Effects of grazing, tourism and climate change on the alpine vegetation of Kosciuszko National Park

Activities in the past (grazing), present (tourism) and future (tourism and potential climate change) have documented or potential long-term impacts on the biologically significant alpine flora of Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. The management of these activities provides insights for the conservation of fragile ecosystems in the Australian Alps, and for other high use, high conservation-value reserves. Grazing caused widespread damage that has required expensive, ongoing revegetation, the costs of which have been borne by publicly funded conservation organisations. The increasing use of the area by summer tourists has also caused severe but more localised damage to the vegetation, that can largely be controlled and reduced by effective management of tracks, visitors and weeds. Management of the most recent threat, climate change, requires a holistic approach including lobbying for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The predicted changes in climate may result in a sequence of changes in the distribution of the native alpine plant communities, including an increase in the diversity and abundance of alien plants.