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.     

The landscape design of forestry

The value placed by the public on the nation's rural landscapes is emphasised by vociferous criticism of insensitive, large‐scale afforestation. As forestry causes massive changes in the landscape in the short term, with results that last for decades, the opportunity provided to improve and conserve should be positively grasped. There is evidence that concensus exists over a considerable part of landscape and design, and this paper explores some of the major factors in landscape design which are consistently important in forest landscapes.     

The effect of landscape type and landscape elements on public visual preferences: ways to use knowledge in the context of landscape planning

This study deals with an assessment of the visual quality of landscapes, and specifically with the perception of selected elements in the landscape. The aim of the study was to find out how particular elements are perceived in various landscape types, whether this perception is affected by the landscape type in which the elements are placed, and to what extent the respondents’ characteristics affect the assessment. The study was carried out with a sample of respondents of various ages, educational levels and types of employment. The respondents came from Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The preferences of the respondents were determined using an online questionnaire, in which they rated landscape photographs on a 21 point rating scale with a range from ?10 to +10 points. Using generalised linear mixed effect models, it was found that the perception of an element is most affected by the landscape type, since the same element was assessed differently according to the landscape in which it was situated. The results confirmed that selected elements which do not disturb the harmony of the landscape are generally positively perceived, and the selected elements of a technical character are generally negatively perceived. Among the characteristics of the respondents, only gender and the respondent's current place of residence have an effect on their visual preferences.     

The master plan for the management of watercourses in Norway

Summary By 1980 approximately 60% of the total hydro-power potential of 174 TWh in Norway had been developed. The Government therefore found it essential to consider the exploitation of the remaining watercourses in terms of a larger perspective, contrary to the earlier project-by-project policy. This led to the preparation of a Master Plan for Water Resources, a national management plan based on a set of economic, social and environmental considerations. The Master Plan covers 310 watercourses and 770 hydro-power project alternatives.The Master Plan states which projects should be considered first for a licence when development is necessary. It also specifies which watercourses should preferably be reserved for other uses than hydro-power development. In spring of 1985 the Master Plan was presented to Parliament and approved.Svein Halvorsen graduated at the University of Tromsø with a degree in Ecology. He is currently employed as an Engineer at the Norwegian Ministry of Environment at the Department of Natural Resources, where he has been involved in water resources planning and the Norwegian Master Plan.     

投入产出分析在可持续发展计划中的应用

如何在国民经济发展计划中体现资源环境因素的影响?如何用现实可行的方法制定出符合可持续发展要求的国民经济发展计划?是目前环境经济领域急待解决的问题。本文从物质平衡的角度,探讨可持续经济发展计划的研究方法。     

The impacts of knowledge of the past on preferences for future landscape change

In this paper, we investigate whether people's knowledge of the past influences their preferences and values towards future landscape change. "Knowledge of the past" is one aspect of the information set held by individuals, and a well-established finding in economics is that changes in information can change preferences and values. The particular aspects of knowledge of the past we work with here are: (i) awareness of past landuse, as represented by woodland cover and (ii) awareness of differing and sometimes contradictory literary impressions of this past landscape. The case studies used here relate to prospective changes in woodland cover in two UK national parks, the Lake District and the Trossachs. We find that people who are made aware that the landscape has changed over time, or that perceptions of the landscape have changed over time, are more likely to favour changes to the current landscape (are less likely to favour the status quo). Knowledge of the past therefore seems to have an impact on preferences for future landscapes. We also investigate the impacts on preferences of how "special", how "wild" and how "worked in" people perceive the landscapes of these two national parks to be.     

The environmental quality business plan: A step-by-step guide

Companies that have the most effective environmental programs are those that have integrated environmental management into the business process. In order to take an environmental program to a higher level, we must determine a way to get business leaders to acknowledge the business benefit of environmental programs. Business integration becomes more likely when you speak the language of management and present tools that they regularly use. Most companies use business plans, therefore the use of an environmental quality business plan is a segue into the business. To catch management's attention, we must present cost improvement projects that will be part of the environmental quality business plan that affect the bottom line. Examples of the types of projects that could potentially save the company millions of dollars are reducing the cost of remediation, or pollution-prevention projects such as minimizing packaging and the elimination of chemical use and waste. Once we catch management's attention, we can get them involved in developing an environmental quality business plan and thus get more business integration and support.     

