Forest Trails Research Articles

Examination of Exercise Physiological Traits According to Usage Grade of National Forest Trails

Forest trail difficulty levels must be investigated to promote their safe usage. However, exercise-based physiological changes are difficult to estimate in a forest environment. Hence, studies comparing indoor and outdoor environmental activities are required. We aimed to investigate the physiological traits associated with different usage grades of national forest trails in the Republic of Korea. We conducted both field and indoor experiments to measure different variables of 20 healthy participants aged 40–50 years to evaluate the exercise intensity and physiological effects of hiking on these trails. Significant variations in physiological responses were observed based on trail difficulty, with the highest heart rate and energy expenditure recorded during the most challenging uphill segments. Specifically, the heart rate increased from 115.4 ± 13.7 bpm in easy segments to 140.3 ± 15.6 bpm in difficult segments, whereas energy expenditure ranged from 404.1 ± 112.2 kcal/h to 518.1 ± 131.0 kcal/h. This study highlights the importance of considering both objective trail difficulty and users’ physiological reactions, including perceived exertion, to enhance user safety and optimize the health benefits of national forest trails. These findings provide essential data for developing comprehensive exercise programs and improving the national forest trail usage grade system.

Common Tinsel [Catapaecilma major (Druce, 1895)]: A New Record for Butterflies in Chhattisgarh, India

During a field visit to Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP), we had the opportunity to capture photographs of the Common Tinsel - Catapaecilma major Druce, 1895. The species was spotted along the forest trail that leads to Kotumsar cave from Kotumsar Bariar (NH30), the entrance of the Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar. This area is characterized by dense forest habitat dominated by Shorea robusta trees. Notably, the presence of the Common Tinsel butterfly had never been documented in the Chhattisgarh state prior to this sighting, thus marking its inclusion as a new record for the butterfly fauna of Chhattisgarh.

공공문화콘텐츠로서의 산림교육과 자연해설에 대한 해석적 연구: 프리먼 틸든의 ‘해설’ 개념을 중심으로

This study is an interpretive research on the philosophical orientation of forest education, a public cultural content utilizing forest resources. Forest education professionals such as ‘forest interpreters’, ‘early childhood forest guides’, and ‘forest trail and mountain guides’ are trained to provide public cultural content services that mediate between citizens and nature. This practice originated in the historical context of nature preservation and management through state-led national parks, which began in the West, particularly in the United States. Forest education in Korea, such as forest interpretation, is equivalent to ‘nature interpretation’ in the West. The various literatures produced on nature interpretation have had a significant impact on Korean forest education policy, and this study aims to identify the ideological roots of nature interpretation, which have been largely unexplored. The study first approached nature interpretation activities by collecting examples from Europe, Northern Europe, and Canada, confirming that nature preservation is a common goal and purpose. Through a historical approach, the researchers examined the preservationism that influenced the introduction of nature interpretation in the West and realized that the philosophical origin of nature interpretation is the idea of combining nature preservation and spirituality. To understand nature interpretation, we examine Freeman Tilden's concept of interpretation, which continued this early preservationist spirit but constructively transformed it and shaped nature interpretation today. The study explored the core concept of ‘the Thing Itself’ in the context of Romantic texts such as those by Novalis and Carl von Linné, centering on Kant's influence on Romanticism. Most importantly, the researchers interpreted Tilden's concept of ‘interpretation’ as a theory of the sublime to explore the philosophical roots of nature interpretation. Through this study, it is argued that the essential meaning of the field of nature interpretation is the unity of nature and human beings and the love of nature through personal experience and recognition of the sublime in nature.

Diversity of butterfly habitats in and around Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, Chhattisgarh, India

A survey of Lepidoptera was conducted in habitats including forest trails, nullah, forest gap, and small water bodies, in and around the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) and agroforest habitats at Nagri block in Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh State between January 2020 and August 2022. The study recorded 95 species belonging to 69 genera. Erionota torus and Rathinda amor although common in the Indian mainland, were not documented by previous researchers. This indicates the necessity for a more thorough survey of Lepidoptera in the region.

