Recreational Value Research Articles

The Prevailing Values among High School Male and Female Teachers and their Role in their Educational Performance

The study identified high school male and female teachers committed to personal - moral - social - recreational values. The sample was three secondary schools for girls and four for boys in Al-Aflaj. They were 200 male and female teachers. The study tools were the values ​​scale with four dimensions: moral, subjective, social, and recreational values, and the educational performance scale (46). Standard mean - standard deviation - (t) test, Mann-Whitney test - Spearman test - Pearson test were used. The results showed no statistically significant differences between male and female high school teachers. There is no positive correlation between the high school teachers' commitment degree to different values, their educational qualification level, and the training courses they received in the educational field. There is a positive correlation between high school teachers' commitment to subjective and recreational values and the number of training courses they received in the educational field. The research concludes that directing high school teachers to the prevailing values influences male and female students. Training high school teachers on purification methods, activities, and educational means is necessary for developing values.
 
 Received: 29 July 2022 / Accepted: 3 October 2022 / Published: 5 November 2022

Is there more to trees than timber? Estimating the private amenity value of forests using a hedonic land model for combined agricultural properties

Forests offer a range of amenity values besides the production value of timber. We know from existing studies, that the trees' height and species affect the public's recreational values, but it is less clear how much the joy of owning a property with forest matters, and whether the joy depends on characteristics like tree height and species.In this paper, we estimate landowners' private amenity value of forests. We do this by estimating four hedonic land value models for different sizes of property. In the models, forests are described by the size of forest area with a canopy height above three meters, the size of forest area with a canopy height below three meters, mean canopy height, and the share of broadleaf forest.The value of an additional hectare of forest is predicted using the hedonic model and compared with the forest's expectation value based on accounting statistics for forest income, including hunting rents, discounted using an average real market interest rate of 1.7%. We find a difference of 6500–9900 EUR/ha between the estimated land value models and the production values for properties larger than 10 ha. We interpret this difference as the forest owner's willingness to pay for forest amenities in addition to the timber value. The results offer insight into the value of owning forests for the large majority of private forest owners who own small patches of land. They can be valuable in the design of land-use policies aiming to increase forest area and ecosystem service provision on private land that benefits both the public and the private owner.

Geotourism Potential of Lata Terubong (Lata Turbo), Jeli, Kelantan

The study area is located in Jeli District, Kelantan, between 5°39’50”N and 101°41’20”E. With the existence of numerous geological structures, Lata Terubong has several distinct geological features. In general, the study area are composed of sandstone and acid intrusion of granite from Jeli Igneous Complex. The goals of this study are to i) determine the geo-tourism potential in Lata Terubong, and ii) create a list of possible geo-tourism activities in Lata Terubong. This study used the assessment of geoheritage values as quantitative assessment and survey method as the qualitative assessment.The location has good Aesthetical and Recreational values, according to the study. Swimming, picnics, and photography sessions are some of the geotourism activities that has been done there. As a result, it is critical to protect and conserve the geological tourist region from the threat of rapid development in order to safeguard its long-term viability.

Camili Biyosfer Rezerv Alanının rekreasyonel amaçlı kullanımının ekonomik değerinin tahmini

Bu çalışmada, ülkemizin ilk ve tek biyosfer rezerv alanı olan Camili Biyosfer Rezerv Alanı örneğinden hareketle, ormanların işlevlerden biri olan rekreasyon işlevinin ekonomik değerinin tahmini amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada seyahat maliyeti yöntemi ve koşullu değer belirleme yönteminden birlikte istifade edilmiştir. Alanda rekreasyon etkinliği gerçekleştiren 96 ziyaretçi ile 2016 yılında anket çalışması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Seyahat maliyeti yöntemi bulgularına göre; ziyaretçilerin ortalama bireysel seyahat maliyeti ise 201.57 TL, bireysel tüketici rantı 697.16 TL ve toplam tüketici rantı ise 12200300 TL olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Koşullu değer belirleme yöntemi kapsamında ise ziyaretçilere rekreasyon hizmetlerine yönelik bir projeyi konu alan kuramsal senaryo sunulmuş ve buna bağlı olarak ziyaretçilerin ortalama ve toplam ödeme eğilim değerleri belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Buna göre alanda yürütülen rekreasyon hizmetlerinin korunması ve geliştirilmesine yönelik ortalama ödeme eğilimi 186.48 TL, toplam ödeme eğilimi ise 3263400 TL olarak tahmin edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, kişilerin yaptıkları harcamadan daha az ödeme eğilimine sahip oldukları söylenebilir. Ayrıca alanın tanınırlığın artırılması ve yöre halkının rekreasyon faaliyetlerini çeşitlendirilebilmesi sayesinde ziyaretçi sayısı ve ziyaretçilerin alanda yaptıkları harcamalar artırılabilir ve alanın rekreasyon değeri daha da yüksek çıkabilir.

