conditions give rise and exacerbate extreme hot temperatures, but mechanisms are unclear. Land use and land cover change (LULC) is considered one of the main causes of Urban Heat Island (UHI) but its contribution varies depending on local conditions. This study focuses on determining the influence of land use change on the UHI effect in Tuxtla Gutiérrez City by investigating the relationship between LULC and land surface temperature (LST). Through Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 imagery, this study analyzes historical LST. In 2017, the highest LST (>40 °C) occurred in the metal ceiling land class, which is made up of malls with open-air parking zones. This coverage occupied less than 3% of the total city area. Bare agriculture soil (BAS) class, located mainly on the periphery of the city, represented 11% of the city, and reported a mean LST of 35 °C, followed by asphalt roads with 34 °C and concrete ceiling with 32 °C. The lowest LST (< 28 °C), occurred in contiguous areas of trees greater than 3 ha. The LST variation when land use changed from trees to another coverage (1.3 to 3.1 °C) is higher than in the opposite direction (0.1 to 1.2 °C). The elimination or replacement of tress with impervious surfaces are the main causes for LST increase in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL? FACTORS INFLUENCE ACCEPTANCE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RIVER FUNCTIONS IN JELAWAT PARK VISITORS

River border development is a problem in almost all cities. Previous research has discussed river border development from environmental, economic, legal, and socio-cultural aspects. This research is entered to fill the gap from the educational aspect, reviewing its influence as a potential media for river conservation to provide recommendations from problems to potential. This paper investigates the determinants that influence the level of knowledge of visitors to Taman Jelawat as a river border park on the function of the Mentaya River. Using logistic regression, the study sample consisted of 150 visitors to Taman Jelawat. The results showed that the distance from the visitor's residence to the river was an internal factor influencing the level of knowledge of river functions. While the external factors of visitors or factors from Jelawat Park became dominant with repeated visits, friends visiting, and favorite park zones as factors that could significantly influence the level of knowledge of Jelawat Park visitors. This shows that Jelawat Park as a river order park can be a good meeting point for humans and rivers. Meeting points can be useful for preserving river functions by building community knowledge about river functions.

Sustainable Public Transport Strategies—Decomposition of the Bus Fleet and Its Influence on the Decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The COVID pandemic has caused a major exodus of passengers who chose urban and suburban transport. In many countries, especially in the European Union, there is a tendency to choose individual means of transport, causing damage to the environment and contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. One method to promote urban transport is replacing bus fleets with newer ones, thus making public transport more attractive and reducing the emission of harmful exhaust fume components into the atmosphere. The aim of this study was to show a methodology for calculating CO2e for bus fleets. When determining CO2e, the principal greenhouse gases, such as CO2, CH4, and N2O, are usually considered. However, CO emissions also have indirect effects on climate through enhanced levels of tropospheric O3 and increased lifetime of CH4; therefore, CO2, CH4, N2O, and CO emissions were determined for CO2e emission calculations. Two bus fleet variant scenarios were analysed; the first non-investment variant assumed passenger transport using the old fleet without any P&R parking zones. The second scenario was based on the current state, which includes the purchase of new low-emission buses and the construction of P&R infrastructure. The calculations were performed using the COPERT emission model with real data from 52 buses running on 13 lines. For the analysed case study of the Rzeszow agglomeration and neighbouring communes, implementing the urban and suburban transport modernisation project resulted in a reduction in estimated CO2e emissions of about 450 t. The methodology presented, which also considers the impact of CO emissions on the greenhouse effect, is a new element of the study that has not been presented in previous works and may serve as a model for other areas in the field of greenhouse gas emission analyses. The future research scope includes investigation of other fuels and powertrain supplies, such as hydrogen and hybrid vehicles.

Legal Procedure for Collecting Samples in a National Park Based on the Natural Parks Act: Example of Application Procedure for a Special Zone and a Marine Park Zone of Keramashoto National Park

Legal Procedure for Collecting Samples in a National Park Based on the Natural Parks Act: Example of Application Procedure for a Special Zone and a Marine Park Zone of Keramashoto National Park

Seismic response and reliability index of RC weak story buildings on soft soils of Mexico city

