Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)

What is LAC?
The LAC framework outlines a series of steps that can be used to dene a set of desired conditions for some area where change is imminent, as well as the various management actions required to help maintain or restore those conditions (Stankey et al., 1985)
It does not prevent changes but instead minimizes them

Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)

Initially designed to address visitor management issues in the U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System was a product of the spreading realization that carrying capacity failed in achieving its objectives.

Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC)

ecognises that change is inevitable R Provides framework for planning regarding:
what changes are acceptable

what changes will be permitted to occur

Closely related to carrying capacity concept

hange is typically limited to that WITHIN biophysical carrying c
capacity

The Limits of Acceptable Change model better encompasses the critical interaction between human and natural systems at every level (Howard and Potter 2002). The LAC model is considered by McCool and Cole (1997) to be the simplest available approach for effectively dealing with the complexity of the real world.

Difference of LAC to Carrying Capacity(CC)

The Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) model differs from CC in that it seeks to address these two questions: Given recreational use, what are the acceptable resource
and social conditions in the protected area? how much damage to the site is acceptable?

What are the appropriate and effective actions needed to maintain those conditions? changing the management methods so as to avoid exceeding this limit

Advantages of LAC over Traditional Carrying Capacity Models

CC limits numbers of people to prevent deterioration of resource & social conditions. LAC maintains desired future resource & social conditions through monitoring & management actions targeted at specific problems. LAC is trackable & traceableCC seldom is. LAC is most reasonable way to implement CC.

The LAC process recognizes the need for monitoring resource and social conditions. tells the manager whether conditions on-site meet the desired resource and social conditions stated in the area standards; shows trends (improving or declining) in resource or experience conditions so managers can take appropriate actions to restore experience conditions; monitoring provides the manager with important information on whether existing standards remain acceptable across time.

4 Major Component of LAC

s pecification of acceptable and achievable conditions

analysis of existing conditions and acceptable change i dentification of management actions to achieve desired conditions a programme of monitoring to evaluate management effectiveness

LAC Process

(Stankey et al., 1985)

Indicators for Physical Coastal Resource for LAC

Indicators for Social Conditions for LAC

Advantages of LAC
Public input at all stages (Values, threats, DFCs, etc.) Desired Future Conditions clearly defined. Relevant Indicators & Standards selected. Management Actions address specific problems & evaluate effectiveness. Trackable and Traceable. Public becomes partners in management. (Krumpe, 2005)

Disadvantages of LAC
It takes a lot of time Forces you to be specific. We dont know best indicators to use. Setting standards is difficult. Requires a lot of systematic monitoring. Must be revisited and fine tuned. (Krumpe, 2005)