Scholarlink

<p>Forests planned for social use are classified as such due to the cultural ecosystem services they offer. To fully benefit from these services, forest stands for social use must be easily accessible and interconnected, not just through forest roads but also through recreational trails, a key outdoor leisure infrastructure. However, forest planning and trail design are seldom integrated. This study addresses this issue by proposing a method to create connector routes between official trails and forest stands managed for social objectives (FSMSO), enhancing the socio-recreational use of forests. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), our approach analyses overlap between official trails and FSMSO, identifies direct routes with origin-destination matrices and assesses FSMSO accessibility. Route viability was then calculated, supporting decision-makers in assessing route homologation potential. In our study area (Catalonia, Spain), findings show that only 14% of the FSMSO overlap with official trails. Among those not overlapping, 75% are connected with official trails via the road network, while 25% are inaccessible. Of the accessible stands from official trails, 54% are more than 20 min away on foot, while 22% are within 20 min. Most created connectors (62%) have moderate viability, with 13% showing high viability for official homologation. Regarding forest types, riparian forests are the most common in FSMSO (15%) and the most connected to official trails (17%). Our methodology supports integrated forest planning and trail design, enhancing socio-recreational opportunities, while emphasising the need for regulations addressing risks and challenges linked to promoting the public use of forests.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Linking Forest Planning and Recreational Trail Design: A GIS Approach for Enhancing the Social Use of Forests

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月24日

查看全文
  • Aitor Àvila Callau,
  • Maitane Erdozain,
  • Estela Inés Farías-Torbidoni,
  • Sergio de-Miguel

摘要

Forests planned for social use are classified as such due to the cultural ecosystem services they offer. To fully benefit from these services, forest stands for social use must be easily accessible and interconnected, not just through forest roads but also through recreational trails, a key outdoor leisure infrastructure. However, forest planning and trail design are seldom integrated. This study addresses this issue by proposing a method to create connector routes between official trails and forest stands managed for social objectives (FSMSO), enhancing the socio-recreational use of forests. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), our approach analyses overlap between official trails and FSMSO, identifies direct routes with origin-destination matrices and assesses FSMSO accessibility. Route viability was then calculated, supporting decision-makers in assessing route homologation potential. In our study area (Catalonia, Spain), findings show that only 14% of the FSMSO overlap with official trails. Among those not overlapping, 75% are connected with official trails via the road network, while 25% are inaccessible. Of the accessible stands from official trails, 54% are more than 20 min away on foot, while 22% are within 20 min. Most created connectors (62%) have moderate viability, with 13% showing high viability for official homologation. Regarding forest types, riparian forests are the most common in FSMSO (15%) and the most connected to official trails (17%). Our methodology supports integrated forest planning and trail design, enhancing socio-recreational opportunities, while emphasising the need for regulations addressing risks and challenges linked to promoting the public use of forests.