Traits and trails: Guild-specific effects of forest paths on bat activity

Human activities can substantially alter forest structure, consequently affecting forest animal communities. An important effect on bat behavior is given by canopy discontinuities like clearings or trails: while the former act as foraging sites, the latter are known to be used by bats to move inside the forest. For this reason, we can expect trails to have a strong influence on bat activity, with differences determined by the species' flying abilities. Here we assess the impact of trails on a local bat community by quantifying the effect of trails’ characteristics on the activity of bat species in relation to their wing morphology. We collected paired acoustic data and environmental variables along trails and in internal areas of a forest in central Italy. We modelled the activity levels of three bat guilds differing in wing morphology and identified the species mostly responsible for the observed compositional dissimilarity in between trails and internal zones by adopting a multivariate approach. Trail width and tree’s diameter were the main drivers of the observed differences between bat activity along trails and internal areas, but their effect differed among bat guilds. Edge and open-space foragers increased their activity along wider trails, while closed-space foragers showed an opposite trend; the latter also avoid trails in favor of internal areas especially when trees are larger. Four species yielded a significant contribution to the dissimilarity in activity levels between trails and internal areas, and namely Pipistrellus pipistrellus, Nyctalus noctula, Miniopterus schreibersii and Barbastella barbastellus. Our results show a clear effect of forest trails on bat activity, highlighting differences across functional groups in relation to trail characteristics. Furthermore, within guilds, not all species respond with the same intensity, suggesting differences in how different species are attracted to linear features and forest gaps. Overall, our results depict a complex interaction between forest trails and bat activity, suggesting that structural changes in forests can trigger diverse responses in bats. Future research on the topic may focus on assessing how such effects can affect bat communities at the landscape scale and longer time-scales.

The Influence of Logging-Related Soil Disturbance on Pioneer Tree Regeneration in Mixed Temperate Forests.

The recovery of soil properties and the proper growth of natural tree regeneration are key elements for maintaining forest productivity after selective logging operations. This study was conducted on the soil properties and natural growth of two pioneer seedling species of alder and maple which were on skid trails in the mixed beech forests of northern Iran. To examine the long-term effects, we randomly selected six skid trails, with two replicates established for each of three time periods since last use (10, 20, and 30 years ago). Random plots 4 m × 10 m in size, three plots on each skid trail and six plots on areas without soil compaction (control), were selected. Measurements included the physical and chemical properties of the soil and the growth, and the architectural and qualitative characteristics of the seedlings. The results showed that all the soil properties of the 10- and 20-year-old skid trails were significantly different from the control area (except for the soil moisture in the 20-year-old skid trail). The 30-year-old skid trail showed values of other soil properties which were not significantly different from the control area, except for the amounts of organic matter and soil nitrogen, which was less than the control. The skid trails had a negative effect on all of the growth, qualitative, and architectural indices of seedlings. The characteristics of seedlings were related to soil characteristics and had the highest correlation with the soil penetration resistance (R-value from -0.41 to -0.63 for stem growth, p < 0.05; -0.57 to -0.90 for root growth, p < 0.01; and -0.76 to -0.86 for biomass, p < 0.01). The correlation coefficient between soil penetration resistance and the Dickson quality index of alder and maple seedlings was, respectively, -0.74 and -0.72, p < 0.01. The negative effect of soil compaction on root growth (-27.69% for alder seedlings and -28.08% for maple seedlings) was greater than on stem growth (-24.11% for alder seedlings and -16.27% for maple seedlings). The amount of growth, qualitative, and architectural indices of alder seedlings were higher than that of maple seedlings. Although alder is a better choice as compared to maple seedling in the initial year, the results of our study show that it is recommended to plant both alder and maple on skid trails after logging operations.

