SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE BRECON BEACONS

NATIONAL PARK

Sustainable Development

•Economy - Environment - Community

•Tourism must not destroy what it values

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

•Tourism is worth £130m to the economy of the Park

•It needs careful management

•The National Park Authority has a duty to foster the local economy and communities.

Communities need strong economy

Environment is an economic asset

Local people and businesses can work with the Park Authority to

protect the environment

SUSTAINABILITY CYCLE

•The National Park has a Sustainable Tourism Strategy

•It has been awarded the European Charter for Sustainable Tourismin Protected Areas

VISITOR MANAGEMENT

VISITOR MANAGEMENT

•Education, Information & Interpretation

•Site management & wardening

•National Park Management Plan

Watersports versus WildlifeLlangors Lake: A Case Study

Llangors Llangors LakeLake

Llangors Lake

©Copyright BBNPA

Llangors: history and ecologyCrannog – palace on the lake. Built 9Crannog – palace on the lake. Built 9thth centurycentury. .

Glacial lake. 150 hectares. Largest Glacial lake. 150 hectares. Largest natural lake in south Wales.natural lake in south Wales.

‘‘Eco-mecca’?

Wide biodiversity.

Important wetland habitat and many species of flowering plant life, micro-organisms, invertebrates, fish and over 160 species of bird.

Llangors: recreationUsage: 3 Caravan Parks, Pub, Shop, Restaurant, Boat Hire, Fishing, Bird Watching, Sailing, Outdoor Activity Centre, Waterskiing & common land for recreation.

Llangors: conflicts

1) Power boats. Noise and boat wakes disturbs bird and plant life.

•Decline in breeding success of Great Crested Grebe

•Deterrent effect on visiting wildfowl

A 1961 study also suggested that propeller blades were destroying various underwater

plant species e.g. water millfoil, which in turn supported all higher forms of life on

the lake.

Llangors: conflicts

2) Powerboats: 2) Powerboats:

•disruption to other users e.g. disruption to other users e.g. sailing boats, fishermen, walkers.sailing boats, fishermen, walkers.

•potential damage to Crannog: potential damage to Crannog: deteriorating archaeology.deteriorating archaeology.

Llangors: conflicts

3) Powerboats/ waterskiing etc:3) Powerboats/ waterskiing etc:

•discharge of fuel and other discharge of fuel and other forms of pollution into forms of pollution into the lake.the lake.

Llangors: conflicts

4)Sailing/ non-powered water 4)Sailing/ non-powered water sports:sports:

•potential disruption to wildlife potential disruption to wildlife and conflict over space with other and conflict over space with other lake users.lake users.

Llangors: conflicts

5) Fishing: 5) Fishing:

•may have contributed to may have contributed to pollution and depletion of fish pollution and depletion of fish stocks (perch, roach, eels etc – stocks (perch, roach, eels etc – coarse fishery)coarse fishery)

Llangors: conflicts

6) Visitors using common next to 6) Visitors using common next to lake: lake:

•possible disturbance of feeding possible disturbance of feeding wildfowl and potential damage to wildfowl and potential damage to nest sites. Litter. Pollution and nest sites. Litter. Pollution and increase in traffic.increase in traffic.

Llangors: conflicts

7) Other problems: 7) Other problems:

•‘‘enrichment’ caused by enrichment’ caused by fertilisers, promotes algae and fertilisers, promotes algae and kills other forms of plant life. kills other forms of plant life.

•Sheep/cattle grazing on banks of Sheep/cattle grazing on banks of lake can impact on wildlife.lake can impact on wildlife.

Voluntary Arrangements

Introduced in 1999.

• Restrictions set up for certain craft in certain areas.

• Reed beds and the Crannog have permanent restrictions in place.

Voluntary Arrangements

• Restrictions on when water skiing can take place.

• No more than 10 water-skiers at any one time.

• Power boats must be towing a water-skier

These arrangements have prevented the decline of the biodiversity of Llangors lake,

especially nesting birds.

Tufted duck

Great crested Grebe