The Impact of Water Protection Measures in the Vittel Impluvium on Recreational Values: A Choice Experiment with Local Residents

L’agriculture fournissant de multiples services écosystémiques (SE), les actions entreprises pour la protection des zones de captage d’eau de source par les sociétés d’eau minérale peuvent produire des externalités positives. En mettant en œuvre des mesures respectueuses de l’environnement dans le cadre de contrats avec des agriculteurs et des gestionnaires de forêts, les compagnies privées de distribution d’eau en bouteille ne créent pas seulement de la valeur pour elles-mêmes et leurs consommateurs, mais contribuent également au bien-être de la population locale en augmentant le niveau de biodiversité et des SE (par exemple, loisirs et tourisme, beauté esthétique et pittoresque, patrimoine culturel) en tant que co-bénéfices de la protection de la qualité de l’eau. Cet article vise à évaluer les préférences environnementales et sociales de la population locale de Vittel et des environs, la région où Nestlé Waters produit les eaux minérales naturelles de Vittel ® , Contrex ® et Hépar ® , en appliquant une expérience de choix discret (DCE). Nous avons considéré des zones récréatives « communes » (c’est-à-dire la campagne et la forêt) décrites par le biais d’attributs pertinents, identifiés dans des études précédentes (par exemple, des installations telles que des tables de pique-nique ou des panneaux d’information, des chemins de randonnée et des pistes cyclables) et des attributs basés sur des mesures spécifiques (par exemple, pas d’utilisation de pesticides, présence de haies) mises en œuvre par Agrivair, une filiale de Nestlé Waters dédiée aux questions écologiques sur l’ impluvium . Nous avons constaté que la population préfère éviter les zones avec pesticides et même celles où ils ne savent pas si des pesticides sont utilisés, pour leurs activités de loisirs. La préférence pour les haies s’avère faible, parfois négative, mettant en évidence un compromis potentiel entre la biodiversité et les activités récréatives.

Riverine microplastic contamination in southwest Germany: A large-scale survey

Microplastic (MP) contamination of freshwater ecosystems is still in the focus of research and public attention, as aquatic environments have a high ecological, economic, and recreational value. We now know that rivers do not only function as pathways of MPs into oceans but may also act as temporary MP sinks. However, due to methodological differences, the comparability of studies on MP contamination of rivers is still limited. To compare MP contamination between different river systems, to analyze if there is a constant increase in MP contamination from the upper to the lower course of the river, and to investigate if there are distinct MP distribution patterns, we set up a large-scale survey. We chose two large river systems, the Rhine and Danube catchments with their tributaries and sampled 23 rivers of different sizes at 53 sampling locations in southwest Germany. Surface water sampling, sample processing, and analysis were performed with the same methodology to obtain comparable results on MP number, polymer type, and particle’s size and shape. Fully quantitative data were generated down to 300 µm by using a manta trawl net with a 300-µm mesh size for sampling. Nevertheless, we also included the non-quantitative sampled fraction of particles down to a size of 20 µm in our FTIR analysis after plastic-friendly sample purification by enzymatic oxidative treatment. Plastic concentrations recorded in surface water at the sampling locations ranged from 0.7 to 354.9 particles/m³. Concerning all samples, the number of particles increased toward lower size classes (61.0 ± 34.2% below 300 µm), and fragments were the prevailing shape (90.7 ± 13.6%). Polyethylene (49.2 ± 25.9%) and polypropylene (33.2 ± 22.6%) were the most frequent polymer types. Our survey did not reveal distinct MP distribution patterns or a constant increase of MP abundance within river courses in the investigated river systems. Next, to provide a large-scale dataset of microplastic contamination in surface waters of southwest Germany, our study shows that a representative sampling of MPs in rivers is challenging. MP particles are not homogeneously distributed in rivers, and this indicates that spatial and temporal changes in MP abundance should always be considered in MP monitoring approaches.