Severity of topsoil compaction controls the impact of skid trails on soil ecological processes

Abstract Skid trails are a major management‐induced disturbance in temperate forest ecosystems with considerable impact on soil ecological processes that are so far poorly understood. In German forests, skid trails comprise 10%–20% of the forest area that is potentially affected by soil compaction through heavy machinery. We systematically investigated the influence of skid trails on physical, chemical and microbiological soil parameters at 84 paired plots across four Central European forest types. In low mountain forests with steeper topography, skid trails had more drastic effects than in lowland forests. Skid trails in low mountain areas showed a decrease in the C to N ratio of microbial biomass (MBC/MBN), as well as increased microbial (MBC/SOC) and enzyme activities leading to faster carbon turnover (lower C/N, EOC/EN) and increased CO2 losses (CO2/SOC) from the soil. The overall effects of the skid trails in lowland forests were small. On base‐poor soils, we found an increase in the MBC/MBN ratio, while skid trails in base‐rich lowland soils showed a reduction in CO2/SOC, suggesting a proportional increase in soil carbon storage. Regardless of region‐specific effects, the relative increase in the bulk density of the fine soil was identified as a ‘golden trait’ that determined the effects of skid trails on many soil parameters, as shown by negative correlations with SOC, N, MBC, MBN, MBP, MBC/SOC and CO2/SOC and positive ones with the activities of certain hydrolytic enzymes. Synthesis and applications: Our data clearly showed that carbon conversion processes and soil respiration leading to significant carbon and nutrient losses increased significantly on skid trails in low mountain regions with relatively steep slopes, which was in sharp contrast to lowland sites. The strong context dependence of our findings suggests that the mapping of soil conditions in terms of slope, substrate and moisture with high spatial resolution is mandatory to assess the vulnerability of sites to soil compaction by heavy machinery. Based on such vulnerability analysis, negative impacts can be minimised through the designation of permanently fixed skid trails, technical adaptation of vehicles (e.g. wide base tyres) as well as careful planning and timing of management operations that should be restricted to dry weather and soil moisture conditions or periods of frost.

휠체어 사용자의 무장애 관광으로서 숲길 방문빈도와 정서적 반응의 관계 탐색

Purpose: This study investigated the experiences of wheelchair users participating in forest healing activities through barrier-free tourism on a specially designed forest trail catering to disabled and elderly individuals. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and effects of forest healing activities among wheelchair users and examine how these emotional responses to forest landscapes differ based on the number of visits.&#x0D; Methods: The target participants for the survey were individuals with disabilities who utilized wheelchairs for mobility. The structured questionnaires were collected and analyzed. ANOVA with Scheffe’s test was employed to assess differences in means among the variables.&#x0D; Results: The results indicated that natural scenery was the most favored factor among wheelchair users engaging in forest healing activities. Participants displayed a significantly positive emotional response to the natural surroundings, with an average affective appraisal score of 4.33. The frequency of visits was found to have a statistically significant influence on emotional evaluation, as higher visit numbers correlated with higher emotional ratings. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that the recovery experience, encompassing the sense of security and relief from psychological tension provided by the natural scenery, increased significantly across different visit groups (once visit, 2-9 visits, and 10 or more visits).&#x0D; Conclusion: It is implied that more frequent engagement in forest healing activities strengthen the recovery experience and improve stress coping abilities. These findings highlight the importance of expanding barrier-free forest trails to enable diverse and frequent forest healing experiences for disabled and elderly individuals.

The microclimate impact of treetop walk based on plant community simulation.

The treetop walk is an innovative urban greenway that harmoniously integrates with the natural topography, meandering through the tree canopy. It serves as a vital element in elevating the urban mountain landscape while also significantly impacting the recreational experiences of the public through its microclimate effects. Moreover, the distinctive plant community characteristics of the treetop walk significantly enhance the microclimate. Examining the plant community attributes that potentially influence the microclimate conditions of the treetop walk is of utmost importance. We chose the Fu Forest Trail in Fuzhou as the sample site for this research. By implementing an orthogonal experimental design and using ENVI-met software, we simulated data to explore the impacts of various plant community characteristics on the microclimate of the treetop walk in autumn. The findings revealed the following results: (1) The presence of tree height, leaf area index, crown type, and planting density significantly influenced the microclimate of the treetop walk green spaces, with some factors having primary effects while others having secondary effects. (2) No significant variations were observed in the microclimate effects of diverse plant community characteristics in the treetop walk during morning, noon, and evening hours. (3) Scheme 13 emerged as the optimal choice for cooling and humidifying ventilating, characterized by a tree height of 20m, leaf area index of 4.4, spherical crown shape, and planting spacing of 2m. The tree species available in the Fuzhou area include Ligustrum quihoui Carr., Buxus sinica, Laurus nobilis, Myrica rubra, and Osmanthus fragrans. (4) Compared to traditional understory trails, tree height and planting spacing notably influence the microclimate environment of the treetop walk.

