A decade of recreation ratings for six silviculture treatments in Western Oregon

Managed forests are increasingly being used for recreation. As a result, foresters may be expected to tailor silvicultural treatments to accommodate specific recreation preferences. To better understand changes in hiking and camping quality in the years following a harvest, six sites on the Oregon State University's research forest were evaluated annually for 11 years. Multiple comparison and regression analyses were used to describe the data. Results show that recreation ratings generally improved over time; recreation ratings were related to but different from scenic ratings; and there were differences among recreation activities. Although several studies have previously examined recreation quality after harvest, we know of no other study that has tracked the ratings of individual harvest units through the early stages of stand regeneration.     

The prediction of scenic beauty from landscape content and composition

Two studies were conducted to examine distance classes of vegetation (foreground, middleground and background) and scene composition (presence of vegetation in left, center or right section of the image) as predictors of perceived scenic beauty. In study one, 41 students rated 63 landscape scenes with regard to scenic beauty. The Scenic Beauty Estimation Method was used to derive interval scale beauty values (SBEs). For each landscape image, areal measures of vegetation in each distance class and for each vertical section were taken and used as predictors. Presence of haze, clouds and human impacts were also recorded. Among the most important contributors to scenic beauty were amount of center middleground vegetation, and center background vegetation. Left foreground vegetation and right foreground vegetation were found to have significant and opposing regression weight signs—negative for the left and positive for the right. Study two was conducted to determine whether these opposing regression weight signs for foreground vegetation were due to a perceptual right-left bias or to some specific content in the image itself. In the second study, the photographic slides used to present landscape scenes to subjects were reversed so that the content which was previously on the right was now left, and vice versa. Thirty-nine students rated the reversed slides with regard to their scenic beauty. The signs of the regression weights in study two shifted such that left foreground was now positively valued and right foreground was negatively valued. This finding suggests that viewers are sensitive to foreground content and its placement in the image, and not simply to one side of the field of vision.     

Assessing the spatial distribution of grassland age in a marginal European landscape

Grassland age is increasingly recognised to be an indicator for present-day biodiversity, e.g. plant species richness, and is also important for other landscape functions. We developed a methodological approach to systematically assess the spatial distribution of grassland age in marginal European landscapes. This approach - applied to the Lahn-Dill Highlands (1270 km(2)), a marginal landscape in Hesse, Germany - comprises three steps: (1) in a two-stage stratification process, we pre-stratified the study area according to recent land-cover patterns and their changes between 1955 and 1995 (stratification I) and classified grassland types by combining data on soil moisture, base-richness, and elevation (stratification II). From 50 grassland types, we randomly selected 1000 representative grassland patches. (2) We determined the age of these patches by means of aerial photograph interpretation of a chronosequence dating back to 1953 and classified each patch with respect to the age classes young (<18 years), mid-aged (18-47 years), and old (>47 years). (3) Based on this information, we calculated grassland type-specific probabilities for grassland patches to belong to the respective age classes. These probabilities were projected to districts by direct extrapolation. An exemplary validation of extrapolation results for two test areas was performed. The results revealed that 49% of the investigated patches were old grassland. The remaining patches were mid-aged (36%) or young grassland (15%). The extrapolation results indicated accordingly a predominance of old grassland at the district scale. Occurrences of mid-aged grassland were concentrated in districts with a pronounced land-cover change, whereas young grassland is apparently evenly distributed across the study area. Validation results suggest that our approach is suitable for a realistic estimation of grassland age in marginal European landscapes. The method may be applied in landscape models of various disciplines that rely on large-scale information on grassland age.     

Procedure for assessing visual quality for landscape planning and management

Incorporation of aesthetic considerations in the process of landscape planning and development has frequently met with poor results due to its lack of theoretical basis, public involvement, and failure to deal with spatial implications. This problem has been especially evident when dealing with large areas, for example, the Adirondacks, Scenic Highways, and National Forests and Parks. This study made use of public participation to evaluate scenic quality in a portion of the Niagara Escarpment in Southern Ontario, Canada. The results of this study were analyzed using thevisual management model proposed by Brown and Itami (1982) as a means of assessing and evaluating scenic quality. Themap analysis package formulated by Tomlin (1980) was then applied to this assessment for the purpose of spatial mapping of visual impact. The results of this study illustrate that it is possible to assess visual quality for landscape/management, preservation, and protection using a theoretical basis, public participation, and a systematic spatial mapping process.     

