In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

Sustainable Tourism

Submitted by:

BSTM2A

Submitted to:

December 6, 2022
The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)- is a
system for classifying and managing recreation opportunities based on the following
criteria: physical,setting, social setting, and managerial setting and has been used
internationally as a tool to guide recreation planning. The spectrum as a map has primarily
been generated manually and through digitisation by analysts with an in-depth knowledge
of the region of interest. This paper seeks to outline an alternative method that is objective
and repeatable to create a ROS map for New Zealand, using data from a variety of sources
and manipulated with spatial tools available in a geographic information system. The result
is a map that is consistent on a national scale, and a method that is repeatable. The model
can be used to develop scenario modelling, change detection, and help guide management
decisions.
ROS recognizes the diversity of opportunities for recreational activities through different
classes of a recreation setting: Primitive (P), Semi-primitive Non-motorized (SPNM), Semi-
primitive Motorized (SPM), Roaded Natural (RN), Rural (R), and Urban (U).
PRIMITIVE-The area is 3 miles or more from all roads and trails with motorized use and
generally 5,000 acres or greater in size or larger. The setting is essentially an unmodified
natural environment with some evidence of trails. Motorized use is prohibited. The social
setting provides for less than 6 parties encountered on trails and less than 3 parties visible
from campsites.Capacities range from 0.5 to 1.0 RVD/acre/year. Onsite controls are
extremely limited with most regulation accomplished off-site. Typical activities include
hiking, horse packing, fishing, hunting andcamping. The compatible VQO is preservation.
SEMI-PRIMITIVE NON-MOTORIZED-The area is 1/2 mile from all roads or trails with
motorized use and generally exceeds 2,500 acres to 5,000 acres in size unless contiguous to
wilderness. The area can include primitive roads and trails if they are usually closed to
motorized use. Access roads are Level 1. The natural setting may have subtle modifications
that would be noticed but would not draw the attention of an observer in the
area.Structures are rare and isolated. The social setting provides for 6 to 15 parties
encountered per day on trails and 6 or less parties visible at campsites. Onsite controls are
present but subtle. Interpretation is through self-discovery with some use of maps,
brochures and guide books. Typical activities include hiking, horseback riding, cross-
country skiing, canoeing, hunting and fishing. The compatible VQO is retention.
SEMI-PRIMITIVE MOTORIZED-The area is generally 2,500 acres to 5,000 acres in size,
and 1/2 mile from Level 3 or better roads. There is strong evidence of roads and motorized
use of roads and trails. Access roads are usually Level 1 or 2 roads. The natural setting
may have moderately dominant alterations, but would not draw the attention of motorized
observers. Structures are rare and isolated. The social setting provides for a low to
moderate contact with other parties. Capacity ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 RVDs/acre/year. On-
site controls are present, but subtle. Interpretation is through very limited on-site facilities
along with the use of guide maps, brochures and guide books. Typical activities include
OHV touring, snowmobiling, hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, hunting and
fishing. The compatible VQOs are retention and partial retention
ROADED NATURAL-The area is 1/2 mile or less from roads and trails open to motorized
use. Resource modifications and utilization practices are evident but are harmonious with
the natural environment. The social setting provides for moderate to high frequency of
contact on roads and low to moderate frequency on trails away from roads. Capacity
ranges from 10 to 20 RVDs/acre/year. On-site use controls are noticeable, but are
harmonious with the natural environment. Typical activities include, but are not limited to:
hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling,OHV touring, trailer
camping, hunting and fishing.The compatible VQOs are modification, partial retention and
retention.
RURAL-The natural environment is substantially modified to the point that developments
are dominant to the sensitive observer. Structures are readily evident and may range from
scattered to small dominant clusters
URBAN
There are no areas classified as “Urban” on the Forest. The ROS framework uses the
following settings to describe and compare the recreation opportunity classes:
Physical – includes the area’s access, remoteness, naturalness, and size.Social –
includes the area’s contact with other visitors and acceptability of visitor
impacts.Managerial – includes the level of facility/site development and on-site
regulation.Access – This pertains to the type and mode of travel.Remoteness – This refers
to the extent to which individuals can perceive themselves as removed from the sights and
sounds of modern human activity.Naturalness – This refers to the degree of psychological
outcomes that are associated with enjoying nature.Facility and Site Management – This
refers to the level of site development present in the area.Social Encounters – This refers to
the number and type of other individuals present along travel ways and camping areas
within sight or sound of others.Visitor impacts – This refers to the impact visitors can bring
on the environment.Visitor Management – This refers to the degree to which visitors are
regulated and controlled, as well as the level of information and services provided for
visitor enjoyment.
ROS has components,phase and its description which is
First Component: Establishing the current condition of the recreational area-Phase One-
Description of the recreational area through the use of its settings (physical, social, and
managerial) that represents the classes (P, SPNM, SPM, RN, R, and U)
Second Component: Prescribing possible alternatives-Phase Two-Assessment of possible
alternative management regulations in specific areas for recreation-Phase Three-Selection
of preferred alternative management regulations
Third Component:Monitoring and management-Phase Four-Implementation of preferred
alternative management regulations-Phase Five-Monitoring and evaluation
Norm” – This describes the normal condition found in a setting.“Compatible” – This
describes conditions that meet or exceed the norm.“Inconsistent” – This represents
conditions that are not generally compatible with the norm but may be necessary under
some circumstances to meet management objectives.“Unacceptable” – This defines
conditions that do not permit the creation or maintenance in a given setting.

