Pilikuththuwa Cave Forest: A Case Study in the Use of the Water and Land Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (WALROS) Inventorying Framework in a Near Urban Forest

Abstract

The Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) that considers the diversity of recreation experience (Brown 1978, Buist 1982, Clark 1979, Driver 1978) will help to improve the satisfaction of recreationists. This case study is a report of clarifying the present situation of the Pilikuththuwa Cave Forest (PCF) using the WALROS approach as an attempt to identify diversified recreation destination surrounding to capital of Sri Lanka. The study was conducted leading to key objective and three specific objectives respectively, to develop the map of the current WALROS with regard to PCF, to identify the existing recreation activities in PCF, to pick out recreation experiences that can be gained by PCF recreationists, and to categorize WALROS classes within the PCF. As the nature of the research the qualitative research approach was associated. Land area that has geographically unique phenomena was the research area which was consisted of 483830.108m2. The land was systematically examined to understand the WALROS classes by dividing it into eleven polygons with the association of well-trained three research assistants on WALROS criterion. Current recreation users, area residents, head monk of the temple belonging to the area, officials of archaeological department and representatives of interest groups were interviewed other than the observations to understand the existing recreation activities. 11-point WALROS inventory scale was used in scaling the data and GIS software used to present and analysis the data. Out of six WALROS classes, four classes and ten existing recreation activities were identified in PCF. Nine, seven and eight activities were identified respectively in Rural Developed, Rural Natural and in Semi-primitive and Primitive areas. In this study the concept of WALROS was used only as a mapping tool. Based on the findings of the study it can conclude that the PCF area provides diversified recreational experiences via rural developed to primitive settings.