<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Since the last decades, natural disturbances in forests including protected areas have intensified. They have the potential to impact visual quality and safety of visitors as well as spread beyond protected area boundaries. While economic and ecological impacts are well studied, there is still a lack of work focused on human dimensions and social aspects. This study examines visitor perceptions towards bark beetle infestation in Tatra National Park, Poland. The findings, based on visitor surveys collected during the summer of 2014, indicate the significance of different factors influencing visitor attitudes towards the bark beetle. Age of visitors and importance of the bark beetle issue for them (based on subjective ratings of importance of bark beetle issue for respondents) are the most prominent variables. Also place of origin and environmental worldview were recognized as significantly important variables in accordance with similar studies. Results suggest management implications for park authorities including public relations and environmental education in order to increase knowledge and support for natural disturbance and ecological integrity policies in the national park.</p>
</abstract>

Since the last decades, natural disturbances in forests including protected areas have intensified. They have the potential to impact visual quality and safety of visitors as well as spread beyond protected area boundaries. While economic and ecological impacts are well studied, there is still a lack of work focused on human dimensions and social aspects. This study examines visitor perceptions towards bark beetle infestation in Tatra National Park, Poland. The findings, based on visitor surveys collected during the summer of 2014, indicate the significance of different factors influencing visitor attitudes towards the bark beetle. Age of visitors and importance of the bark beetle issue for them (based on subjective ratings of importance of bark beetle issue for respondents) are the most prominent variables. Also place of origin and environmental worldview were recognized as significantly important variables in accordance with similar studies. Results suggest management implications for park authorities including public relations and environmental education in order to increase knowledge and support for natural disturbance and ecological integrity policies in the national park.

Perceptions of natural disturbance in Tatra National Park, Poland

Tatra National Park, ul. Kuźnice 1, 34-500 Zakopane,

Polish Academy of Sciences, al. A. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków,

Central European Forestry Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Perceptions of natural disturbance in Tatra National Park, Poland"}

Since the last decades, natural disturbances in forests including protected areas have intensified. They have the potential to impact visual quality and safety...

Perceptions of natural disturbance in Tatra National Park, Poland

Published Online: Oct 08, 2016

Page range: 105 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/forj-2016-0011

Keywords
visitor perception, protected areas, human dimensions, bark beetle, forest

© 2016 Juraj Švajda et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Perceptions of natural disturbance in Tatra National Park, Poland

Published Online: Oct 08, 2016

Page range: 105 - 109

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/forj-2016-0011

Keywordsvisitor perception, protected areas, human dimensions, bark beetle, forest

© 2016 Juraj Švajda et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
visitor perception, protected areas, human dimensions, bark beetle, forest