Should we reduce the human impact on Kosciusko National Park

Australia’s alpine area is relatively small. Because of this, environmental impacts are important. Each day during summer at least 3000 people visit Kosciusko National Park (K.N.P.). The impacts of bushwalkers and skiers are an important factor in looking at the human impact on K.N.P., also the facilities provided to entice them into the park, as well as the money generated through tourism for both the National Park and Wildlife Service (N.P.W.S.) and the local community.

Bushwalkers adversely affect wet and dry areas. Where there are high visitor numbers the soil becomes compacted and forms artificial channels. In wet areas, these channels cause rapid drainage of the site, while in dry areas people walk across areas that seem most accessible and informal tracks are formed (N.P.W.S). The channels formed in dry areas make walking difficult and walkers start to walk beside the channels forming new paths and enlarging the area of erosion (Soil Conservation Society).

N.P.W.S. have ...