Trampling Intensity and Vegetation Response and Recovery according to Altitude: An Experimental Study from the Himalayan Miyar Valley

Abstract

The trampling of vegetation caused by recreation and tourism can lead to the loss of vegetation and the degradation of plant communities, which adversely affects natural habitats. This paper investigates the impact of trampling on plant species in the high-mountain environment, where plant resources are limited and any recovery is slow. It is commonly accepted that the sensitivity of the vegetation in mountains increases as altitude increases. Therefore, this study supposed that the same plant species would have different responses to trampling at different altitudes. By using a standardized method of experimental trampling, an empirical study was conducted on eight plant species at two altitudes: 4072 m and 4480 m. Each species was trampled 0–500 times. Response to trampling was assessed by determining plant cover two weeks after trampling and one year after trampling. For most species, the relationship between plant cover after trampling and trampling intensity was very clear (linear). This research found the following: (1) vegetation has extremely high ecological sensitivity to trampling in the examined environment; (2) above 4000 m, an increase in altitude does not increase the sensitivity of vegetation. Vegetation above a certain altitude exhibits similar, very high sensitivity to trampling.