For more than 50 years, buildings with soft ground floors continue to suffer severe damage and collapse when subjected to seismic events. During the earthquakes of September 19, 1985 and 2017 that occurred in Mexico, a significant number of collapsed buildings had this type of structure. Currently, many existing buildings have a parking zone on the ground floor and apartments for residential use on the upper floors. The parking area is supported by columns and beams, whereas the slabs of the upper floors are supported by masonry walls, creating a weak story at the ground level. In order to explain the collapses of weak story buildings observed during the earthquake of September 19, 2017, this study evaluates the seismic response and determines the reliability indices of a typology of buildings with flexible ground floors in Mexico City. Additionally, passive control devices with friction energy dissipation, hysteric behavior and viscous dampers, were proposed to retrofit the buildings and increase the reliability indices of the structures. Results showed that the reliability indices of existing buildings with a weak ground floor are very low, which explains the observed damages and collapses during the 2017 earthquake. Reliability indices of the retrofitted buildings were significantly increased and the failure probabilities of the structures were strongly reduced, showing the effectiveness of passive control systems to mitigate the seismic risk of this type of structures.

Assessment of the density of the road and path network in the landscapes of the projected Nizhny Novgorod Zavolzhye National Park as a comprehensive indicator of anthropogenic pressure (Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia)

The article considers the indicators of landscape determination of anthropogenic pressure on the territory through the analysis of the density of the road and path network. This analysis allows, firstly, to assess the level of preservation of the landscapes of the territory, secondly, it allows to find the territories that allow to use the already established network of roads for laying tourist routes, which in the future must be taken into account during the projecting of the functional zones of the national park; thirdly, it allows to establish the landscape determination of the anthropogenic pressure on the territories of the forest zone of Central Russia. The object of the research is the territory of the projected national park in the Nizhny Novgorod region (Russia), lying in the left-bank part of the Volga River valley in its middle course.

Assessment of effects of the anthropogenic disturbance on plant communities and soils in urbanized territories

The research was conducted in forest and forest park zones of industrial cities of Irkutsk, Angarsk, Usolie-Sibirskoye, and Shelekhov (Irkutsk region, Eastern Siberia, Russia). The disturbance of biogeocenoses in the urban environment was assessed by a set of visual and morphostructural parameters of trees, the state of the grass cover, morphological and physical properties of soils. The study showed to what extent the structural and functional parameters of trees, grass cover, and soils of urbanized areas have changed in comparison with the background, what is the main trend of their transformation. It has been established that in urban forest parks, under conditions of high recreational load, the morphological and physical parameters of the topsoils are informative, as evidenced by their high correlations with the morphostructural parameters of trees. The results indicate that the most weakened trees grow on soils with a high density of the soil's upper horizons and unfavorable water-air conditions. For recreational areas, an increased level of degradation of organic matter, as well as a reduced content of plant nutrients were found. The selected set of parameters of plants and soils allows to estimate reliably the degree of their disturbance and can be used when substantiating the levels of anthropogenic loads on forest ecosystems within urbanized territories.

Habitat selection of large herbivores evidenced as threats to alpine ecosystem

Across the globe, increasing populations of Cervidae have the potential to modify ecosystems. Long-term grazing pressure by deer not only alters vegetation but also affects ecosystem functions and interspecific interactions. It is recognized as a significant factor in ecological degradation. Alpine vegetation (i.e., alpine meadow) is an icon of alpine ecosystems and has thrived for centuries without the presence of large herbivores in Japan. However, in the alpine zone (>2700 m a.s.l.) of the South Alps National Park in central Honshu, Japan, sika deer (Cervus nippon) were first seen in the 1990s; thereafter, the vegetation noticeably changed starting in the 2000s. Nonetheless, virtually no information exists on habitat selection by these alpine sika deer. Here we analyzed (1) the altitudinal movement patterns of alpine sika deer, (2) the significant environmental factors affecting their habitat selection, and (3) estimated the relative probability of their habitat use via resource selection functions (RSF). The mean altitudinal difference between summer and winter home ranges was 1186 m, and the alpine sika deer arrived at the alpine ridgeline in June when the snow cover at >2400 m a.s.l. rapidly decreased. The mean altitude in the summer home range was 2635 ± 135 m. Alpine meadow, followed by Betula forests and tall grasslands, were preferred habitats by deer. The deer also preferred areas where snow melted in late spring and early summer. The deer's core habitat, indicated by higher RSF values (≥0.65), covered 45.2% of the study area, mostly distributed in the alpine zone. Our estimates clearly suggest the urgent need to prioritize specific areas for the conservation of the alpine vegetation in the South Alps National Park in Japan.