Environmental Indicators of Tourism Impacts on Natural West Coast Assets, Aotearoa New Zealand. Research Completed

Title

Environmental Indicators of Tourism Impacts on Natural West Coast Assets, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Lead Author

Urlich, S, Ward, J. C., Hughey, K

Organisation(s)

Lincoln University, Department of Conservation

Publication Year

2001

Publisher

Lincoln University

Contacts

Roger Dawson, Research Collections Librarian, Lincoln University: roger.dawson@lincoln.ac.nz

Abstract

We examined the environmental effects of visitor activities at three different natural assets (scenic icon sites, seabirds, and caves) on the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand. To catalogue the effects of different visitor activities on these assets, and to identify indicators of environmental change in relation to the effects of these activities, we used a range of methods including modelling visitor impacts, close consultation with managers, literature reviews, and at one site we observed visitor behaviour. We analysed which site indicators of visitor effects were more widely applicable, and could be used as a basis for developing management guidelines for similar types of attractions elsewhere. Most sites we studied are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and we reviewed how limits of acceptable environmental change for managing visitors were determined at these attractions, and for their attributes (i.e., their tracks). We also compared the management of seabirds at a privately owned and run colony with management of publicly accessed colonies on DOC managed land.

We found that the scenic icon sites, and the tracks to all different assets, were generally well constructed and maintained by DOC. Visitors were well catered for and their effects wellmanaged. However, at seabird and cave sites managed by DOC we found visitors were not managed to the same consistent standard, largely because access is mostly open andlor the assets are more directly sensitive and less resilient to visitor impacts. There was also a general lack of clearly defined processes and mechanisms for devising limits of acceptable environmental change at these sites, and implementation of management accordingly. In contrast, we found the privately owned seabird colony to be well managed with a long-term sustainable ecotourism operation in place. We explore the differences between the respective operations, examine the processes by which visitors were managed, and discuss the factors contributing to the differences in management and the effects on these natural assets.

Keywords:

Tourism, Impact, West Coast, Environment, Punakaiki, Wildlife, Visitor Impact, Conservation, Department of Conservation, Outdoors, Parks, National Parks, Outdoor recreation, Birdlife, Caves, Caving, Tracks, Walks, Walking, Tramping