Impact of trampling on bolster heath communities of Mt Field National Park, Tasmania

The impact of trampling on the alpine bolster heath communities of Newdegate Pass and the Mt Field West plateau (1300-1400 m) were investigated. It was found that in the track vegetation, percentage bare ground was significantly higher, and percentage cover of some taxa and species diversity were significantly lower than in the surrounding undisturbed vegetation. Degradation was measurably worse on sections of the track subject to waterlogging. Implications of these findings for recreational management are discussed.