Applying Integrated Nature Conservation Management: Using Visitor Management and Monitoring to Handle Conflicts Between Winter Recreation and Grouse Species in Berchtesgaden National Park

Abstract

Modern nature conservation management needs to interface between recreational interests and the objectives of conservation. Here, visitor management has a key role. However, the successful implementation of measures, which today need to be holistic, interdisciplinary, and moreover multidisciplinary (i.e., integrated), depends on well-founded data on recreational use and on nature. The data are usually provided by visitor monitoring, which ideally combines data collection methods as well as computer-based data handling methods (data modeling, statistical and spatial analysis, visualization etc.). By leveraging GIS, this approach allows identifying and characterizing (existing or possible) impacts of recreational use on the natural ecosystem.

However, combining visitor management and visitor monitoring as well as data collection and computer-based, data handling methods can often be improved to provide a basis for elaborating integrated management strategies. The questions is: How does the integration of visitor management and monitoring as well as the interplay of data collection and computer-based data handling methods appear in practice?

For European mountain protected areas, this is of special importance because mountain regions such as the Alps, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Balkan Mountains are, on the one hand, most important recreational destinations; on the other hand, these are regions that, because of their spectacular scenic beauty and high biodiversity, are a primary target of nature conservation activities in Europe. In response to this demand, this paper aims at answering the afore-outlined question, focusing on handling winter recreation and wildlife protection in the Alpine Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany).