Analyzing public preferences concerning woodland development in rural landscapes in Scotland

Abstract

This paper considers the decision-making aspects of a closer integration of woodlands with other land uses in rural landscapes in Scotland regarding their socio-economic components and in view of positive implications, which woodlands have for the environment. The research follows a semi-qualitative route and applies a quantitative method of Q-analysis to identify public attitudes towards landscapes by integrating ecological, socio-economic and aesthetic criteria. Some innovative perspectives on the areas of consensus and conflict between people, concerning the future development of rural areas are put forward. The research categorizes landscape preferences and preferences for woodlands, and shows that these preferences are complex. It arrives at a number of conclusions about the role of woodlands in landscape changes, adds to practical suggestions on policy and management decisions for transforming landscapes towards sustainability and suggests that woodland has an important role to play in the integration of aesthetic, ecological and socio-economic components in landscape management in Scotland.