Exploring impacts of COVID-19 on spatial and temporal patterns of visitors to Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks from social media big data

COVID-19 posed challenges for global tourism management.Changes in visitor temporal and spatial patterns and their associated determinants pre-and peri-pandemic in Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks are analyzed.Data was collected through social media programming and analyzed using spatiotemporal analysis and a geographically weighted regression(GWR)model.Results highlight that COVID-19 significantly changed park visitation patterns.Visitors tended to explore more remote areas peri-pandemic.The GWR model also indicated distance to nearby trails was a significant influence on visitor density.Our results indicate that the pandemic influenced tourism temporal and spatial imbalance.This research presents a novel approach using combined social media big data which can be extended to the field of tourism management,and has important implications to manage visitor patterns and to allocate resources efficiently to satisfy multiple objectives of park management.

Terrain or climate factor dominates vegetation resilience?Evidence from three national parks across different climatic zones in China

Vegetation resilience(VR),providing an objective measure of ecosystem health,has received considerable attention,however,there is still limited understanding of whether the dominant factors differ across different climate zones.We took the three national parks(Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park,HTR;Wuyishan National Park,WYS;and Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park,NTL)of China with less human interference as cases,which are distributed in different climatic zones,including tropical,subtropical and temperate monsoon climates,respectively.Then,we employed the probabilistic decay method to explore the spatio-temporal changes in the VR and their natural driving patterns using Geographically Weighted Regression(GWR)model as well.The results revealed that:(1)from 2000 to 2020,the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)of the three national parks fluctuated between 0.800 and 0.960,exhibiting an overall upward trend,with the mean NDVI of NTL(0.923)>HTR(0.899)>WYS(0.823);(2)the positive trend decay time of vegetation exceeded that of negative trend,indicating vegetation gradual recovery of the three national parks since 2012;(3)the VR of HTR was primarily influenced by elevation,aspect,average annual temperature change(AATC),and average annual precipitation change(AAPC);the WYS'VR was mainly affected by elevation,average annual precipitation(AAP),and AAPC;while the terrain factors(elevation and slope)were the main driving factors of VR in NTL;(4)among the main factors influencing the VR changes,the AAPC had the highest proportion in HTR(66.7%),and the AAP occupied the largest area proportion in WYS(80.4%).While in NTL,elevation served as the main driving factor for the VR,encompassing 64.2%of its area.Consequently,our findings indicated that precipitation factors were the main driving force for the VR changes in HTR and WYS national parks,while elevation was the main factors that drove the VR in NTL.Our research has promoted a deeper understanding of the driving mechanism behind the VR.

Tourist management in national parks in the Czech-German borderland:Bohemian ’Switzerland’ and Saxon‘Switzerland’

In the article tourist management in two national parks in the Czech-German borderland are being compared,namely Bohemian ’Switzerland’(also known as Czech ’Switzerland’) and Saxon’Switzerland’.Situated on either side of the state border,they feature the same type of geographical environment.Transport accessibility,transborder links and the hiking trail network are analyzed using methodology sourced from graph theory.The result of the analyses is a classification of tourist hubs and tourist centers,as well as an indication of the main directions of tourist flow.The German national park is decidedly more accessible but with a detrimental effect on the natural environment primarily due to its fragmentation by a dense network of tourist trails.In both parks trails enter the core zone(in theory a strict protection area) but this occurs on a larger scale on the German side.In the Czech national park a greater number of positive examples of managing tourist movements can be identified.Additionally,larger areas managed for dispersion,or from which tourists are generally excluded,are located there.

Tourism management in national parks:Sumava and Bayerischer Wald(Bavarian Forest)in the Czech-German borderland

Along the Czech-German border there are four national parks,two Czech and two German,arranged in cross-border‘pairs’.This article focuses on the southern‘pair’formed by the parks of?umava and Bayerischer Wald(Bavarian Forest).The aim is to evaluate and compare tourism organization in their areas,taking into account selected aspects of management:the network of hiking trails with its related infrastructure,transport accessibility,a typology of tourist centers,as well as directions and destinations of tourist movements.Based on the results,it can be concluded that the availability of geographical space for tourists is much greater in the German than in the Czech national park,and the tourism infrastructure is clearly more extensive there,including the network of tourist trails.This is mainly due to the longer and fairly uninterrupted development of tourism in this area.?umava National Park can be identified as a model in terms of how to adjust the directions of tourist movements and the layout of the tourist trail network to the needs of natural environment.On the basis of observations in both national parks,it is possible to indicate various solutions that,after appropriate adaptation,may bring benefits to other protected areas.