Structural Equation Modeling Analysis of Factors Affecting the Loyalty of Forest Trail Users

Background and objective: With the increasing public awareness of health due to COVID-19 and the quality of life, people have come to prefer natural spaces with fewer crowds. Public use of forest trails is increasing as a place that satisfies the demand for such natural spaces. As a result, the basic plans for trails and mountaineering support were established, and there has been government-level support such as the establishment of the Korea Mountaineering Support Center, which resulted in a quantitative and qualitative increase in the use of forest trails. Accordingly, efforts must be made to ensure satisfaction and loyalty in using forest trails.Methods: Therefore, this study identified the factors affecting the overall satisfaction and loyalty toward forest trails through structural equation modeling. As for the research data, we used data from the Fact-finding Survey on Forest Welfare Facility Users to analyze the use of forest trails.Results: As a result, safety and comfort, kindness, travel time, and program experience variety had a significant effect directly and indirectly on overall satisfaction and loyalty. Safety and comfort affected personal activity experience variety, while kindness affected program experience variety. For travel time, the direct effect on loyalty showed a positive correlation, but the indirect effect showed a negative correlation.Conclusion: These results showed that safety should be considered a top priority on forest trails, and that long travel time to forest trails could be a factor that increases loyalty by offering various programs. In addition, loyalty has a multifaceted correlation between several factors, suggesting that it is necessary to consider not only direct effects but also indirect effects.

A Meta‐analysis of the effects of ground‐based extraction technologies on fine roots in forest soils

AbstractFine roots are an important component of forest soil as they play a key role in fundamental processes like plant nutrition and water supply. As with all the features of forest soil, the compaction related to the forest operations and, in particular, to the wood extraction via ground‐based technologies could lead to a significant impact on the presence of fine roots in the soil affected by the passage of the machines. Considering the lack of a review, we used a meta‐analytic approach to synthesise effect sizes of ground‐based extraction technologies affecting the presence of fine roots in the soil, using a multivariate mixed‐effects meta‐analytic model. The obtained results revealed that the presence of fine roots in the soil affected by the passage of the machines was significantly reduced by both skidding (g = −1.23, 95%CI ‐1.87, −0.60) and forwarding (g = −1.37, 95%CI ‐2.01, −0.74). Due to the higher soil compaction caused by forwarding, this method had a marginally but statistically significant greater impact than skidding. We further confirmed the hypothesis that soil compaction and the presence of fine roots were strongly correlated, with the latter being greatly reduced in compacted soils characterised by higher bulk density. What is more, even more than 20 years after a harvesting intervention, the presence of fine roots was significantly lower in both strip roads (forwarding) and skid trails (skidding) as compared to areas which were not impacted by the machine passage. This shows that fine roots are particularly vulnerable to forest operations. On the other hand, the majority of the trails in the database used for the meta‐analysis were created in countries that favour the creation of a small number of widely used trails. Therefore, it would be scientifically valuable to do a comparative evaluation in various forestry contexts, such as in the Mediterranean area, where the development of the forest trails network is oriented on creating a large number of trails with low traffic volumes. Because machinery‐induced soil compaction is the major driver of the decrease in fine roots in skid trails and strip roads, both the application of best management practices as well as of a smarter planning of the trail network to limit soil compaction are strongly recommended. Both applications are highly recommended to be used in the planning phase and in the practical implementation of logging activities.

Identifying Suitable Variables for Visual Aesthetic Quality Assessment of Permanent Forest Reserves in the Klang Valley Urban Area, Malaysia

