Characterizing backcountry camping impacts in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Journal of Environmental Management
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
This investigates resource impacts on backcounty campsites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Study objectives were to enhance our understanding of camping impacts and to improve campsite impact assessment procedures by means of multivariate techniques. Three-hundred and eight campsites at designated backcountry campgrounds, and 69 additional unofficial campsites were assessed. Factor analysis of 195 established campsites on eight impact indicator variables revealed three dimensions of campsite impact: area disturbance, soil and groundcover damage, and tree-related damage. Four distinctive backcountry campsite types were identified, three of which were derived from cluster analyses of factor scores. These four backcountry campsite types characterize the intensity and areal extent of resource impacts, and they vary in locational and environmental attributes. At an aggregate level, different campsite types contributed unequally to the cumulative level of impact. The dimensional structure and typology developed in this study demonstrates that campsite impacts can be viewed and examined holistically with the use of multivariate methods. Implications for assessment procedures, management and further research are discussed.
Suggested Citation
Leung, Y., and Marion, J., 1999, Characterizing backcountry camping impacts in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Journal of Environmental Management, v. 57, no. 3, p. 193-203, https://doi.org/10.1006/jema.1999.0303.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Characterizing backcountry camping impacts in Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
| Series title | Journal of Environmental Management |
| DOI | 10.1006/jema.1999.0303 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 1999 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 11 p. |
| First page | 193 |
| Last page | 203 |