Evaluation of user satisfaction in protected area management on the example of Lake Kovada National Park

People's interest in nature tourism and recreational activities has been increasing in recent years, which leads to pressure and destruction of natural resources with the increasing demands of visitors in protected areas. Awareness has been created about environmental problems and the importance of nature and natural resources. To ensure the sustainability of natural resources, it has become essential to pay attention to the conservation-use balance and transfer them to future generations. One of the factors in ensuring sustainability in the protection and use of ecosystem diversity is to provide its protection and management by creating ecosystem protection zones. With growing pressures, protection and effective management models are needed in terms of administrative, scientific, cultural, ecological, and visual quality to ensure the availability of biological diversity in the protected area to eliminate or minimize the emerging disadvantages. It is necessary to determine the conservation principles of the area where protection is needed and to prepare a management plan related to the area to ensure the safety of natural and cultural resources in the area and their known use in the principle of sustainability. For this reason, the cultural and natural resource values of the Kovada Lake National Park have been evaluated by examination. Within the scope of this study aims to determine the participatory approach that is part of the current status and management of the protected area in Isparta Kovada Lake National Park and to ensure resource sustainability for the protection of the ecosystem. Within the scope of the thesis, the current management approach of the national park is determined, and the management approach with which it should be managed and the issues that should be considered in management plans are mentioned. Study data was obtained using the survey technique by face-to-face interviews with 250 users who visited the national park between 01.05.2021 and 01.05.2022. In this context, as a working method, questions were asked in the survey conducted to the visitors to determine the profile of the participants, their conceptual approaches, their wishes and suggestions regarding the use of the area, the current problems in the national park, the adverse effects caused by the visitors, the precautions that can be taken and their wishes and opinions about the standards. As a result of the findings, it is seen that the recreational potential of Kovada Lake National Park needs to be utilized more effectively. Water and forest landscaping in the park area is an opportunity for recreational activities. As a result of the study, it is seen that carrying out recreational activities in limited areas hurts natural resources.