Monitoring visitor impact and biodiversity : a framework for protected areas in Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia

![CDATA[Biodiversity is a major ecological feature and tourist attraction in protected areas. Park managers recognise the need to incorporate the principles of biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism in their day-to-day planning and decision-making. Monitoring visitor impacts on nature-based destination areas is an essential component in tourism management. The paper forms part of a broader project (UWSH-IRGS) that was directed at developing a monitoring framework to determine changes and trends in biodiversity arising from visitor use. A monitoring framework was developed based on the study of three areas, namely Minnamurra Rainforest Center, Carrington Falls, and Bungonia State Conservation Area – all in Southern Highlands, New South Wales. There are limited studies done in these recreational areas by which long-term impact of visitation can be assessed. The study, however, aimed to develop a framework that has much wider application.]]