Recreational disturbance & trampling

Names and classification

Record type

threat

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Recorded state

Localized / site-dependent

Threats and conservation

Pressure source

Foot traffic, vehicles, pets, unauthorized access and high-use recreation

Exposure pathway

Trampling, burrow collapse, vegetation damage, wildlife disturbance and inadvertent spread of invasive species/pathogens

Consequences

Vegetation loss, erosion, nesting failure, habitat damage and spread pathways

Affected requirements

Sensitive plants, nesting sites, dunes, bogs, caves and intertidal habitat

Susceptibility

Accessible sensitive habitats and nesting/roosting areas

Reversibility

Often reversible through access management and restoration if damage is not severe

Early warning indicators

Trail widening; off-trail use; damaged vegetation; nest disturbance; vehicle tracks

Conservation interventions

Implementation limits

Magnitude, exposure and trend are not assumed uniform across Kauaʻi; local evidence governs.

Sources and further reading

• https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/occl/coastal-lands/dune-restoration/
• https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/

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