Spatial Distribution Changes in Nature-Based Recreation Service Supply from 2008 to 2018 in Shanghai, China

Nature-based recreation has become an important activity in contemporary society and a key component of cultural ecosystem services. Although the methods of mapping the outdoor recreation supply have been gradually improved, few studies have carried out multi-temporal evaluations. Based on land use/land cover (LULC), POI, and other web-open data, we mapped the recreational service supply in Shanghai in 2008 and 2018, combining recreation potential and recreation opportunities. We first selected the evaluation indicators, using LULC to measure recreational potential, and POI density and accessibility to measure recreational opportunities. Then, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the weights of the 12 factors that measure recreational opportunities, and made RO and RP maps, respectively. Finally, we overlaid RO and RP maps to obtain the spatial distribution map of recreation service supply. Our results showed that the supply of recreation services in 2008 and 2018 presented a “V-shaped” gradient along the city center areas—the peri-urban areas—the rural areas. Compared with the year 2008, the average recreation value decreased in nine regions, but increased in Chongming District in 2018. The assessment and mapping of recreation service supply value provide a basis for the development of local recreational resources, land use decisions, and the management of recreational cultural ecosystem services.

Valuing nature-based recreation in forest areas in Italy: An application of Travel Cost Method (TCM)

Nature-based recreation provides benefits facilitating social interactions and cohesion, creating job opportunities, and stimulating the local economy. The aim of this study was to assess the recreational economic value of different forest areas considering two aspects: stand features and proximity of the forest to urban areas. An individual Travel Cost Method (TCM) was applied in three study areas in Italy involving 603 visitors in the survey. The results show that in all three case studies the most important forest-based recreational activity carried out by visitors is hiking, followed by picnicking and mountain biking. The TCM estimates a consumer surplus between €7.33 and €17.37 per visit. The key points highlighted by the study are that: managed natural forests have a higher recreational economic value than unmanaged artificial forests; the peri-urban forests are characterized by a higher number of visitors but a lower value per visit than mountain forests.

Visitors’ heterogeneous preferences for urban park management: The case of a city park in Oulu, Finland

Utilizing survey data collected using a combined travel cost – conditional behavior method, the aim of this study was to analyze the heterogeneity of preferences among the residents of a city in Finland for the services of an urban park and its stream network. More specifically, by analyzing different behavioral responses to potential changes in ecological, cultural, and commercial services, we identified different groups of visitors to the park with a latent class model. A notable result regarding the demand for services in different classes was that low-income people valued the park more than high-income respondents, making improvements in the park’s recreational potential a successful social project. We found two latent classes, the main distinguishing factor of which was the preferences associated with increasing the number of events in the park. Adding events did not increase the benefits for the first class, but for the second class it did. In relation to class membership, if visitors usually visited the park alone or if they walked or cycled to the park, this increased the likelihood of belonging to a particular visitor group. In addition, we assessed how a possible increase in services affected the recreational value of the urban park for the city’s residents. We found that both the total and net value for different urban groups depended on three factors, i.e., the number of visits, the recreational value of a visit, and the proportion of people in each visitor group. We also used the results of the study to assess the profitability of a construction and management project in the park and found that the project was socially very profitable. Although our study examined a specific park in Finland, its results could also potentially be used when planning the management of other urban parks.