Permanent forest reserves (PFR) in urban areas are an integral aspect of the urban forest concept and the basis of a city’s green infrastructure. The preservation of natural forests in urban areas has become a widely researched topic due to the environmental, social, and economic benefits provided by it. Although several studies have shown that visual aesthetics play a role in preserving natural forests in urban areas, visual aesthetic value is typically not prioritized in preservation plans since it varies based on the physical characteristics of natural forests in urban areas, making it difficult to measure universally. Therefore, this research aims to identify the suitable variables for assessing the visual aesthetic quality of permanent forest reserves within urban areas in Malaysia. This study selected two permanent forest reserves based on four criteria. Data were collected via participant-generated images taken along selected forest trails based on participant visual aesthetic preferences. Researchers and experts analyzed and classified the data according to content to identify suitable visual aesthetic quality variables. This research identified 14 suitable variables for assessing the visual aesthetics of PFRs in urban areas, with a dominant preference for information-processing theory variables. Mystery was the most present variable for the visual aesthetic quality assessment of PFRs. Furthermore, participants’ educational and emotional backgrounds, categorized as design, environmental, social, and technical, impacted their visual aesthetic preferences. Our findings serve as a foundation for assessing the visual aesthetic quality of natural forests within urban areas in Malaysia.

Psychophysiological Responses of College Students to Audio-Visual Forest Trail Landscapes.

Forest trails provide urban residents with contact with nature that improves health and well-being. Vision and hearing are important forms of environmental perception, and visual and auditory stimuli should not be overlooked in forest trail landscapes. This study focused on the health benefits of the audio-visual perception of forest trail landscapes. Forest density (FD) and forest sounds (FS) in forest trail landscapes were examined as visual and auditory variables, respectively. FD was divided into three levels: high (Hd), medium (Md), and low density (Ld). FS were divided into four levels: quiet natural and anthropogenic sounds (QnQa), quiet natural and loud anthropogenic sounds (QnLa), loud natural and quiet anthropogenic sounds (LnQa), and loud natural and loud anthropogenic sounds (LnLa). The levels of these two variables were combined to create 12 conditions. A total of 360 college students were randomly assigned to 12 groups (mapping onto the 12 conditions; N=30 per group). All subjects performed the same 5-min high-pressure task indoors, followed by a 5-min recovery period of experiencing a simulated forest trail landscape (viewing pictures and listening to sounds). Brain waves, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2, measured with a finger monitor), the pulse rate, and mood indicators were collected to analyse the physiological and psychological responses to the audio-visual forest trail landscapes. The results indicated that higher FD and lower FS improved health benefits. The interaction between FD and FS revealed a pattern of combinations that facilitated stress reduction and positive mood recovery. These results are of theoretical value in that they indicate important audio-visual characteristics of forest trail landscapes. In terms of practical applications, these findings support the construction of urban forest trails to provide health benefits.

Behaviour change interventions to facilitate forest trail users’ biosecurity compliance

Natural resource management can struggle with increased visitation that inadvertently deteriorates the environment. In Aotearoa New Zealand, visitors to kauri forests are spreading a lethal soil pathogen resulting in cultural and conservation risk. While public awareness of kauri dieback disease is growing, compliance at hygiene stations has not similarly increased. To overcome this apparent knowledge-behaviour gap, five interventions (ambassadors, normative messaging, watching eye effect, hazard perception, and pledge board) were evaluated for their impact on visitor compliance with footwear/equipment cleaning behaviour. Behavioural observations (n = 10,536) and intercept surveys (n = 3,061) were collected. Ambassadors resulted in increased compliance for both visitors and local trail users. The pledge board resulted in increased compliance for local trail users only and normative message increased compliance at one visitor site. Hazard perception and watching eye resulted in a decrease in compliance behaviour. This research demonstrates the need for careful assessment of interventions designed to mitigate the impacts of visitors to conservation areas. The success of the ambassador intervention, the pledge board for locals and, to a lesser extent, the normative message at one location, offer field-based empirical evidence supporting the use of social norms in communication approaches aimed at influencing visitor behaviour in natural resource settings.

The Effects of Gardening on University Campus on Problem Behaviors of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Background and objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect that a gardening program based on a garden created on a university campus has on problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities.Methods: The participants were 13 children with developmental disabilities (10 male and 3 female) with an average age of 10.5 years. The study was conducted from August 21 to November 27, 2021 by implementing a gardening program with total 30 sessions held twice a week. The research sites were three types of spaces created for children with developmental disabilities on D University campus: the healing garden, forest trail, and cherry road. Discrete Trial Training (DTT) was applied to the activities when implementing the gardening program, which was used as an intervention to reduce problem behaviors. The assessment tool was the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 6-18 (CBCL6-18) with which the parents and the primary caregivers assessed changes in problem behaviors.Results: Externalizing behaviors including aggressive behavior and rule-breaking behavior scored 9.9 before the program, 7.6 during the program, and 7.0 after the program (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; .01), and problem behaviors scored 39.3 before the program, 32.9 during the program, and 31.8 after the program (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; .05), showing a significant change.Conclusion: The gardening program on campus could reduce problem behaviors of children with developmental disabilities. Various activities in the garden are considered to have utility value as a social welfare service and education program.