Is motion more important than it sounds?: The medium of presentation in environment perception research

This study assessed the incremental validity of different media for representing landscapes with significant dynamic elements. The experimental design independently varied the presence of motion and sound in different representations of a wild and scenic river in order to evaluate the adequacy or sufficiency of the surrogate to reflect physical changes in the landscape. Three representational conditions were identified: (1) video/sound, (2) video/no sound, and (3) static/no sound. A pilot study assessed the ability of the static images to represent river flow levels per se, and confirmed comparability with prior results (Brown & Daniel, 1989, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 7, 233–250). Scenic beauty judgments were then collected within each representational condition. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine the relationship of flow level to perceived scenic beauty for each representation condition. The results demonstrated that motion and sound, individually and conjointly, influenced judgements of scenic beauty for a landscape with a significant dynamic element.     

Implementing landscape fragmentation as an indicator in the Swiss Monitoring System Of Sustainable Development (Monet)

There is an increasing need and interest in including indicators of landscape fragmentation in monitoring systems of sustainable landscape management. Landscape fragmentation due to transportation infrastructure and urban development threatens human and environmental well-being by noise and pollution from traffic, reducing the size and viability of wildlife populations, facilitating the spread of invasive species, and impairing the scenic and recreational qualities of the landscape. This paper provides the rationale, method, and data for including landscape fragmentation in monitoring systems, using as an example the Swiss Monitoring System of Sustainable Development (Monet). We defined and compared four levels of fragmentation analysis, or fragmentation geometries (FGs), each based on different fragmenting elements, e.g., only anthropogenic, or combinations of anthropogenic and natural elements. As each FG has specific strengths and weaknesses, the most appropriate choice of FG depends on the context and objectives of a study. We present data on the current degree of landscape fragmentation for the five ecoregions and 26 cantons in Switzerland for all four FGs. Our results show that the degree of landscape fragmentation as quantified by the effective mesh size method is strongly supported by the postulates and indicator selection criteria of Monet, and we identify the most suitable FG focusing on the land area below 2100 m (e.g., excluding lakes) and allowing for an equitable comparison of fragmentation degrees among regions that differ in area covered by lakes and high mountains. For a more detailed analysis of landscape fragmentation in the context of environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments, a combination of all four FGs may provide a more informative tool than any single FG.     

鲁班水库水体营养状态

四川三台鲁班水库属于大型湖库,多年来除具有特色景观作为旅游景点外,主要用于发展水产养殖业。随着时间的延续,养殖规模的不断扩大,湖库的自净能力越来越差,使有机物污染不断加重,水质越来越差,出现富营养化现象,对水环境造成了不利影响。近年来,为了改变湖库水环境质量,调整转化湖库功能,恢复水环境质量,加强了对其水质的监测,其中的营养状态指标是湖库水环境质量的主要评价指标。评价结果,除秋季和冬季个别月份外,其余各月均有测点达到轻度富营养化及中度富营养化。     

The perceived scenic effects of clearcutting in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA

The scenic effects of clearcutting have been a volatile issue for the American public for much of the past century. A better understanding of the scenic perceptions associated with the cumulative visible effects of clearcutting should contribute to better decisions about its use. This study evaluates the scenic impacts of simulated alternative clearcutting management systems for the White Mountain National Forest. Alternatives represented an unharvested view, and views with removal of 1–5% of the timber every 12 years using either scattered or concentrated clearcut units of 5, 15 and 30 acres in two viewsheds. A random sample of local citizens, four groups of opinion leaders, and US Forest Service employees evaluated these alternatives. Each factor accounts for significant differences in scenic value. All groups rated the scenic value of unharvested scenes very high. All groups find a large drop in scenic value with the introduction of even the least intense harvesting activity. All groups indicated a statistically significant decrease in visual quality as the intensity of harvesting increases. This effect continues throughout the range of harvesting intensities until the level of sustainable yield is reached. In addition, patches 12–15 acres in size were preferred to larger and smaller ones.     

