A conceptual framework for carrying capacity determination

Abstract

Establishing a carrying capacity involves both descriptive and evaluative components. The descriptive component includes management parameters, the factors that managers can manipulate, and impact parameters, which describe the consequences of different management regimes. Different types of capacities (ecological, social, physical, or facility) focus on different types of impact. The evaluative component involves value judgments regarding the type of experience to be offered and specific standards defining the important dimensions of that experience. Capacity determination requires integration of both components; carrying capacity can be defined as the level of use beyond which impacts exceed acceptable levels specified by evaluative standards. Conditions necessary for capacity determination are specified, and extensions made by Graefe et al. beyond this model are discussed.

Key words:

• Carrying capacity
• social carrying capacity
• management models
• crowding