Walking Track Management Strategy for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Volume I Main Report January 1994 1 Summary The Walking Track Management Strategy is a strategy developed by the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service for the management of walking tracks and walkers in and adjacent to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (WHA), in accordance with the recommendations of the World Heritage Area Management Plan. Key management issues in the region include the extensive deterioration of existing walking tracks and the unplanned development of new walking tracks in many areas. Campsite impacts, crowding, pollution and broadscale trampling damage to vegetation and soils are also creating serious problems in some areas. The Strategy has been prepared on the basis of an extensive literature survey and an inventory of tracks and track conditions throughout the WHA. Research has also been undertaken to assess usage levels, usage trends and user attitudes and characteristics throughout the WHA. The three-volume document includes: • a summary of the findings of the literature survey (section 2 and appendix B); • a description of the method used to compile the inventory of tracks and track conditions, and a summary of the findings of the inventory (section 3); • a summary of available information on usage levels, usage trends, user characteristics and attitudes and social impacts throughout the WHA (section 4 and appendix C); • an assessment of the opportunity spectrum for bushwalking in and adjacent to the WHA (section 5 and appendix D); • a summary of current objectives, policies and planned actions for the management of walking tracks and walkers in and adjacent to the WHA, as specified by the WHA Management Plan (section 6); • an overview of the strategies employed to date for the management of walking tracks and walkers in the WHA (section 7); • an inventory of known recreational impacts in the WHA (appendix E) • an inventory of the options for managing walking tracks and walkers in and adjacent to the WHA, and an assessment of those options (section 8 and appendix F); • proposed management actions for the management of walking tracks and walkers in and adjacent to the WHA (section 9); • a proposed track classification scheme, with classifications assigned to all known tracks and major routes in the WHA (sections 10 and 11); • a summary of track conditions and details of proposed management actions for individual tracks and routes throughout and adjacent to the WHA (appendix A1); • a summary of proposed works classified by priority, management district and area (appendix A2); and • a strategy for the revision of existing track management plans and the preparation of new plans (appendix G). Major components of the track management strategy are: • the introduction of a 7-tiered track classification scheme (sections 9.4, 10); • the introduction of a comprehensive permit system with restrictions on user numbers where necessary (9.6, 9.7); • guidelines for the rerouting, construction and maintenance of tracks (9.8, 9.9); 3 • comprehensive monitoring of track conditions, recreational impacts, and usage levels and trends in and adjacent to the WHA (9.10); • an expanded education campaign (9.11); • the promotion of guidelines for the voluntary restriction of publicity of low-use tracks and areas, particularly in routeguides (9.12); and • research into a broad range of issues related to the management of walking tracks and walkers in the WHA (9.13). Notes: (i) The database containing the information compiled in the course of the WHA tracks inventory is lodged with the Parks & Wildlife Service wilderness recreation research officer. (ii) With minor exceptions the Walking Track Management Strategy does not address the issue of the management of huts in the WHA. Policy statements concerning the management of huts are included in the WHA Management Plan. 4 Contents Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................9 1 Introduction......................................................................................11 1.1 Background......................................................................................................................11 1.1.1 Context: The WHA Management Plan and management objectives ..........11 1.1.2 Key management issues................................................................................12 1.1.3 Conflict between impacts and management objectives ..............................12 1.1.4 Management strategies employed to date....................................................13 1.1.5 Limitations of strategies to date ..................................................................13 1.2 Scope of the Track Management Strategy ......................................................................14 1.2.1 Tracks covered by existing (draft) track management plans ......................14 1.2.2 Tracks and routes outside the WHA ............................................................14 1.2.3 Nature trails ..................................................................................................14 1.2.4 Vehicular tracks, horseriding trails and rivers ............................................15 1.2.5 Huts ..............................................................................................................15 1.3 Limitations of the study ..................................................................................................15 2 Literature review - summary of findings........................17 2.1 Biophysical impacts of recreation ..................................................................................17 2.2 Use trends, user attitudes/characteristics and social impacts ......................................17 2.3 Monitoring and inventory techniques............................................................................18 2.4 Planning frameworks, management principles and management strategies................18 3 Inventory of tracks and track conditions .............................20 3.1 Previous track inventories ..............................................................................................20 3.2 Track inventory program for the WHA ..........................................................................20 3.2.1 Inventory technique......................................................................................20 3.2.2 Data storage ..................................................................................................21 3.2.3 Inventory trial and data accuracy ................................................................21 3.2.4 Fieldwork itinerary ......................................................................................22 3.2.5 Data analysis ................................................................................................22 3.2.6 Assessment of aerial photographs................................................................22 3.3 Summary of findings ......................................................................................................23 3.3.1 Limitations of the study................................................................................23 3.3.2 Overall findings and trends ..........................................................................23 3.3.3 Campsite impacts..........................................................................................25 3.3.4 Trends by area ..............................................................................................25 3.3.5 Trends relating to environmental conditions and usage ............................26 3.4 Preliminary results of an analysis of track monitoring data..........................................28 4 Recreational use and users - summary of trends...........29 4.1 WHA usage: summary of trends ....................................................................................29 4.1.1 Day visitors (non-walkers) ..........................................................................29 4.1.2 Walkers and rafters ......................................................................................29 4.2 Summary of user characteristics and attitudes ..............................................................29 4.2.1 Day visitors ..................................................................................................29 4.2.2 Bushwalkers - summary of characteristics ..................................................29 4.2.3 Bushwalkers - summary of attitudes............................................................30 5 4.3 Social impacts..................................................................................................................30 4.4 Tourism trends and market segmentation ....................................................................30 4.4.1 The role of wilderness-based tourism in the Tasmanian economy ............30 4.4.2 Trends in the tourism industry ....................................................................31 4.4.3 Market segments and visitor preferences ....................................................31 4.4.4 Conclusions ..................................................................................................32 5 Recreation opportunity spectrum: summary of data and proposed actions.........................34 5.1 Expeditions (≥ 10 nights)................................................................................................34 5.2