DEVELOPMENT & NATURE: Tourism Infrastructure Planning in Tusheti National Park of Georgia

Ramaz Gokhelashvili, Alexander Gavashelishvili, Zurab Javakhishvili,
Lela Azniashvili
Georgian Center for the Conservation of Wildlife, GCCW
4 Ambrolauri Str. # 2, Tbilisi 380060, Georgia
E-mail: gccw@ip.osgf.ge

Abstract: This paper provides an example of using biodiversity information for tourism infrastructure and management planning in national parks to avoid conflicts between nature conservation, recreational goals, and other users. Within the area of the proposed Tusheti National Park in Georgia, we used field survey data of seventeen focal species within a GIS analytical environment to assess the consistency of planned management categories zoning and administrative and visitor infrastructure (including tourist trails) with biodiversity conservation requirements. A map, comprised of layers for each focal species, was overlaid onto maps of proposed zoning, infrastructure and tourist trails. Numerous conflicts in planning were detected and recommendations were made to improve zoning and infrastructure planning in the national park, and to minimize negative effects of tourism on biodiversity conservation.

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Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas
Conference Proceedings ed by A. Arnberger, C. Brandenburg, A. Muhar 2002, pages 74-77

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