Defining the Ecotourism Carrying Capacity of Langeroud City (Case Study: Khorma Forest)

Abstract

Since the early 1970s, tourism has been mentioned as a (smoke free industry) which mostly focuses on using and development of natural and cultural resources of the countries. Outdoor recreational use of the forest provides an appropriate strategy to conserve them because outdoor recreation issue in connection with the forest has been intermingled with conservation. Depending on the properties of each area, it has taken a specific status. If tourism is left uncontrolled, in addition to destruction of environment, it will threaten the identity and cultural bases of local societies. Taking this important issue will make inevitable the necessity to manage the influences of visitor's behaviour to control and adjust the adverse effect of tourism. Also, if forest lands lack a suitable pattern for tourism management, this will cause these areas to lose their characteristics on a wide range. Each area has a limited capacity to attract the tourists and related activities. These limitations are frequently formulated through integrating the carrying capacity in the frame work of sustainable development theory of tourism. Meanwhile, Khorma forest in Guilan province, Langeroud city , Otaghvar District, OItaghvar rural district in Khorma village with 2801.5 h 1 area where study area is part of lands of Dehjan forestry plan, it is located in parcel 204 , series 2 , Rooreh rood catchments area. Dimension of study area was 1.9 h 1 of khorma forest selected as case study.