FOREST VISITORS DATA BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN CRISIS: FOREST RECREATIONAL SERVICES IN THE FACE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC STRESS

Abstract

COVID-19 has overtaken human freedom of movement and association. Moreover, the infection has claimed numerous lives of more than a million people by the middle of 2021. Given the numerous forest ecosystems services and benefits to humans and biodiversity, urban forests and parks provide a significant part by offering urban dwellers recreational and leisure space, mental health relief, and meditation. Consequently, this data aims to give a clear state of forest visits to a forest near Brno City before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical experts, leaders, and policymakers could use this data to make better decisions regarding lockdown rules, recreational services during the lockdown, and epidemiological situations. Moreover, this data will help other researchers on health and welfare issues concerning forest and urban nature visits and other recreation services. Using TRAFx Infrared Trail Counter, we counted visitors in the Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Křtiny in the outskirts of Brno City in the Czech Republic. Data (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/8NAKW) has been prepared and presented herein for further use.