Some Bio-physical Recreation Impacts and Limits of Acceptable Change: A Case Study of Kaeng Krachan National Park

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to analyze recreation impacts, the perception of visitors on recreation impacts and the limit of acceptable change of some bio-physical recreation impacts in Kaeng Krachan National Park. Data on bio-physical recreation impacts were collected from 9 indicators consisting of: 1) soil erosion 2) root exposure 3) tree damage 4) broken tree branches 5) vegetation cover 6) trash 7) social trail 8) turbidity and 9) suspended solids at the Bann Krang Camp, Panoenthung and the Pala-U waterfall in the dry and rainy seasons. Questionnaires were used to collect data on recreation impact perception from 417 visitors. The survey data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance.

The study found that vegetation cover and root exposure in the hill evergreen forest and dry evergreen forest were significantly different between the middle of the trail, edge of the trail and the natural area. The vegetation cover in the hill evergreen forest and dry evergreen forest, turbidity and suspended solids were significantly different between the dry and rainy seasons due to the fact that all variables are highly associated with the amount of precipitation. Visitors perceived that the recreation impact level was moderate. The study results found that all 9 impact indicators were within the limits of acceptable change.

Keywords: recreation impact, limits of acceptable change, Kaeng Krachan National Park