An analysis of first-time and repeat visitors to Korean national parks from 2007 and 2013

This paper examined visitors to Bukhansan National Park in Korea based on first-time and repeat visitation. Bukhansan National Park is Korea's most heavily visited national park with annual visitation of six million visitors in 2015. Data used in this article were collected on-site in the park in 2007 and 2013 by the Korea National Park Service(KNPS).The study variables included socio-demographics,travel behavior, motivation, and satisfaction with park attributes, services and facilities. Data were analyzed by each study year for first-time and repeat visitors.Results showed significant differences for both firsttime and repeat visitors on several socio-demographic,travel behavior, and motivation variables within each study year. For satisfaction with park attributes,facilities and services, first-time visitors were significantly different from repeat visitors on seven variables for both years. Implications are given regarding programs and services to improve visitor satisfaction and sustain the natural, cultural and historical resources at Bukhansan National Park and other national parks in Korea. Future research suggestions are provided to learn more about visitor characteristics, standards of quality and preferences in the national parks.

Conceptual Framework of Tourism Carrying Capacity for a Tourism City:Experiences from National Parks in the United States

There is no universally-accepted definition of tourism carrying capacity(TCC) .Numerical TCC focuses on use level and is considered as"a magic number"of the saturation point for tourism.There are several reasons why numerical tourism capacity is inadequate.Alternatively,tourism capacity can be defined in terms of limits of acceptable change,which shifts the focus from"how much use is too much"to"how much change is acceptable".This article proposes an improved conceptual framework for evaluating carrying capacity for the tourism city based on approaches used in US national parks,which consider the impact of human use on a city's economic,environmental/resource,and socio-cultural conditions.Based on the basic data of indicator values and relevant standards,the framework monitors the current indicators and predicts future indicator values;it can also be used to assess and predict TCC.

U.S. national parks accessibility and visitation

Accessibility is a factor affecting national park visitation.However,the effect of accessibility on national park visitation is not fully understood.This paper examines the relationship between U.S.national park visitation and accessibility.First,the global and local accessibility indexes of each park unit are computed based on an accessibility model that takes into account the surrounding population and its proximity to the park unit.Integrated in the model is a distance decay coefficient that is derived from U.S.national park visitor surveys and therefore pertinent to the case of study.Then correlation analysis is performed between park visitation and accessibility based on park types,regions,and visitation types.Results show that total visitation is positively related to accessibility in National Memorials,Military Parks and Battlefield Parks/Sites but negatively related to accessibility in national parks and national monuments.However,recreational overnight stay visits are commonly negatively correlated to accessibility for almost all park types.Moreover,local accessibility index displays enhanced correlation coefficients with improved significance levels in many categories of analysis.Results suggest that historical/cultural national parks which often show positive correlations tend to attract more local visitors,but nature-based parks which mainly show negative correlations tend to attract more distant visitors.

Offering the win-win solutions between ecological conservation and livelihood development:National parks in Qinghai, China

National parks as protected areas have been on the spotlight because they are essential in achieving ecological civilization in China.Despite the profound achievements of national parks to conserve nature,the benefits of national parks for local residents remain lacking.Under the theory of harmonious coexistence between human and nature,this study focused on the development of local people’s livelihood in Qinghai’s national parks.We systematically explored the establishment of the national parks in Qinghai Province,analyzed the current prob-lems,and provided the main measures for developing people’s livelihood in protected areas in Qinghai.This study put forward the viewpoint that national parks should set a long-term goal,and gradually advance based on the environmental conditions and appropriately prioritize the improvement of local people’s wellbeing in the future.

Protecting the national parks and the world heritage sites in China: challenge and strategy

About 70% of its land area as mountains and plateaus, China is the largest mountain country in the world. Thanks to its vast territory (9.6 million km2), outstanding relief and varied climates, China boasts extremely plenty of ecosystems and landscapes. From south to north, it traverses almost all the temporal zones from tropical rainforest in the southernmost to frigid-temperate needle-leaved forest in the northernmost; from east to west, it sees a gradual transition fro humid forest landscape to extremely arid desert landscape; vertical change of landscapes is most striking owing to the existence of many high mountains (above 6000-7000 m, e.g., the Himalayas, the Kunlun, the Tianshan, the Hengduan, etc.) and plateaus, especially the immense Tibetan Plateau (averagely 4500 m above sea level). All of this give rise to the richness and diversity of ecosystems and landscape in China. Some of the ecosystems are endemic to China, e.g., alpine desert and alpine steppe in the Tibetan Plateau. As a result, China bears a great responsibility in the protection of global ecosystems and landscape.

