Impact of trampling on natural ecosystems in the cradle mountain‐lake St Clair National Park

SUMMARY Approximately 8,000 walkers used the Cradle Mountain‐Lake St Clair National Park in 1979/80. They and their predecessors had created a maze of tracks, 29 per cent of which were in a poor condition. Badly damaged tracks are concentrated at high altitude, and in ill‐drained areas, mostly where usage exceeds 1,500 people per year. Alpine vegetation recovers from trampling damage at a much slower rate than the treeless vegetation at lower altitude. Track damage and track usage data are stratified by environmental types, and regression analysis is used to identify the level of usage in each environment that is associated with unacceptable damage to the vegetation and soils of the park. Relative effort of passage is more important in understanding trampling impact than the resistance and resilience of plant species.