Diversity of mollusc communities in some aquatic habitats of Shatsk Lake Area

Background. The paper presents the results of an original research on groups of freshwater molluscs in some water habitats of Shatsk Lake Area. The Shatsk National Nature Park belongs to the Volynian Polissia according to physical and geographical zoning. Aesthetic appeal, clear water, clean sandy lake bottoms, pine forests, etc., are attracting more visitors to the park every year. The recreational value of the Shatsk National Nature Park in the summer season is significant. The high anthropogenic load accelerates the intensity of eutrophication of lakes and promotes the overgrowth of the shores with macrophytes, which eventually leads to an increase in the density of the macrobenthos, in particular the malacofauna of the lakes. Material and Methods. Research was conducted in the summer period of 2013–2014 and 2018–2020 on some water bodies of the Shatsk National Nature Park with different trophic state including Lakes Svityaz, Pisochne, Lyutsymer, Krymne, Ostrivyanske and Somynets. Results. Freshwater molluscs are convenient subjects for water pollution stu­dies because they are good indicators of habitat quality. Svityaz and Pisochne Lakes belong to slightly mesotrophic water bodies, which are actively used for recreational purposes. Among water bodies under study, Lake Svityaz is characterized by the most significant species diversity of molluscs (23 species). Lakes Lyutsymer and Krymne are mesotrophic water bodies exposed to a high anthropogenic load. The largest number of bivalve molluscs of the genera Unio and Anodonta is characteristic of Lake Lyutsymer, while in Lake Krymne, the lowest species diversity of malacofauna (13 species) was observed. Lakes Ostrivyanske and Somynets are mesotrophic shallow water bodies. We detected a significant increase in the species composition of molluscs in these lakes during the research period. Conclusions. The research of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the malacofauna revealed an increase in the number and species diversity of molluscs. In addition, the spread of an invasive New Zealand snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum to new water bodies on the territory of Shatsk Lake Area has been recorded.

Changing climate may mitigate the invasiveness risk of non-native salmonids in the Danube and Adriatic basins of the Balkan Peninsula (south-eastern Europe)

Salmonids are an extensively hatchery-reared group of fishes that have been introduced worldwide mainly for their high commercial and recreational value. The Balkan Peninsula (south-eastern Europe) is characterised by an outstanding salmonid diversity that has become threatened by the introduction of non-native salmonids whose potential risk of invasiveness in the region remains unknown and especially so under predicted climate change conditions. In this study, 13 extant and four horizon non-native salmonid species were screened for their risk of invasiveness in the Danube and Adriatic basins of four Balkan countries. Overall, six (35%) of the screened species were ranked as carrying a high risk of invasiveness under current climate conditions, whereas under predicted conditions of global warming, this number decreased to three (17%). Under current climate conditions, the very high risk (‘top invasive’) species were rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta (sensu stricto), whereas under predicted climate change, this was true only of O. mykiss. A high risk was also attributed to horizon vendace Coregonus albula and lake charr Salvelinus namaycush, and to extant Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, whose risk of invasiveness, except for S. fontinalis, decreased to medium. For the other eleven medium-risk species, the risk score decreased under predicted climate change, but still remained medium. The outcomes of this study reveal that global warming will influence salmonids and that only species with wider temperature tolerance, such as O. mykiss will likely prevail. It is anticipated that the present results may contribute to the implementation of appropriate management plans to prevent the introduction and translocation of non-native salmonids across the Balkan Peninsula. Additionally, adequate measures should be developed for aquaculture facilities to prevent escapees of non-native salmonids with a high risk of invasiveness, especially into recipient areas of high conservation value.

Welfare effect of substitute sites for coastal recreation – evidence from the Baltic Sea

ABSTRACT Omission of substitute sites in travel cost analysis can cause an overestimation of recreational benefits. Only few analyses have included substitutes, partly because of the difficulty in defining an appropriate set of substitutes. We examine factors affecting the existence of substitutes and their impact on the demand and value of coastal recreation using spatially-referenced survey data from Finland, Germany and Latvia on recreational visits to the Baltic Sea, which can be characterized as a unique destination. Substitutes are defined by respondents themselves. Our findings indicate that the existence and effects of substitute sites differ across countries. Many respondents have no substitutes for Baltic Sea recreation, in particular in Latvia. Respondent and visit-specific factors explain the probability of having substitutes. Substitutes reduce the demand for coastal recreation in Finland and Germany but increase it in Latvia. Further, respondents having substitutes are less sensitive to travel costs in Germany and more sensitive in Finland and Latvia. The annual welfare from Baltic Sea recreation is lower for people who have substitutes in Finland and Germany, and higher in Latvia. The findings suggest that uniform assumptions about the existence and effects of substitutes appear unwarranted, especially for sites of unique or iconic nature.

ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS FOR CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND TOURISM PROMOTION: A CASE STUDY OF THE SETHI HAVELI COMPLEXES IN PESHAWAR

The historic buildings of a region are important cultural heritage for its future generations. At some places such buildings might be unable to serve their actual purposes for which they have been erected, due to various reasons such as bad state of preservation, illegal occupation, encroachment, and abandonment. In such cases, the concept of using the adaptive reuse can well protect them as cultural heritage. The adaptive reuse of historic buildings has become an approach worldwide, which extends its lifespan. At the same time, the reuse of such buildings will decrease further use of material for fresh and new construction, avoid unnecessary transportation, wastage of energy and resource and control air pollution for sustainable environment. The Sethi haveli complexes in Peshawar city is portraying the traditional style of domestic architecture of the elite trading community in the region, exhibiting the local taste in combination with central Asian. Built in the 18th /19th century, these haveli complexes are in deteriorating conditions that need to be preserved and reused. Further, recreational values should be generated by adaptive reuse, including self-growth, health benefits and social benefits. As the creation of activities is a big attraction for tourists in the field of heritage reuse, the natural environment can be used to organise and design heritage indoor/outdoor events. As observed with the evaluated Sethi haveli complexes, historic buildings that are re-functioned with the public use, for example cultural, educational, commercial and use, are more productive in contributing to the social development of the walled city of Peshawar. The adaptive reuse of abandoned Sethi haveli complexes in the walled city of Peshawar will subsidise the sustainability and liveability of the city. For the continuity of the historic buildings, social aspect should be deliberated with all-encompassing approach. Keywords: Historic buildings, adaptive re-use, the Sethi haveli Complexes, social aspect.

Capturing landscape values in peri-urban Satoyama forests: Diversity of visitors' perceptions and implications for future value assessments

Peri-urban Satoyama forests in Japan provide multiple or bundles of cultural ecosystem services (CES), yet, visitors’ perceptions of CES are not well established. There is a need to explore these perceptions in order to provide comprehensive information to forest managers. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by exploring the profiles of visitors of peri-urban Satoyama forests and their perceived importance of CES using a landscape value (LV) typology table. Nine LVs of Kaisho Forest in Aichi, Japan were assessed using face-to-face questionnaires on socio-demographic variables, forest use, and a photograph-based approach, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics, quantitative cross-tabulation, multiple response analyses, and geocoding. Results showed that the forest is visited mostly by married elderly people from Aichi Prefecture who were engaged in forest bathing or birdwatching. Forest use patterns, like frequency, duration of the visit, and group size, presented a significant relation to demographic variables, like marital status or gender. Furthermore, the study showed how visitors´ LV perceptions were weighted towards natural and aesthetic values. The socio-cultural Satoyama forest elements displayed a more detailed value perception where recreational, therapeutic, spiritual, cultural-historic, and educational values were also assigned. The LV perception enhances a comprehensive description of the perceived positive effects of visiting such forests. Hence, we concluded that visitors gain positive effects on mental and emotional health and spirituality as part of CES. Forest managers can reflect and accommodate diverse landscape value typology as a tool for monitoring visitors’ perceptions.

