Tourist pressure in the nature reserve “Skamieniałe Miasto” on the Ciężkowice Foothills (Carpathians) in the spring and summer of 2018

Abstract

The “Skamieniałe Miasto” reserve is located in Małopolska province, in the eastern part of Ciężkowicko-Rożnowski Landscape Park. The surveys carried out in 2018 and direct observations regarding the attendance showed that the nature reserve “Skamieniałe Miasto” is visited by a large group of tourists. During 10 days (Sundays), the reserve was visited by 22,887 tourists. The largest attendance is among tourists from the Małopolska province. It is 74.7%, and most tourists are people between 35 and 60 years old. Among tourists visiting the reserve dominate people with secondary education. Women make up almost 60% of tourists, and the reserve is most often visited in the afternoon. The number of tourists visiting the reserve increases year by year.
Unfortunately, the high number of tourists brings many negative consequences for the environment. The most important are: littering, vandalism (inscriptions on rocks and trees), theft of minerals, trampling and destruction of vegetation, destruction of rocks through climbing sport, bouldering, wild camps, and lighting fires. For proper maintenance of this extremely valuable site, planned management is required. It should be based on the best practices in the field of conservation and active protection of nature.