Evaluation Of Visitor Perceptions Of Environmental And Social Impacts At Mount Ararat National Park

Öz

One of the attractive outdoor recreation settings is mountain environments. However, recreational use of these areas may degrade their natural environment, particularly in areas of concentrated visitor activities like the summits, trails, and campsites. This study aims to explore perceived recreational social and environmental impacts on Mount Ararat. Data were obtained from on-site surveys of visitors (n = 181). Perceived crowding, perceived environmental impacts, and satisfaction was chosen as indicators to analyze. The study's findings showed that most visitors reported environmental impacts; litter, soil and vegetation damage, trail conditions as a big problem in the area, and most visitors reported they felt slightly crowded during their visit. Satisfaction was positively related to visitors' perceived crowding. Reducing and controlling the environmental and social impacts resulting from recreational activities can be made possible by visitor management and environmental education programs, and solutions have been developed in this direction. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• environmental impacts
• indicators
• perceived crowding
• satisfaction
• national park

Ağrı Dağı Milli Parkı'nda Rekreasyonel Faaliyetlerin Etkileri Üzerine Ziyaretçi Görüşlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

İlgi çekici rekreasyon alanlarından birisi de dağlık alanlardır. Bu alanların rekreasyonel amaçlı kullanımıyla, özellikle zirve tırmanışı, yürüyüş yolları ve kamp alanları gibi yoğun ziyaretçi faaliyetlerinin olduğu lokasyonlarda çevresel ve sosyal etkiler meydana gelebilir. Bu çalışma, Ağrı Dağı Milli Parkı’ında kullanıcılar tarafından algılanan sosyal ve çevresel etkileri ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Veriler, alanda yapılan ziyaretçi anketlerinden elde edilmiştir (n = 181). Algılanan kalabalık (sosyal etki), çevresel etkiler ve kullanıcı memnuniyeti göstergeler olarak seçilmiş ve analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmanın bulguları, ziyaretçilerin büyük bir kısmının çevresel etkileri rapor ettiğini göstermektedir; çöp varlığı, toprak ve bitki örtüsü hasarı, yürüyüş yollarının mevcut koşulları büyük bir sorun olarak görülmüş ve ziyaretçilerin büyük bir çoğunluğu ziyaretleri sırasında alanda biraz kalabalık hissettiklerini belirtmiştir. Memnuniyetin, ziyaretçilerin algıladığı kalabalık ile pozitif yönde ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. Rekreasyon faaliyetleri sonucu oluşan çevresel ve sosyal etkilerin azaltılması ve kontrol edilebilmesi, ziyaretçi yönetimi ve çevresel eğitim programlarıyla mümkün kılınabilir ve bu doğrultuda alanla ilgili çözüm önerileri geliştirilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• çevresel etkiler
• göstergeler
• algılanan kalabalık
• memnuniyet
• milli park

Kaynakça

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