Forest scenic esthetic assessment - a case study of Taiwania cryptomerioides plantations in the Liouguei Experimental Forest.

Abstract

This study adopted integration of Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) and a cognition model as the research method to understand a sustainable approach to scenic esthetics of Taiwania plantations. The study site was located in Taiwania plantation forests in the Fang-Kang area of the Liouguei Experimental Forest. The respondents were investigated to reveal their scenic preferences, biophysical attributes, and perceptions of cognitive factors including formal esthetic attributes using projected photo images. RMRATE software was used to transfer scores of scenic preferences into SBE values. Then, all data were analyzed by a variance analysis and regression technique. The results indicated that no significant difference was shown in SBEs between students and non- students. It was shown that the ”unity” and ”graduation” of formal esthetic attributes of the investigated cognitive factors had positive effects on scenic preferences. In the analysis of the effect of biophysical attributes on scenic preferences, respondents preferred forest near-view scenes with greater percentage of herbaceous ground cover, less downed wood/debris on the ground, and a higher height to crown base of trees. Furthermore, it was observed that a greater percentage of herbaceous ground cover and less downed wood/debris resulted in higher ratings in the formal esthetic attributes of ”unity” and ”graduation” which positively influenced scenic preferences. Apparently, dealing with relationships of formal attributes (”unity” and ”graduation”) and biophysical attributes (percentage of herbaceous ground cover and downed wood/debris) should be seriously considered in designing scenic esthetics of Taiwania plantations.