Conservation Benefits of Public Visits to Protected Islands Research Completed

Title

Conservation Benefits of Public Visits to Protected Islands

Lead Author

Cessford, G.

Organisation(s)

Department of Conservation

Publication Year

1995

Publisher

Department of Conservation

Contacts

Part 1 is available here.

Part 2 is available here.

Part 3 is available here.

The DOC website also has links to these documents on their older series Research pages: www.doc.govt.nz/publications/science-and-technical/products/series/older-series/sandr-series-archive/

Abstract

 

Managers are often concerned about the negative impact of humans on conservation islands. However, it is also important to consider the alternative – the positive impact of conservation islands on humans – as the conservation benefits that accrue may well outweigh the negative impacts of humans visiting these protected areas. This study examines just what conservation benefits may occur as a result of allowing public access to conservation areas. The assessment was carried out through the pre- and post-survey of visitors to two islands – the scientific reserve Tiritiri Matangi which has an extensive revegetation programme based on public involvement, and the nature reserve Little Barrier, which is a protected sanctuary for highly threatened species. The islands differed in the type of visitor they attracted and also in the impact they had on the visitors’ experience. Little Barrier Island attracted more conservation committed individuals but Tiritiri Matangi stimulated more pro-conservation change in its visitors.

Little Barrier visitors became more aware of the negative impacts of threats and the need for conservation management of threatened species while visitors to Tiritiri Matangi became more aware of the positive potential of conservation management based on public involvement. Overall, Tiritiri Matangi seems to have produced the greatest conservation benefit, but further research is required to (i) understand which factors contribute to each island’s unique effect, (ii) monitor the long terms effects of island visits and (iii) identify how net conservation benefit gains are related to the existing conservation commitment of visitors.

 

Keywords:

Islands, Reserve, Wildlife, Protection, Environment, Tourism, Visitors, Impact

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This document is available in three parts, please see the links in the Contacts section,

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July 16, 2012