Tourism pressure in protected areas; Butterflies Valley case

Abstract

Tourism sector has been one of the leading sectors growing and developing most all around the world. However, it has been an incontrovertible fact that this development leads to many negative effects in terms of the natural environment, environmental pollution as the leading. Protected areas which are one of the protection statues as a requirement of providing sustainable use of our natural and cultural values have been exposed to several negative effects in regions where tourism is intense. Butterflies Valley located near Faralya Village as one of the bays in eastern coasts of Olndeniz-Belceluz Bay on 12 km south of Mugla province Fethiye district takes its name from more than 80 butterfly species and especially from "Euplagia quadripunctaria" (jersey tiger). Butterflies Valley which was declared as the 1st degree natural protected area on 8th February, 1995 and closed to any kinds of settlement has had a rich flora. Within the valley, there have been nearly 150 plant species of families more than 50. In this study, the tourism pressure in Butterflies Valley grabbing the attention through the spectacular natural views, the biodiversity it has and its wilderness was analyzed and the required precautions that should be taken to provide the sustainable use of Butterflies Valley were mentioned. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.