Social Networks Marketing, Value Co-Creation, and Consumer Purchase Behavior: Combining PLS-SEM and NCA

Given the mediating role of value co-creation, this paper tries to demonstrate how social network marketing (SNM) could influence consumer purchase behavior (CPB). The proposed hypotheses are empirically tested in this study using a PLS-SEM and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) method combination. The novel methodology adopted in this study includes the use of NCA, IPMA matrix, permutation test, CTA, and FIMIX. The assessment of the outer model, the inner model, the NCA matrix, and the IPMA matrix are the four steps that the paper takes. Instagram users with prior experience making purchases online made up the statistical population of the study. Four hundred twenty-seven questionnaires were analyzed by SmartPLS3 software. Based on the findings, SNM positively and significantly influenced economic, enjoyment, and relational values. Furthermore, these three types of values significantly and directly influenced CPB. For CPB, the model accounted for 73.8% of the variance. The model had high predictive power because it outperformed the PLS-SEM benchmark for all of the target construct’s indicators in terms of root mean square error (RMSE). According to the NCA’s findings, SNM, economic, recreational, and relational values are necessary conditions for CPB that are meaningful (d ≥ 0.1) and significant (p < 0.05). Four prerequisites must be met for CPB to reach a 50% level: relational value at no less than 8.3%, enjoyment value at no less than 16.7%, economic value at no less than 33.3%, and SNM at no less than 31.1%. The highest importance score for SNM is shown to be 0.738, which means that if Instagram channels improve their SNM performance by one unit point, their overall SNM will also improve by 0.738.

Dynamics and Management of Restored Forests in Post-Mining Sites with Respect to Their Recreation Value: A Matrix Growth Model

Afforestation has been a popular restoration procedure for spoil heaps in the sites affected by coal open-cast mining in the Czech Republic. Forest replantation is a frequent restoration variant when spoil heaps are recovered, but unreclaimed sites are often left to spontaneous succession. Studies on the dynamics of such restored forests are missing, and the evidence of restored forests with respect to their recreation value is also sporadic. To study the dynamics and management of restored forests—both replanted and recovered by spontaneous succession—on spoil heaps, we used a matrix growth model, which accounts for harvest, artificial and natural regeneration, and recreation value of these forest stands. The model calibration was performed on data from 250 inventory plots distributed across the Velká Podkrušnohorská spoil heap and the Matyáš spoil heap in the Sokolov brown-coal mining area. The growth model was applied on six restored forest types to simulate—over 65 years with a 10-year cutting cycle—the effect of various management regimes of thinning on their recreation value and aboveground biomass (AGB). The results indicate that initial planting density and stand type have an effect on the dynamics of restored forest stands in the short-term horizon. Applying the thinning management resulted in an increase in recreation value for all types of restored stands, while AGB decreased.

The recreational value of botanic garden events: A case study of the Zagara plant fair in Palermo, Italy

Botanic gardens are defined by their mission to maintain living plant collections for scientific research, conservation, display and education. This mission represents the potential ecosystem services that botanic gardens aim to produce, with display and education specifically regarding recreational ecosystem services (RES). Visitors must directly experience botanic gardens to transform these potential RES into real benefits, yet the public may not be interested in studying plants during their leisure time. Thus, botanic gardens turn to events to attract visitors. The objective of this study is to estimate the RES benefits created by a botanic garden event and profile the visitors that it brings into the garden. To do so, a questionnaire was distributed at the Zagara plant festival, held in Spring 2021 at the Palermo University Botanic Garden in Sicily (Italy). Respondents are local, young to middle-aged, mostly female, well-educated, upper to middle class and not accompanying children. Most came to the Zagara to observe, admire or purchase plants. Through the zonal Travel Cost Method (TCM), visitors' marginal consumer surplus is estimated to be 6.16 € and the event's total recreational value is estimated to be 26,464.21 €. The study took place during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic and responses also indicate that the Zagara filled consequential visitor needs for outdoor social occasions. This study contributes to the literature on RES benefit valuation by applying the well-accepted TCM to the unexplored subject of special events in botanic gardens with the aim of supporting management decisions. • Botanic gardens are defined by their living plant collections, yet they are also important for human wellbeing; • Events bring many visitors into botanic gardens, and are responsible for creating social benefits in the form of recreational ecosystem services; • Garden managers often lack the resources to carry out complicated valuation procedures, but online survey and mapping platforms have made the zonal travel cost method a direct way to estimate the recreational benefits produced by an event, and understand who benefits; • Such valuations are necessary for gardens to plan events to increase social welfare, optimize ecosystem services and improve inclusiveness.