Acacia mearnsii management in a South African National Parks：SWOT analysis using hot topics in biological invasion as a guide

The assessment of the policy framework governing Invasive Alien Species(IAS) control is of critical importance in conservation. The undertaking of a SWOT analysis of such a framework is necessary because it enhances the efficacy of IAS control. The aim of this study is to carry out a SWOT analysis of the policy framework guiding the control of the spreading of Acacia mearnsii and other IAS in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in South Africa,as well as the implementation of restorative measures in the park and adjacent communities in line with the recommendations of the Convention on Biodiversity. A comparative analysis of this framework and the hierarchical framework that was developed during the European Union Conference on Freshwater Invasives- Networking for Strategy in 2013 is undertaken. The results indicate the need to strengthen parkcommunity relations,upgrade existing legislation,and boost the technical capacity of South African national parks to identify,detect,monitor and predict IAS invasions,both within the parks and their surroundings. This knowledge is important for developing future policies on IAS control in South Africa.

Attitude of the Population to the Activities of National Parks: Territorial Aspect (on the Example of a Survey of Residents of the Khorug and Murgab Region)

The article describes and interprets the results of a study aimed at studying public opinion about the activities of national parks. The attitude of the local population to the activities of the State Institution “National Park of Tajikistan” was studied. A total of 40 respondents from local residents were surveyed. Fifteen local residents of Khorog, most of them educated people, students of Khorog University and teachers of the Biological Institute of the Pamirs who are familiar with the Tajik National Park in the vicinity have carried out several scientific studies. Twenty-five respondents of the residents of the Murghab district are directly the population who live in the park. They have less education, and they are more prone to a rural lifestyle, and livestock far more knowledgeable about the Tajik National Park than the residents of Khorog. Interviewed residents of the Murgab and Karakuls villages believe that the activities of the Tajik National Park should be more efficient and lay down ways to improve its activities and form a positive image. In their opinion, the employees of the national park should interact more with the local population, take into account their interests, improve information carrying out activities of the national park. Proceeding from the answers of the respondents, we can conclude that the Tajik national park is already widely known to the circle of researchers and scientific applicants as a place or testing ground for research. For the local populations who live in the park, they use it as a place for animal husbandry and natural resources. During the survey, it turned out that the park is currently being used by all means, but not protected in any way. The results of a public opinion poll conducted in the September of 2021 in the settlements of the Khorug town of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast GBAO region, belonging to the central ecological zone of the Pamir natural territory, are presented. The attitude of the local population to the activities of the Tajik Nation Park was studied. Interviewed residents believe that the activities of the Tajik National Park should be more efficient and lay down ways to improve its activities and form a positive image.

Influence of Human Activity Intensity on Habitat Quality in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park,China

Due to long-term human activity interference,the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park(HTRNP)of China has experienced ecological problems such as habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss,and with the expanding scope and intensity of human activity impact,the regional ecological security is facing serious challenges.A scientific assessment of the interrelationship between human activity intensity and habitat quality in the HTRNP is a prerequisite for achieving effective management of ecological disturbances caused by human activities and can also provide scientific strategies for the sustainable development of the region.Based on the land use change data in 2000,2010,and 2020,the spatial and temporal variations and the relationship between habitat quality(HQ)and human activity intensity(HAI)in the HTRNP were explored using the integrated valuation of ecosystem services and trade-offs(InVEST)model.System dynamics and land use simulation models were also combined to conduct multi-scenario simulations of their relationships.The results showed that during 2000–2020,the habitat quality of the HTRNP improved,the intensity of human activities decreased each year,and there was a negative correlation between the two.Second,the system dynamic model could be well coupled with the land use simulation model by combining socio-economic and natural factors.The simulation scenarios of the coupling model showed that the harmonious development(HD)scenario is effective in curbing the increasing trend of human activity intensity and decreasing trend of habitat quality,with a weaker trade-off between the two compared with the baseline development(BD)and investment priority oriented(IPO)scenarios.To maintain the authenticity and integrity of the HTRNP,effective measures such as ecological corridor construction,ecological restoration,and the implementation of ecological compensation policies need to be strengthened.