Limits of Acceptable Change LAC

It is discussed here as a management strategy in protected areas - it works just as well for
cultural heritage - the trick is to set the right limits.
The danger with this methodology is that at each revision of the management plan the
limits are weakened and over time a ratchet effect occurs. This may not create major
problems with visitor satisfaction and socio-cultural impacts as people's tolerance of
crowding may increase over time but the physical and environmental impacts may be very
significant.The philosophy of the LAC is that change is an inevitable consequence of
resource use, and that a framework is required to tackle resource management problems
from the perspective of the extent to which change is acceptable. The Limits of Acceptable
Change (LAC) model was developed for managing protected landscapes by determining
what environmental impacts from “desirable” social activities are acceptable, and then
determining management actions to ensure that the activities remain constrained with in
the LAC. (This shifts the focus from the ‘level of use and impact’ idea to the more proactive
approach of identifying desirable conditions for visitor activity to occur in the first place,
followed by management actions needed to protect or achieve the conditions
There are four major components of the LAC process the specification of acceptable and
achievable social and resource conditions an understanding of the relationship between
existing conditions and those judged acceptable identification of management actions
which will assist in achieving these conditions a monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness
programme Underconstruction

There is a range of carrying capacity methodologies developed for transport, rangeland

ecology and in tourism most extensively used in national parks. For avoiding or managing
overtourism the most useful methodology is generally Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC).
The challenge for those developing and managing cultural heritage sites and protected
areas is to plan for tourism without degrading the socio-cultural and physical environment
on which it depends, whilst generating income to meet their objectives of the conservation
and preservation of natural and cultural resources

It is important to remember that carrying capacity is not “a fixed value based on tourist
presence” (Cooper et al, 2008:230). It is a dynamic, fluid concept, dependent upon and
influenced by a multitude of factors. Cooper et al (2008:223-8) divide these into ‘alien’
factors relating to tourists themselves and how tolerant the locality is of them and their
particular characteristics and activities; and ‘local’ factors as explained below in relation to
natural and cultural sites.

Limits of Acceptable Change LAC

It is discussed here as a management strategy in protected areas - it works just as well for
cultural heritage - the trick is to set the right limits.The danger with this methodology is
that at each revision of the management plan the limits are weakened and over time a
ratchet effect occurs. This may not create major problems with visitor satisfaction and
socio-cultural impacts as people's tolerance of crowding may increase over time but the
physical and environmental impacts may be very significant.The philosophy of the LAC is
that change is an inevitable consequence of resource use, and that a framework is required
to tackle resource management problems from the perspective of the extent to which
change is acceptable. The Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) model was developed for
managing protected landscapes by determining what environmental impacts from
“desirable” social activities are acceptable, and then determining management actions to
ensure that the activities remain constrained with in the LAC. (This shifts the focus from
the ‘level of use and impact’ idea to the more proactive approach of identifying desirable
conditions for visitor activity to occur in the first place, followed by management actions
needed to protect or achieve the conditions Unlike the carrying capacity and ROS
frameworks, the LAC process emphasises the use of a series of different but integrated
planning processes to determine quantitative indicators that can assist in the formulation
of an overall management plan. It concentrates on establishing measurable limits to
human-induced changes in the natural and social settings of protected landscapes, and on
identifying appropriate management strategies .There are four major components of the
LAC process the specification of acceptable and achievable social and resource conditions
an understanding of the relationship between existing conditions and those judged
acceptable identification of management actions which will assist in achieving these
conditions a monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness programme furthermore there are
six(6) steps devised to facilitate the LAC process and they are
Identify issues and concerns -The purpose of this step is to identify features of particular
concern to be maintained or achieved identify specific locations of concern; provide a basis
for establishing management objectives guide allocation of the protected landscape to
different opportunity classes
Develop and describe opportunity classes.- The purpose of this step is to devise a range of
different opportunity classes where an opportunity class provides a qualitative description
of the kinds of resource and social conditions acceptable for that class and the type of
management activity considered appropriate.This will facilitate the provision and
maintenance of inter and intra area diversity within the protected landscape.
Select indicators for resource and social conditions-This step identifies specific variables
which require inventorying and monitoring for example, vegetation damage, soil erosion,
amount of infrastructure, crowding and to provide the basis for identifying what
management actions are required where.
Inventory existing resource and social conditions-During this step data is collected on the
range of resources and social conditions that will help establish meaningful standards and
help decisions on allocation to different opportunity classes.
Set standards for resources and social indicators-This stage establishes standards to provide
a measurement of changes and conditions that can or cannot be accepted within the area.
Determine appropriate actions for breached standards-This stage provides specific actions to
different levels of change in an area that may have failed to follow the standard set from
theprevious stage.
Clearly the LAC process is far more flexible for planning in protected landscapes as it
identifies a range of activities that can be carried out and that these activities require
different types of resources (natural, physical, cultural) and social conditions if the visitor
is to obtain a satisfying experience. The constant monitoring of conditions also allows for
changes in trends, which suggests that the model is dynamic.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCE PROTECTION (VERP)

