Why and how to measure attendance in a natural park?

Why measure attendance in a natural area?

1. For protect sensitive environments

Some trails, wetlands, or forest areas are very sensitive to trampling, erosion, or wildlife disturbances. Without concrete data, it is difficult to:

• identify the most exposed sites,
• anticipate the degradation of the environment,
• prioritize restoration actions.

📌 example : in the Vosges, the Tendon Waterfall revealed more than 230,000 annual crossings — a figure that justified the creation of protective structures.

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2. For adapt equipment and services

Are car parks undersized? Should more dry toilets be provided? Is an educational sign relevant on such an itinerary?

With attendance figures:

• You can Arrange the stress points,
• you justify the investments to elected officials,
• you Prioritize actions on several sites.

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3. For valorize the role of natural spaces

Natural parks are places of public health, tourism, culture and social ties. You still have to be able to prove it.

Measuring attendance makes it possible to:

• give visibility at your management,
• valorize public action,
• reinforce the weight of your structure in territorial strategies.

4. For respond to calls for projects and grants

Today, Funders expect attendance indicators to instruct or monitor projects. The data makes it possible to:

• demonstrate a need,
• follow a post-development effect,
• produce a Quantified impact report.

💡 Anticipating the count at the beginning of a project = a head start when submitting the file.

How to measure the number of visitors to a natural park?

1. Forget artisanal methods

The sight counts, questionnaires or one-off surveys are:

• unreliable,
• difficult to compare over time,
• expensive to replicate.

They can complement, but are no longer enough to ensure serious management.

2. Adopt an automated counting system

A good device is:

• self-sufficient in energy (no connection),
• discreet and without impact (no camera),
• able to differentiate flows (pedestrians, mountain bikes, riders...),
• mobile and easy to install (on a pole, a barrier, a tree...).

At Kiomda, we designed Verdilo to meet these criteria, with sensors available to buy or rent and an installation possible without work.

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3. Choose the right locations

No need to equip the entire park. A few well-placed sensors are often enough to:

• sample overall attendance,
• follow the main and secondary entrances,
• observe seasonal or daily trends,
• objectify the effects of an arrangement or communication.

🎯 Think flow corridors : narrow, clear passage, avoiding stagnations or detours.

What you gain in concrete terms

• A clear and objective vision of uses
• Quantified arguments for your budgets or grants
• An ability to prioritize layouts
• A tool for dialogue with partners, elected officials, associations
• Better protection of areas with ecological challenges

They measured, and that changed the situation

• PETR de Remiremont et de la Déodatie (Vosges) : 5 equipped sites, including one measured at 230,000 visitors per year, which resulted in protective arrangements.
• Community of municipalities Sèvre & Loire : followed on a 400 km trail to adjust maintenance actions and identify the best locations for environmental education.
• Lake Mande (Lozère) : installation of a sensor around the reservoir to reconcile resource protection and tourist access.

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In conclusion

In a context of ecological transition, natural spaces are more valuable — and more in demand — than ever. To preserve them sustainably while maintaining access to the public, they need to be understood.

And to understand, it starts with Measure.

Do you need support?

Every year, we help dozens of communities, parks and intermunicipalities to set up a discreet, reliable attendance monitoring adapted to their terrain. For short or long rental, or for purchase.

📩 Let's discuss your site, goals, and budget together.

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