An attempt to assess the effect of tourist trail width on adjacent forest environment

The impact of narrow (up to 2 m), medium (up to 3.5 m) and wide (>3.5 m) tourist trails on the surrounding environment was investigated. On wide trails, the value of soil erosion and compaction indices was found to be the highest, while the herb height index was the lowest indicating the greatest impact of wide trails on the environment. The phytosociological relevés were used to determine ecological indicator figures. Wide trails were characterized by higher thermal and continentalism indices and lower pH and trophic indices. The proportion of therophytes and geophytes was higher, while of hemicryptophytes, phanerophytes and chamaephytes on wide trails were lower than on medium and narrow trails. All the analysed indices pointed to a stronger impact of wide trails on the environment in comparison with medium and narrow trails