A comparative analysis of the value of recreation in six contrasting Nordic landscapes using the travel cost method

Nordic landscapes provide recreational benefits to local, national, and international visitors. Nordic countries are, however, actively promoting a green shift towards the bioeconomy (that is, an intensification of agriculture and forestry), which may come at the cost of other benefits of Nordic landscapes, such as recreation. Information on recreational benefits and their monetary value is therefore required to outline a more comprehensive bioeconomy policy. For this paper, we estimated the benefits associated with the recreational use of six contrasting landscapes from four Nordic countries in their current environmental conditions, using a travel cost model, with data from a standardised survey of inhabitants and visitors. We found a large variation in the monetary estimates of the current annual recreational benefits from these landscapes, with a variation from 3.1 to 120.8 million € per landscape. We found that different characteristics of these landscapes, such as the visitor structure and visitors’ perceptions of the environmental quality, influence the estimated recreational value. Among the environmental characteristics we tested, we found that water quality and the proportion of nature conservation areas influence the recreational benefits, and need to be considered when making land use and management decisions. Furthermore, it is important that a sustainable bioeconomy policy is developed and implemented in such a way that the potentially negative effects of intensified agriculture and forestry on recreational possibilities are avoided.

Distribution patterns of lake-wetland cultural ecosystem services in highland

Environmental and ecological degradation are more prominent within lake-wetland ecosystem than any other ecosystem on Earth, especially in the highlands. The continued pressures of population growth and rapid urbanization on cultural ecosystem services (CES) provided by lake-wetland ecosystem in highlands present ongoing challenges to decision-makers and managers. In this paper, Social Values for Ecosystem Services model (SolVES) was used to map, quantify and assess CES in Dianchi lake basin (DLB) and Erhai lake basin (ELB) to understand the spatial dynamics of CES perceived by residents and tourists. After combining the field survey data with four environmental variables, our analysis shows that (1) The Maximum Value Index (M-VI) ranking of the three CES in descending order within DLB was aesthetic (M-VI = 10), recreation (M-VI = 10), cultural (M-VI = 8). (2) Different stakeholders (residents and tourists) had different perceptions of CES. Recreation value between residents and tourists had the same M-VI (M-VI = 10), but the M-VI of aesthetic value (M-VI = 10) perceived by tourists was higher than those perceived by residents. (3) The four environmental variables significantly influenced CES, especially distance to water and dominant landcover. (4) CES were transferable from DLB to ELB due to the potential transferability of Maxent's DLB models for each CES, and CES hotspots in ELB generated from SolVES were highly consistent with high kernel-density areas. In conclusion, SolVES incorporating CES can benefit the basin resource managers when seeking to integrate a social perspective into the resource management decision-making process. In particular, the involvement of various stakeholders ensures that they are not marginalized in environmental planning and management.

Landscape assessment of forest trail using geotagged visitor employed photography: the case of the inariyama trail in the Takao Quasi-National Park, Tokyo

ABSTRACT An evidence-based understanding of visitors’ landscape preferences is important for holistic forest planning and management. In this study, a visual landscape assessment was conducted to 1) determine the locations and recreational value of scenic hotspots (popular locations) and 2) identify the landscape types that visitors most preferred along the Inariyama Trail in the Takao Quasi-National Park in Tokyo by using geotagged visitor employed photography and asking the 60 participants to score their photographs based on five assessment measures. Nine hundred geotagged photographs were collected, and the subsequent hotspot analysis was conducted using a combination of Getis-Ord Gi* statistics in GIS. Analysis of means (ANOM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to determine what and how visitors preferred landscapes in the site. The main findings of this study were as follows: 1) seven hotspots, comprising prominent landscape features and spatial changes, were identified, and 2) Prospect and Look-up were the most highly valued landscape types. These results reveal the importance of Look-up views, which have thus far been underrepresented in landscape assessments, and that hotspots are influenced by landscape features as well as spatial changes. Therefore, through the application of GIS technology, this study lays a foundation for future research as well as the planning and management of forested landscapes that harmonize recreation and other uses.