Evaluating the Impacts of Human Activities on Diversity, Abundance, and Distribution of Large Mammals in Nimule National Park, South Sudan

Globally, human activities have a significant impact on the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammals in Protected Areas (PAs). These disturbances increase human pressure on biodiversity and species habitats, highlighting the need for conservation. This study aimed to assess the abundance and distribution of large mammals in different habitat types within Nimule National Park (NNP) and understand the impacts of human activities on them. Data on the abundance and distribution of large mammals and their respective habitat types were collected through line transect surveys. Human activity signs were observed and recorded along the transect lines. To estimate the impacts of human activities on the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammal species, as well as to identify any significant differences between them and their habitat types, the study utilized the Kruskal Wallis test, Polynomial multiple regressions, and diversity indices. The findings from the Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indices indicated that large mammal species were more diverse inside the park (H’ = 1.136;D = 0.570) compared to the buffer zone (H’ = 0.413;D = 0.171), with 85% (443 out of 510 samples) recorded within Nimule National Park. The species abundance showed a semi-balanced status (0.58). The diversity results among different habitat types revealed that large mammals were more diverse and highly distributed in both open woodlands (244) and dense woodlands (192), while riverine vegetation had the lowest diversity (8). Statistical tests demonstrated a highly significant difference at a 99% confidence interval (p-value = 0.01) between habitat types and identified species of large mammals. Additionally, the results highlighted the high abundance of Uganda kob (274), baboons (141), and warthog (57) across most habitat types, accounting for at least 75% of their distribution. The most prevalent human activities observed were cattle footprints (27%) and cattle dung (14%). Human footprints and tree cutting combined accounted for 9%, indicating the practice of livestock grazing, poaching, encroachment, and fuelwood collection by local communities. However, these activities did not appear to significantly impact the diversity, abundance, and distribution of large mammals in Nimule National Park. Therefore, it is crucial to foster shared responsibilities and engage relevant stakeholders in the management and conservation of large wildlife species. Regular community awareness programs should be implemented to cultivate a sense of ownership. Moreover, it is recommended that a comprehensive survey be conducted on the population status of all mammal species in Nimule National Park, including its surrounding Buffer Zone. Monitoring the impact of human activities on their behavior and habitats using satellite images should also be carried out at least every five to ten years.

Characterisation of Human-Wildlife Conflicts around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The history of mankind contains so many illustrations of well-classified and violent struggles against various animals over crop production in agricultural fields, attacks on human life or competition in order to have access to certain natural resources. The aim of this study is to characterise the human-wildlife conflicts that occur around the KBNP, especially with regard to primates. Surveys were carried out in 260 households selected using the snowball method. The results showed that human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP are characterised by the destruction of crops in riparian fields by monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas, the destruction of houses, physical attacks and zoonoses. Despite the conservation and protection measures for wildlife and local populations put in place by the Park’s managers, conflicts between local populations and the Park’s wild animals are still visible. These conflicts lead to the detention of wild animals by local people roaming in the villages and to poaching on the Park’s boundaries. The weakness of the community management policy on the part of the park managers and the resentment of the indigenous peoples towards the restriction of their access to natural resources are the major constraints on the sustainable management of conflicts between the local populations and the wild animals in the KBNP. The strategies for the sustainable resolution of human-wildlife conflicts around the KBNP must be geared towards and integrated into a community conservation approach.

Assessing Human-Wildlife Conflict in the Periphery of Loango National Park in Gabon

Human-Wildlife Conflict in Gabon is a reality occurring in almost all protected areas in the country. These conflicts create real threats both for the survival of wildlife species and of human beings. This study was carried out at the periphery of Loango National Park in Gabon. This area is particular of seeing elephants wandering around villages. Respondents for the study were drawn from a wide range of stakeholders (State administrators, farmers and NGOs). Data was collected through administration of structured questionnaires and interview guide on the;socio-economic activities. Crops produced/destroyed. Animals are involved and economic loss is incurred due to conflicts. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16 and Kobo tool box. For qualitative data chi-square, descriptive statistic and linear regression model were also used. The results of the study showed that the elephants account for (60.1%) of crop destroyed followed by Ungulates (30.4%) and lastly by rodents (0.9%). The economic damage caused by the wildlife to crops valued at 72,084 USD in the zone in 2022. An urgent solution to this conflict is needed because the consequences are visible as well as the illegal repression by communities that have led to poisoning and killing of wildlife in the study area.

