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Abstract |
Sustainable management of protected areas requires combining standardized ecological observations with quantitative data about the number of visitors and their behavior. Austria's Danube Floodplains National Park is a prime example for the importance of accommodating a high volume of recreational use with concerns about ecological integrity. Wetland ecology is of particular concern to park management. Within the scope of this study, boaters in the old branches of the Danube were observed en route and questioned when leaving the area. These observations provided quantitative data, such as the number of boaters, their spatio-temporal distribution and their behavior. At the same time, disturbances to water birds were inventoried using standardized ecological observation techniques. These observations were interlinked with visitor use data provided by a constant video recording of the recreational activity at the main entry point. Thus, data on the number and the temporal distribution of the boaters for the overall observation period was made available. The result of this study was, that through the simultaneous presence of different user groups, there is a permanent burden placed on the old branches by boaters, which scarcely permits rest for the avifauna. |
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