Ecosystem Services and Recreational Valuesas Building Blocks for Eco Developmentin NATURA 2000 Sites

Abstract

This paper reports the results of research aimed at assessing the recreational value (in the context of cultural value) of SCI Vtáčnik (central Slovakia), which is visited by about 16,000 tourists per year. The questionnaire survey was conducted from April to October 2015. The return rate of the questionnaire was 61.8% (309 respondents) out of 500 distributed copies consisting of 24 questions each. Following the processing of the results using the method of travel costs, with an average duration of stay of 1.38 day and respondents’ costs of €51.25 per person/per stay, the total recreational value was calculated at €820.051,2. The overall ecosystem assessment services of the evaluated protected area result from recreational activities estimated at €81.54 when converted to 1 ha of total area of SCI Vtáčnik. Recreational value (VTR) just setting off costs directly linked to visits of the protected area is €212.188,8, and in recalculation on 1 ha of the total area a value of €21.10 was obtained.