Trampling impacts of recreationists on picnic sites in a Hong Kong country park.

Abstract

To contain and mitigate the damages in a subtropical environment with exceptionally high patronage, basic research in the local context is needed. The objectives of the present study are 4-fold: 1) to ascertain the nature and extent of soil and vegetation changes in recreational sites induced by trampling; 2) to develop a simple and rapid method for the evaluation of recreational site conditions; 3) to examine the influence of some site-attractiveness factors on degradation; and 4) to seek management approaches towards minimizing trampling impacts.-Author