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Action 6. Visitor Use of Protected Areas

The growing awareness of peatland issues among the general public, and the promotion by tourist and conservation agencies of peatlands as a special interest holiday has resulted in a marked increase in the number of visitors to some of these fragile habitats (Bord Fáilte 2000, Brennan 1990). There are demands for more access from walkers, horse-riders, cyclists, climbers, training groups and school parties. Currently Irish National Parks attract 350,000 visitors per year (EPA 2000).

Throughout the country, a network of peatland sites are actively being promoted for tourism, hill walking and recreational use. These include nature reserves, national parks, archaeological sites, museums and theme parks. IPCC are concerned that some of these are being unacceptably degraded through visitor use. This is often caused by the lack of an integrated visitor management plan for the sites in question. Peatland reserves are first and foremost areas, which are to be maintained in their natural state. If these reserves are not used wisely, the survival of crucial habitats and species will be seriously compromised.

All future investment in the recreational use of peatland in Ireland should be targeted at these sites which represent the complete spectrum of our peatland resources.

Other peatland sites with nature reserve status should be managed for their wildlife value. On these sites no visitor access should be allowed. IPCC are particularly concerned at examples of misuse of EU Leader Funds for the development of inappropriate visitor projects on peatland NHAs/SACs. This is the result of a lack of proper screening of projects and an integrated national visitor strategy on peatlands.

Particular attention needs to be given to visitors to peatland sites where the natural landscape is being interpreted - in terms of the location of interpretative centres and visitor facilities and controlling visitor access outdoors so as to minimise impact. Access must provide people's needs, but must neither erode local distinctiveness, nor disturb the "spirit of the place" (Anonymous 1995).

The problem of trampling by walkers has been increasing over the past decade from a few isolated patches of damage to large tracks of eroded pathways in some of the more popular walking areas. The problem areas are concentrated in Wicklow, Killarney and Connemara National Parks. Tourist trampling damages the peatland vegetation and leads to erosion of the peat (MacGowan & Doyle 1996, EPA 2000). Similar damage is caused by motorcycle scrambling and horse riding activities.

A wide variety of management techniques and tools have been developed to tackle adverse visitor impacts on peatlands (Rowell (1988), Wheeler & Shaw (1995), Coles (1995), Foss & O'Connell (1998) and Brooks & Stoneman (1997)).

General Objective
Allow visitor access to peatlands in a manner that is sustainable with the conservation and wise use of the sites.

IPCC recognises the value of peatland heritage to Irish tourism. To ensure the sustainable use of the resource, the IPCC produced the "Peatland Conservation and Management Handbook" which details management options to minimize recreational impacts on sites (Foss & O'Connell 1998).

We have been involved in training tour guides to ensure information on and awareness of the wise use and conservation of peatlands.

We have worked with Government and the private sector to provide visitor information, exhibitions and on-site interpretation.

The management plans that IPCC have developed for a number of peatlands address the impact of visitors to these bogs (Aukema & Scherrenburg 1998, Dourcelle 2000, Poutsma 1999, Martens 1993, Janse 1993).

Actions
3.21.1 Peatland sites with the highest biodiversity and wilderness value should not be interpreted but should be safeguarded as part of the national heritage.

3.21.2 Tourism grant schemes should not conflict with the wise use and conservation of peatlands. Government should implement appropriate screening procedures to avoid such conflict.

3.21.3 Government should draw up a list of prescribed recreational activities that are not sustainable on peatlands.

3.21.4 At peatland sites open to the public nature conservation must take precedence when conflicts of interest arise between other development objectives.

3.21.5 Visitor management plans must be prepared for all peatlands open to the public by the appropriate agencies. These must include annual reviews and monitoring.

3.21.6 Dúchas and Bord Fáilte should develop a national strategy for the selection and promotion of peatland areas to be opened for tourism in consultation with all interested parties.

3.21.7 The location of interpretive centres must be agreed in consultation with local communities, prescribed planning bodies and voluntary groups, and have as its guiding principle conservation and wise use.

3.21.8 Sporting and outdoor pursuits groups should set clear conservation objectives and a sustainable policy for the recreational use of natural habitats.

3.21.9 Visitor facilities should not be located within the core of wilderness areas.

3.21.10 EIA statements for visitor facilities should give consideration to the impact on the entire peatland site being interpreted.

3.21.11 A national survey of the waymarked ways system should be undertaken to determine the extent of trampling damage. Visitor management and the erection and maintenance of appropriate pathways are needed to ensure that lateral extension of damaged trackways is avoided in the future.

3.221.12 A national programme of education and training for user groups of peatlands open to the public should be implemented to raise their awareness of this important issue.

Effects of Trampling on Peatlands

Trampling on peatlands causes:

* Loss of species diversity
* Change in floristic composition
* Change in the cover of plants and the vegetation structure
* Change in soil characteristics including physical and chemical factors and soil compaction
* Loss of structural integrity and erosion

In raised bogs trampling breaks down the bushes of Ling Heather and ploughs up the Sphagnum moss carpets.

Trampling by tourists has an obvious effect on some blanket bog areas in the west of Ireland.

Trampling results in decreased vegetation cover, depleted species diversity, and it allows invasion onto the affected area of species foreign to the bog habitat. Purple Moor grass (Molinia caerulea) and Bog Cotton (Eriophorum angustifolium) are more resilient bog plants to trampling in the early stages.

The main plants to disappear are the ground hugging mosses and liverworts. These plants create a micro habitat necessary for the growth of larger plants. Once this micro habitat is destroyed the conditions for growth are changed and alien plants then colonise these areas.

Up to twenty species of these foreign plants can invade a trampled bog. Chief among these are rushes (Juncus and Luzula species) and grasses (Agrostis species). This invasion causes serious deterioration in the vegetation that remains.

The lack of vegetation in these areas also promotes peat erosion with surfaces bared to mineral soil level in places. (MacGowan & Doyle 1996, 1997 & 1998).

Find out more: Effects of Trampling on bogs