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

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.