Environmental Impact - Wildlife/Vegetation Effects

Cole, D. N. (1981). Vegetational changes associated with recreational use and fire suppression in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon: Some management implications. Biological Conservation 20: 247-270.

Abstract

This study examined the response of six vegetation types in western Montana to experimental trampling. The types selected were representative of those most frequently used recreationally in the neighboring Bob Marshall Wilderness.

All of the forested habitat types showed a curvilinear relationship between amount of trampling and loss of vegetation cover, loss of plant species, and soil compaction. The effect of any incremental increase in the amount of trampling decreases as trampling intensity increases. This indicates that trampling damage will generally be minimized when concentrated in space rather than dispersed over large areas.

In contrast to vegetation loss and soil compaction, trampling intensities had to be very high before much bare mineral soil was exposed. If the use is heavy enough to kill most vegetation, the use should be directed to sites with thick organic horizons. Managers of wildernesses and recreation areas with similar vegetation can utilize these data to estimate the effects of various use levels. The resistance of the major plant species is also assessed. This information can be used to evaluate the relative durability of alternate recreation sites.

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