Forested areas of Kanching Recreation Forest exposed to concentrated recreational use tend to show signs of deterioration as indicated by soil parameters related to soil compaction. The results of the present study clearly indicate that such a deterioration of soil conditions has already occurred, though not on an alarming scale. Indeed the status of these soils remains favourable, as the figures for saturated hydraulic conductivity and plant-available water are still ‘satisfactory’, or at least were so during the period of study (1989). Surface runoff and sheet-erosion in intensively-used recreational sites must not, however, be looked upon in isolation when advising on recreational forest land-management.

A recent study in Kanching Forest Reserve, Malaysia, showed that recreational use of forested areas could adversely affect soil conditions. Soil bulk density and micropore space were significantly increased, but total porespace and macropore space were significantly decreased. Available water-holding capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and particle-size distribution, were not significantly affected by recreational use on such sites, indicating that the status of Kanching Recreation Forest soil is still favourable for plant growth, or at least it was during the period of this study.