Environmental Trail Suitability in the Proposed Bästeträsk National Park, Gotland : A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Using GIS

Abstract: This master’s thesis determines trail suitability in the context of environmental area sensitivity, closely focusing on a proposed Bästeträsk National Park, Gotland, Sweden. The current relative low usage of the area is expected to significantly increase its tourism flow once the proposed national park is established, as the demand for nature-based tourism and recreation is growing. However, due to its pristine landscapes, myriad endemic and red-listed species, and rare geomorphological phenomena, there is a need to closely review the destination’s environmental sensitivity and potential recreational adverse impacts on the area’s ecosystem services. Consequently, the research reviews Volunteered Geographic Data within the studied area and employs Geographic Information Systems-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to determine environmental trail suitability. The research identified that more than half of the studied area exhibits substantial environmental sensitivity. Additionally, it highlights that multiple used and established trails intersect considerably sensitive areas, which must be considered for future tourism planning to attain sustainable destination development. Moreover, the study furthers on the requisite to recognise nature-based activities beyond the means of low impact due to their increasing popularity and anthropogenic impacts.