How Much is Too Much? Carrying Capacity of National Parks and Protected Areas

Abstract

Abstract: Increasing recreational use of national parks and protected areas can impact natural and cultural resources and the quality of the visitor experience. Determining how much recreational use can ultimately be accommodated in a park or protected area is often addressed through the concept of carrying capacity. Contemporary approaches to carrying capacity – including the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework developed by the U.S. National Park Service – rely on formulation of indicators and standards of quality of natural/cultural resources and the visitor experience. This paper describes the VERP framework and its application in the U.S. national park system, including a program of research designed to help formulate indicators and standards of quality.

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