A Modern Concerto of National Parks and Urban Parks:Book Review of Parkscapes:Green Spaces in Modern Japan

Parkscapes:Green Spaces in Modern Japan Author:Thomas R.H.Havens Year:2011Publisher:University of Hawai’i Press ISBN:9780824834777(288 pages,in English)Japanese classical gardens,which can be seen in the courtyards of temples,courtyards of ancient feudal landlords(emperor,general,and daimyo),and some private mansions of modern statesmen and industrialists,have a long history and are well known around the world.Even though there are many monographs

Functional zoning in national parks under multifactor trade-off guidance:A case study of Qinghai Lake National Park in China

Functional zoning is an important mechanism for achieving national park planning and management objective.Better functional zoning is of great significance to the protection of ecosystem legitimacy and integrity,the appropriate utilization of resources,community integration,and feasible management.In the present study,the proposed Qinghai Lake National Park is the research object.Based on the critical goal of ecological protection,the importance of ecosystem service functions and the ecological sensitivities were evaluated.The results showed that the ecosystem service functions and the ecological sensitivity of the whole region are high.Among them,lake,river and wetland as the most strictly protected ecosystems account for the highest proportion.Then this study divided the proposed Qinghai Lake National Park into five functional areas through grid calculations,spatial analysis and multifactor trade-off.The results indicated that the goal of functional zoning for national park is to maximize the overall utility of park protection value and its comprehensive functions based on its spatial units with different functions,management and control requirements.The zoning scheme addresses the lack of sustainable development in Qinghai Lake National Park due to ecological environmental changes and single-resource zoning with resource protection as the primary goal.This study can serve as a reference for spatial functional zoning methods of national land parks,nature reserves and other natural protected areas.

Heterogeneity and non-linearity of ecosystem responses to climate change in the Qilian Mountains National Park, China

Ecosystem responses to climate change,particularly in arid environments,is an understudied topic.This study conducted a spatial analysis of ecosystem responses to short-term variability in temperature,precipitation,and solar radiation in the Qilian Mountains National Park,an arid mountainous region in Northwest China.We collected precipitation and temperature data from the National Science and Technology Infrastructure Platform,solar radiation data from the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset,and vegetation cover remote-sensing data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer.We used the vegetation sensitivity index to identify areas sensitive to climate change and to determine which climatic factors were significant in this regard.The findings revealed a high degree of heterogeneity and non-linearity of ecosystem responses to climate change.Four types of heterogeneity were identified:longitude,altitude,ecosystem,and climate disturbance.Furthermore,the characteristics of nonlinear ecosystem responses to climate change included:(1)inconsistency in the controlling climatic factors for the same ecosystems in different geographical settings;(2)the interaction between different climatic factors results in varying weights that affect ecosystem stability and makes them difficult to determine;and(3)the hysteresis effect of vegetation increases the uncertainty of ecosystem responses to climate change.The findings are significant because they highlight the complexity of ecosystem responses to climate change.Furthermore,the identification of areas that are particularly sensitive to climate change and the influencing factors has important implications for predicting and managing the impacts of climate change on ecosystems,which can help protect the stability of ecosystems in the Qilian Mountains National Park.

Impacts of COVID-19 on tourism and management response from Banff National Park,Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to the tourism sector globally.We investigated changes in visitor demographics,satisfaction level,and its determinants pre-and peri-COVID-19.Data were collected using questionnaire surveys in 2019 and 2021 within Banff National Park(BNP).The data analyses were based on a sample size of 1183 respondents by conducting factor analysis,correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis.Results highlight that there were fewer international visitors and more local and domestic visitors during the pandemic.Park attributes were evaluated at a higher satisfaction level peri-COVID-19.The quality of the Park facilities and services were the most important satisfaction determinants pre-and peri-COVID-19,and all the Park COVID-19 measures and actions received positive experience from visitors.This research fills this knowledge gap by developing a better understanding in the change of visitor demographics and satisfaction level in BNP under the context of the pandemic.It also provides implication for both scholars and practitioners to understand the impacts of the pandemic on Park visitation.The study can provide insights for utilizing the pandemic as a transformative strength and for mitigating its negative impact on tourism industry.

An Understanding of Old and New Buildings in Chinese National Parks with Reference to Mount Emei

This paper presents an investigation on attitudes towards old and new buildings in Mount Emei that is a significant cultural national park in China. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to collect data from those whose careers and lives are affected, and were affected, by the buildings. The investigation reveals that people show significantly different attitudes towards the two types of buildings and place more value on old buildings. People particularise their liking for old buildings associated with traditional values, aesthetic quality and conformity to surroundings whereas indicates their disliking for new ones with changed values from tradition to modernity, unsound administrative management and poor respect for surroundings. It is concluded that traditional ideology tends to be well expressed by the old buildings but poorly by new ones. It is accordingly suggested that ideology should be taken more into account in new building projects in Mount Emei.