Impact of trail network on landscape

1. Impact of trail network on landscape MSc. Ondřej Vítek Impact of road and tourist trail network on alpine and subalpine landscape in the Krkonoše Mts. - GPS measurements and GIS evaluation GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic The Krkonoše Mts. National Park Administration Vrchlabí, Czech Republic

2. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

3. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

4. Krkonoše - outstanding nature • visible problem - road effect: expansion & invasion • indicators: individuals vs. communities • area of interest • targets: Find out theextentof non-natural growths Find out mainreasonsfor distribution/extinction Proposeimprovingactivities GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

5. KRKONOŠE MTS. • National park (1963) • Krkonoše/Karkonosze Biosphere reserve (1992) • Weak subalpine nature vs. tourism • grassland, peat-bogs, corries, Swiss Mountain Pine stands, … • trails & roads, chalets, viewpoints, tourists, ... GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

6. natural state naturally occuring species (no influence) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

7. expansion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

8. expansion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

9. expansion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

10. expansion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

11. f expansion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

12. natural state naturally occuring species (no influence) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

13. invasion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) invading species GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

14. invasion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) invading species GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

15. invasion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) invading species GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

16. f invasion stable species expanding species (positive influence of trail network) disappearing species (negative influence of trail network) invading species GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

17. Indicators: individuals vs. communities • expansion & invasion - pictures of individuals • summarising research - mapping of communities (all or only several types) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

18. Area of interest • Krkonoše Mts. - high tourism exploatation and outstanding nature • alpine nature - little visible influence on vegetation • mountain veg. belt - giant impact of forestry • subalpine communities - effect of trails best visible GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

19. Area of interest II • 6.8 km2 on Czech side until 1999 • ca 10 km2 on both Czech and Polish sides since 1999 GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

20. Krkonoše - outstanding nature • visible problem - road effect: expansion & invasion • indicators: individuals vs. communities • area of interest • targets: Find out theextentof non-natural growths Find out mainreasonsfor distribution/extinction Proposeimprovingactivities GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

21. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

22. target 1:Find out theextentof non-natural growths • GPS - position & info (database) • GIS - maintenance and evaluation of data GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

23. target 2:Find out mainreasonsfor distribution/extinction • GIS - combination of GPS data (e.g. average width of TMV vs. trail stabilising material) • other sampling methods (counting tourists, botany, water, soil etc.) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

24. target 3:Proposeimprovingactivities complex analysis of all data, field observations and experience GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

25. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

26. AREA TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf) community according todominant (menu) Senecio hercynicus Rumex alpinus Cirsium heterophyllum Calamagrostis villosa Deschampsia cespitosa ruderal comm. around chalets trampled grass veg. covering < 20% other comm. (text) - different type or co-dominants GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

27. LINE TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf) trail according torestrictions (menu) open closed according tostabilising material (menu) asphalt dolomite melaphyre dolomite/melaphyre mix. autochthonous stab. non-stabilised according toseasonality (menu) summer winter full-year GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

28. TRIMBLE data dictionary (.ddf) individualspecies (menu) sampling point (number) viewpoint (text) drainage (menu) phytosociological relevé (number) bunker crossroad sign (text + number) frontier stone (text) anthropogenous relief shapes (menu + number) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

29. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

30. asphalt gravel Definition of borders • trails • vegetation types GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

31. Difference between area/line/point • species occurrence (area/point) how many idividuals are 1 point? • roads/trails/paths (area/line) • community (area/0) - comm. width < GPS accuracy GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

32. PDOP • max. 6 → accuracy +- 40 cm • max. ? → inaccuracy max. 40 cm • periods of PDOP >> 6 • distance to the reference station (150 km) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

33. other problems of field measurement • stormy weather • „swinging“ of antenna while walking • inquisitive tourists GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

34. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

35. ArcView, ARC/INFO • under construction • precision checked with othophotos and digitalised maps • GIS database - sums of area, length (total or by categories) GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

36. average width of TMV GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

37. trails according to tourist load GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

38. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

39. oldest trail: map from 16th century • new roads & bunkers before II.ww • trail density: > 4.5 km/km2 • trails: 1 % of the area (71 % trails stabilised with allochthonous mat.) • summer use: 19 km (on 6.8 km2 area) winter use: 15.5 km • max. tourists: > 700 in ave. day GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

40. area of TMV 3 %of AOI • absolutely dominating Senecio hercynicus(expanding species) • bioindicator of worst stands: Rumex alpinus • ave. TMV width along asph. r.: 32 m • non-stabilised trails: no TMV GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

41. dolomite (limestone): Ca2+ road GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

42. WHAT - introduction • HOW - methods • WHICH - overview of collected data • WHY - problems of measurement • HOW - GIS evaluation • WHAT - some interesting results GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic

43. Ondřej Vítek ovitek@natur.cuni.cz www.labgis.natur.cuni.cz - our GIS laboratory @ FSc, ChU, Praha www.krnap.cz - The Krkonoše Mts. NP Administration, Vrchlabí GIS Laboratory, Institute for Environmental Studies Charles University, Faculty of Science Praha, Czech Republic