VERP has been applied over the past decade to an expanding diversity of areas in the
national park system. Those applications have relied on a program of social and natural
science research that has provided information to help formulate indicators and standards
of quality. Examples of such indicators and standards include the number of people at one
time at attraction sites, to address visitor use issues for parks with existing GMPs, or to
address issues in specific areas within a park. Nine elements are integral to the VERP
framework. The VERP framework is intended to provide a logic and rationale for making
decisions on carrying capacity issues. It is, therefore, important to document all decisions
that are made during the course of developing and implementing the VERP elements in a
park. The documentation of rationale is particularly important when managers need to
make controversial decisions, such as limiting visitor use or increasing development
Assemble an Interdisciplinary Project Team-A core team is needed and should include those
people who can develop the plan and those who will implement the plan. A wide variety of
consultants with various backgrounds and expertise may be needed to assist the core team.
Develop a Public Involvement Strategy- As in any planning effort, the public must be
involved in VERP planning both NPS staff and publics external to the agency should be
considered. A public involvement strategy should be prepared early in the framework.
Develop Statements of Park Purpose, Significance,and Primary Interpretive Themes; Identify
Planning Constraints-These statements form the foundation upon which the VERP plan
and implementation strategies are built. All subsequent elements must be consistent with
and supportive of these statements. This element may already exist in many parks, having
been developed in previous planning efforts. But if this work has not been done, the work
on VERP elements should not continue until all of these statements are articulated and
clearly understood.
Analyze Park Resources and the Existing Visitor Use-The objective of this element is to
understand as fully as possible park resources and existing visitor use and experience.This
analysis should be documented, usually through a combination of maps, matrixes, and text.
Describe a Potential Range of Visitor Experience sand Resource Conditions (potential
prescriptive zones)-Potential zones are described by different desired visitor experience
opportunities and resource conditions that could be provided in a given park, consistent
with the park purpose and significance.The zone descriptions prescribe the appropriate
kinds and levelsof activity, development, and management. These potentialzones are
described in text only; they are applied to specific geographical areas in element 6.
Allocate the Potential Zones to Specific Locations in the Park (prescriptive management
zoning)-In this element the zones described in element 5 are assigned to specific locations in
a park. The zoning scheme prescribes future conditions it isnot descriptive of existing
conditions, although in some cases the continuation of existing conditions could be the
desired future. If appropriate, the planning team should develop alternative zoning
schemes and assess their beneficial and adverse impacts, consistent with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Select Indicators and Specify Standards for Each Zone; Develop a Monitoring Plan-
Indicators specific, measurable variables that will be monitored and standards minimum
acceptable conditions are identified for each zone. A monitoring plan is developed that
identifies priorities, methods, funding, and staffing strategies and analysis requirements.
Monitor Resource and Social Indicators- The park
staff regularly monitors resource and social conditions in various zones. Staff and funding
limitations will usually necessitate
setting priorities and monitoring indicators only in the most
critical areas.
Management Action-When monitoring indicates that social or resource conditions are out
of standard or are deteriorating toward a standard, management action mustbe taken.