Determination of carrying capacity and visitor satisfaction in protected areas: case of Karagol-Sahara National Park

Places under protection due to their unique natural, cultural and ecological values are called "Protected Areas". Places that have gained protected area status in our country; National Parks, Nature Parks, Nature Conservation Areas, Natural Monuments, Wildlife Development Areas, Ramsar Areas, Wetlands of National/Local Importance, Conservation Forests, Urban Forests, Gene Conservation Forests, Seed Stand, Seed Garden, Natural Protected Areas. National Parks, which are among the protected areas, are pieces of nature with national and international, historical and aesthetic features. Carrying capacity, on the other hand, is the acceptable intensity of use of these areas so that an area can remain natural for years without losing its essence. This research was carried out in Karagöl-Sahara National Park in Şavşat district between 2017-2021. In this study, the physical, real, effective and social carrying capacities of the recreation areas were calculated separately for Karagöl and Sahara sections with the 'Protected Area Carrying Capacity Estimation Method' recommended by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in the carrying capacity calculation of the National Park, and as a result of these data. The total Physical Carrying Capacity of Karagöl-Sahara National Park is 4395 person/day, Actual Carrying Capacity is 1310 person/day, Effective Carrying Capacity is 537 person/day and Social Carrying Capacity is 216 person/day. A survey evaluation study was conducted with 400 visitors throughout the area by examining the opinions of the visitors about the satisfaction profile and carrying capacity in detail. It has been determined that visitor satisfaction is directly related to the development of the National Park and the capacity of the area is sufficient in Karagöl and Sahara sections. However, it has been observed that there is intense recreational use during holidays such as weekends and holidays, thus causing negative factors.