The Design of Nature Interpretation Program of the Hiking Trail In Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary

Abstract

This study aims to assess potential of recreation resources and design interpretation program base on wild orchid resources for the Loan Tae Hiking Trail, approximately 12.60 kilometers. The data were collected from October 2011 to September 2012. The assessment of recreation resources was determined using 11 indicators. A weighed score equation was used to evaluate the potential of recreation resources along the trail. The study showed that a potential of the Loan Tae Hiking Trail was very high. The indicators with highest score included a uniqueness of recreation resources along a trail, uniqueness of plant communities, the difficulty of the path in the activities, scenic quality of a landscape, the significance of nature interpretation, appropriate resources to the recreation activities and suitability of climate conditions for outdoor activities. A designed of interpretive nature program was based on basic potentials of recreation resources and biological and physical factors interpretive potential, diversity and phenology of wild orchid species, characteristics of plants communities as well as a slope profile of the trail. The interpretive nature themes were divided into three different interpretive nature topics, including 1) diversity of plant communities in the Loan Tae hiking trail 2) phenology and the importance of wild orchids and 3) the annual flowering of wild orchids, respectively. An appropriate media of this hiking trail should be a guide book due to the fact that minimizing impacts resulting from introduced interpretative facilities is crucial to sustainability of wild orchid resources.

Keywords: Natural interpretation, Wild Orchids, Hiking trails, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary