Vehicle damage caused by recreational use of coastal dune systems in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) on the west coast of Ireland |
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Authors: | Gesche Kindermann Michael J Gormally |
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Institution: | (1) Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland |
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Abstract: | This study investigates the vehicle damage caused by recreational use on three coastal dune systems on the west coast of Ireland.
Using aerial photographs taken in 1973, 2000, 2004 and 2006 in conjunction with ecological surveys, the impacts of recreational
activities were assessed. The results show that the overall area of tracks increased more than threefold between 1973 and
2007 with the exception of one site where restricted access resulted in a subsequent reduction in the number of tracks. The
study further shows that most recreational activities at the sites were water-based, with most traffic movement directed towards
the shore and the highest density of tracks being within the first few hundred meters of the High Water Mark. The results
of this study are discussed in the context of visitor management strategies for coastal conservation sites under recreational
pressure. |
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Keywords: | |
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