Landscape planning and the estate landscape

The country estate has a particular place in the English countryside and its contribution to the landscape scene is distinct and valuable. The paper describes an approach to planning a large country estate of parkland, woodland and estate villages in Cheshire. A Reconnaissance Survey led to the Outline Strategy for six ‘landscape types’ discovered on the estate. The Landscape Conservation Plan is described and the crucial importance of conservation measures is emphasised.     

Conservation planning at the landscape scale: A landscape ecology method for regional land trusts

This paper illustrates a landscape ecology approach for land trusts undertaking conservation at the watershed scale. A conservation plan was created for the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) in the headwaters of Michigan's Manistee River Watershed (USA). Eight conservation drivers were devised to identify Conservation Focus Areas (CFAs) of highest ecological importance. The CFAs were ranked based on ecological importance, feasibility of protection and size. Parcels were ranked, totalling nearly 5000 ha, within the three highest-ranking CFAs in one key county. This approach is useful to land trusts trying to operationalize three distinct goals in conservation planning: to find areas of high ecological importance, to promote the landscape's spatial integrity and to delineate threats to ecological systems and processes.     

Implementing the European flood risk management plan

In response to the extreme flood events of recent decades, the European Union has released the Floods Directive (2007/60/EC), which requires the creation of flood risk management plans. These plans do not yet exist in practice, as water management agencies have until 2015 to put them into action. This contribution will discuss two questions regarding the European flood risk management plan: First, how is the new instrument integrated into the various member states, particularly with respect to the scenario approach? Second, how prepared are the institutions for the collaborative planning paradigm of the flood risk management plan, particularly with respect to the river basin districts approach? Citing examples from France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Great Britain, this paper offers both a pessimistic and an optimistic perspective on the implementation of the new flood risk management instrument.     

Market and nonmarket values of the Georgia landscape

Natural landscapes produce goods and services, such as fish, wildlife, recreation, climate control, that are not adequately incorporated in their market values. Contingent Valuation (CV) and Energy Analysis (EA) approaches were used to estimate the nonmarket value of forests in Georgia. Both methods yielded similar estimates of approximately $200 ha^–1, which was 31% of the total market and nonmarket value of forests. Energy analysis was also used to estimate the nonmarket value of the major land uses in Georgia. Relative contributions of nonmarket value to total value ranged from 0.1% for urban areas to approximately 100% for wetlands. For the state as a whole, nonmarket production of natural and developed ecosystems was estimated at $2.6 billion. This value is comparable to annual marketed agricultural ($2.8 billion) and timber ($4.5 billion) production, both very important industries in Georgia. Changing land use patterns in Georgia and elsewhere are likely to be accompanied by shifts in the relative importances of market and non-market values.     

Program efficiency analysis within the environmental landscape

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of accounting for environmental impacts in project feasibility. Cost–benefit analysis, a germane tool for measuring a project’s feasibility, can be utilized for projects with environmental consequences. This paper first provides a background on cost–benefit analysis as well as a background on environmental cost–benefit analysis. It then provides the steps taken in order to perform this type of analysis. With this cost–benefit analysis and environmental cost–benefit analysis framework in mind, six international case studies are reviewed to demonstrate how cost–benefit analysis is applied to various environmental projects around the world using different methods and from both a public and private sector viewpoint. Recommendations are then put forward to address the need for continued consideration and implementation of environmental impacts on cost–benefit analyses.     

Community control of landscape management

This paper investigates the topic of community control of landscape management (CCLM). It investigates the characteristics of community organisations managing their own landscapes, and of the sites they manage. It discusses the main characteristics of and factors involved in successful CCLM; the potential benefits of CCLM; and looks at the potential for using successful examples of CCLM as models which might be applied more widely in Britain.

It shows that successful CCLM does exist; that it includes some large‐scale, well‐established examples; that it manifests itself in a wide range of different forms and in many types of location; that many factors seem to be involved in successful CCLM (23 were identified); and that it can provide many benefits to both landscapes and the people involved.