Comparative Assessment of Public Opinion on the Landscape Quality of Two Biosphere Reserves in Europe

The European Landscape Convention (2000) obligates European Union countries to identify and implement landscape quality objectives (LQOs) understood as the specification of public expectations and preferences concerning the landscape of a given area, expressed by competent public authorities. The convention emphasizes the important role of local community representatives in this field. In Poland, the implementation of the LQO concept was first undertaken in two regions with radically different landscape characteristics: (1) the West Polesie Biosphere Reserve and (2) the selected protected areas of the Roztocze–Solska Forest, nominated to the rank of a biosphere reserve. The first stage of the presented study was the recognition of public opinion on the quality of key features of landscape, based on a questionnaire (n = 470). The primary objective of the study was to provide an answer to the following questions: (1) Whether similar social expectations regarding landscape quality exist in spite of radically different landscape characteristics of the regions investigated (landscape quality is understood as spatial arrangement, scenic beauty, and lack of environmental pollution); (2) which landscape features are considered to be most preservation worthy by the representatives of both local communities; and (3) What processes or development impacts pose the greatest threat to the landscape quality of both regions according to the public opinion? The conducted comparative assessment revealed that it is possible to define a set of features fundamental to the quality of both areas and that representatives of local communities pointed out the same threats to the natural and cultural values of both regions investigated.     

新疆天山天池风景名胜区天池景区景观相融性评价

新疆天山天池风景名胜区是国家重点风景名胜区之一,天池景区是天山天地风景名胜区的精华景区和主要游览区。本文运用“山岳风景资源开发环境影响评价指标体系”,对景区内现有建筑和详细规划的拟建项目的景观相融性进行了评价,结果表明：天池景区现有景观的景观相融性普遍较低,规划中拟建景观的景观相融性仍不够高。要保护天地景区的峻峭山体、秀丽湖水等自然景观,必须对已建或拟建项目做进一步规划调整,对不协调的项目应予以整修或拆除。     

南岳古镇景观基因的居民感知特征及影响因素

以南岳古镇为研究对象,在识别景观基因的基础上,从建筑特征、形态布局和参考环境三个尺度,物质形态、功能作用和文化意义三个维度,以及颜色、形状、范围和建造年代四个形态要素等角度进行了问卷和访谈调查.结果发现,南岳大庙、环境尺度、物质形态和形状因素感知度最高,方形布局、布局尺度、物质形态和文化意义感知度最低;年龄、职业、教育程度、居住时间是影响古镇景观基因居民感知的因素,性别只在景观基因尺度有影响.     

CLASSIFICATION OF LANDSCAPES USING QUANTITATIVE AND CATEGORICAL DATA, AND PREDICTION OF THEIR SCENIC BEAUTY IN NORTH-WESTERN SPAIN

The present study approaches the environmental assessment of landscapes in two steps: first, through the determination of the relevant characteristics that influence the perception of a sample of galician landscapes, in north-western spain, using both quantitative data and categorical data; and second, by obtaining a list of predictors of scenic beauty for a sample of landscapes. Predictors were related to two of the most fertile approaches to landscape assessment: the psychophysical and cognitive paradigms, the latter including five different models to explain landscape preference. Our results support the existence of a classification criteria that is common to most subjects. The criteria followed by subjects to derive this classification were: presence/absence of water, artificiality of landscape, powerfulness of landscape, and human presence in the landscape. With respect to assessment of scenic beauty, our results showed that both the psychophysical and the cognitive paradigm were able to explain to a high degree the preference scores. The relationships found between predictors from both paradigms indicate that it would be possible to integrate them into a more general model of landscape assessment.     

Context effects in perceived environmental quality assessment: Scene selection and landscape quality ratings

Observer groups rated the scenic beauty of forest scenes represented by color slides presented in the context of different scene mixes. The proportion of scenes from recently harvested, low scenic beauty forests compared with those from unharvested, high scenic beauty forests had a significant effect on judgments of scenes common to both sets. The effects of different scene contexts on scenic beauty judgments can result from changes in observers' perception of the scenes and from shifts in their criteria for assigning ratings. A psychophysical scaling analysis is suggested as a means for dealing with criterion shifts. Because perceptual shifts may also occur, procedures used to assess scenic beauty should be designed to reflect accurately the context to which the assessment applies, and care should be exercised in comparing experimental results obtained in different contexts.     

A SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING SCENIC RIVERS1

ABSTRACT. A system is presented for evaluating streams for inclusion in “scenic river” systems. Rating criteria are proposed which are objective and pertinent to recreational, scenic and natural qualities of the river and its banks. The critieria should also be selected for simplicity and economy in application. Numerical ratings of eight criteria are shown for Indiana conditions. These were applied to streams meeting minimum qualifications. The rating criteria are measures of bank vegetation, stream course alterations, man-made structures and roads near and across the river, aesthetic quality of the water, and special natural features.     

Viewer preference for spatial arrangement of park trees: An application of video-imaging technology

Research on perception of parks and recreation settings has examined several important tree attributes that influence people's visual preferences. This research, however, has usually not considered the spatial arrangement of the trees, partly because of the lack of adequate methods for representing tree arrangements with systematically manipulated geometries. In the study reported here, computer video-imaging techniques were used to construct simulated landscape scenes that varied on specific dimensions of the spatial configuration of trees. The simulations were rated for visual preference by three respondent groups: a university class, a bicycle club, and a women's civic group. Preference ratings were significantly influenced by the number of trees in the scene, by the number of clumps into which trees were grouped, and by the diameter of the clumps. The video-imaging technology implemented in this study offers important methodological advantages for the design of carefully controlled experiments to study human response to variation in landscape treatments.     

山岳型景观区生态系统健康状况评价初探——以武陵源为例

山岳型景观区是我国主要的旅游目的地类型之一。由于山岳型景观生态系统具有脆弱性、污染消解能力弱等特点,开发利用不当易引起生态环境破坏问题。因此,将生态系统健康理论与山岳型景观区的旅游可持续发展相结合,建立山岳型景观区生态系统健康评价指标体系,运用层次分析法对其健康状况进行分析评价,是景区旅游可持续发展由理论走向实践的又一条有效途径。运用该方法对世界自然遗产武陵源的生态系统健康状况进行了实证分析,及时发现面临的主要问题和潜在危险,进行健康预警,提出维护景区生态系统健康的对策与建议。     

移动通信基站景观影响评价方法与实践

为保护景区景观资源,降低对景观的影响,有必要开展风景区移动通信基站建设项目的景观影响评价。针对其建设特点,梳理了移动通信基站景观影响评价思路,探讨了评价方法。以南京玄武湖公园梁州基站为例,在景观敏感度和景观阚值评价的基础上,对3处基站拟建址的景观影响进行评价,给出评价结论和建议,对开展景观影响定量评价具有很好的参考价值。     

GIS As A Tool For Assessing The Influence Of Countryside Designations and Planning Policies On Landscape Change

The county of Bedfordshire is typical of landscape in lowland England with land cover dominant over land form and agriculture forming the major land use. Landscape change can be influenced by planning policies through their control of land use. A number of designated areas such as Areas of Great Landscape Value, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt have been defined where particular planning priorities for the conservation of the countryside apply. This paper reports work where an attempt has been made to measure the influence of these designations on landscape change using the tools of aerial photograph interpretation and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Aerial photographs were available for the study area for 1968, 1981 and 1991. These were interpreted to a landscape classification scheme in terms of point, linear and area features such as trees, hedgerows and cultivated land, respectively. Field work was carried out to assess the accuracy of the interpretation. The resulting data were input to a GIS for each date of photography. Digital maps were created for the land cover features and tables were generated of lengths of linear features or counts of point features for each kilometre square in the study area. Spatial analysis tools provided by the GIS were used to describe the landscape character of each of the designated areas and then to measure the change that had taken place within them over the time period defined by the photography. Areas which were not designated for conservation of scenic beauty were shown to be poorer in traditional landscape features.     

神农架“红坪画廊”旅游景观及其开发研究

本文在详细踏勘的基础上，分水光山色、奇石异洞、流泉飞瀑等方面分析了“红坪画廊”的旅游景观，并对长达１１ｋｍ的红坪峡谷进行了连续取样分析。在聚类分析的基础上，提出了“红坪画廊”风景资源的开发建议。     

How the public perceives the visual effects of timber harvesting: an evaluation of interest group preferences

A total of 25 scenes representing the five visual quality objectives in the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service visual management system were presented to 18 professional and public interest groups in western Montana. The results indicate that nearly all the groups have similar rank orderings of the scenes in terms of visual preference. However, the groups differ according to the absolute values of their ratings. Most groups were unable, in a statistical sense, to differentiate the scenic quality of areas in the preservation and retention visual quality objectives. Landscape architects tended to rate scenes in a way similar to professional forest management groups.