Chung-chi Wu(Civic Education and Leadership, National Taiwan Normal University)
Abstract
Purpose: To assist the mountaineering managers to find the balance between mountaineering sport participation and sustainable environment. Background: According to the survey by Sports Administration, Ministry of Education in Taiwan, mountaineering sport was one of the most popular outdoor recreational sports for Taiwanese people. However, with more and more participants going hiking or mountain climbing, more and more negative impacts they would bring to the natural environment. Hence, it was one significant issue for the researchers to assist the mountaineering managers to find the balance between mountaineering sport participation and sustainable environment. Research plan: This was a two-stage research proposal including two studies. In the first study, the research of “negative impacts assessment for mountaineering sport participation on the environment and the management strategies” was proposed. After literature review, the “user-analysis methods”, including: on-site observation, questionnaires survey and in-depth interview were used to assess the negative environment impacts brought by mountaineering sport, then, the focus group interview was taken to provide the suggestions for possible management strategies. Following the results of the first study, the second study of “sustainable environment action plan and effectiveness evaluation” was proposed. A draft action plan and index for effectiveness evaluation were suggested and examined by the focus group. Then, the action plan was introduced to the on-site hikers and the effectiveness was also evaluated. Expected results: This research could provide direction for solving the problem of negative environment impacts brought by the mountaineering sport participants. Also, the educational model will be constructed to act as reference for future mountaineering management.
Keywords: Leave no trace, User analysis, Outdoor recreational sport