Zmeny turistických chodníkov v centrálnej časti Nízkych Tatier a ich vplyv na vysokohorské ekosystémy Zmeny turistických chodníkov v centrálnej časti Nízkych Tatier a ich vplyv na vysokohorské ekosystémy/Hiking Trails Changes in the Central Part of the Nízke Tatry Mts. and their Impact on Alpine Ecosystems

This landscape ecological research of hiking trails in the central part of the Low Tatras is the first comprehensive comparison of developmental changes in this area over a 30-year time span. The first mapping of the hiking trails was between 1980 and 1981 and the second was in 2013 and 2014. The landscape ecological research of the hiking trails was based on abiotic, technical and biotic parameters of the hiking trails, with assessment of devastated environment in the walkway impact zones. We employed the square method to evaluate sections of the hiking trails in the central portion of the Low Tatras (Nízke Tatry Mts.) and identified the changes and ongoing trends in and around the hiking trails. This assessment included the ridge and the southern trails with two connecting trails, and it covered a total length of 26.3 km. We established that 179 square meters (67.3%) of the trails had a continuing positive trend between the monitoring periods, and that 43 squares (16.2%) achieved significant improvement. The negative environmental trend has therefore persisted in 87 squares (32%). This includes 11 squares (4.1%) in a worse current state and 13 squares (4.8%) with marked deterioration. The evaluation of the hiking trails was supplemented by an impact assessment of the hiking trails, our visitation to these alpine ecosystems and proposals for future management measures.