Increased Metabolic Demand During Outside Walking in Darkness With No Vision or With Visual Aid.

For tactical reasons, the foot-borne soldiers sometimes undertake nighttime operations. However, the metabolic demand during walking in complete darkness may be markedly increased. The purpose of this study was to investigate if metabolic demand and kinematics would change while walking on a gravel road and a slightly hilly trail in darkness with or without visual aid. Fourteen cadets (11 men and 3 women, age: 25 ± 7 years, height: 178 ± 8 cm, and weight: 78 ± 13 kg) walked at 4 km/h on a straight gravel road and on a slightly hilly forest trail (n = 9). Both trials were performed at nighttime under four different conditions, wearing a headlamp (Light), blindfold (Dark), monocular (Mono), or binocular (Bino) night vision goggles. During the 10-minute walks, oxygen uptake, heart rate, and kinematic data were assessed. Ratings of perceived exertion, discomfort, and mental stress were evaluated after each condition using a category ratio scale. Physiologic and kinematic variables were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance, whereas ratings were evaluated using non-parametric Friedman analysis of variance. Oxygen uptake was higher in all three conditions with no or limited vision (Dark, Mono, and Bino) than in the Light condition (P ≤ 0.02) when walking on both the gravel road (+5-8%) and the forest trail (+6-14%). Heart rate was higher during the Dark than during the Light condition when walking on the forest trail, whereas there was no difference between conditions on the gravel road. During both trials, gait frequency was higher during the Dark than during the Light, Mono, and Bino conditions. Ratings were generally low during all conditions. Walking on a gravel road or a forest trail wearing a blindfold or visual aid increased the metabolic demand. Thus, it appears that the metabolic demand is higher during overground walking with night vision goggles than with full vision, which may influence the performance of nighttime operations.

Viewpoint on what may be considered as evidence and how to obtain it when designing health-promoting and inclusive green spaces

PurposeThe point of departure for this viewpoint paper is the current development in which landscape architects are working towards achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals and the associated cross-cutting pledge “Leave No One Behind”. The sustainable development goals 3 and 11 can be achieved through landscape projects that are inclusive and health promoting, and the authors argue that an evidence-based design process is needed to ensure that project designs deliver what they promise. However, most landscape architects are not trained in evidence-based design and are therefore unsure of what can be used as evidence. A further challenge is the lack of relevant and applicable research evidence for design processes.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present a process model for evidence-based health design in landscape architecture as an overall framework on which the authors base their arguments. The model includes four topics of evidence: target group, human health, environment and use of nature. For each topic, the authors present their view on what may be considered as evidence and where it can be found or generated. The study view is supported by a detailed presentation of where and how evidence was found and generated in a design project for an accessible and health-promoting forest trail for people with mobility disabilities.FindingsThe authors suggest a broad definition of evidence, and that the design process should draw on evidence from relevant research and practice disciplines. Evidence can be found in multiple sources, for example, scientific articles, theoretical works and design guidelines. It can also be generated by landscape architects themselves, for example, through landscape analyses and stakeholder workshops. The evidence should guide and support the landscape architect and not dictate the design process.Practical implicationsThe authors hope that the knowledge provided on the evidence-based health design process and on where to collect or how to generate evidence may inspire landscape architects in their future health design projects.Originality/valuePeople with mobility disabilities face many health challenges and should potentially be able to benefit from visiting green spaces. The authors hope that the knowledge provided on the evidence-based health design process and on where to collect or how to generate evidence may inspire landscape architects in their future health design projects.

While Experiencing a Forest Trail, Variation in Landscape Is Just as Important as Content: A Virtual Reality Experiment of Cross-Country Skiing in Estonia

It has long been understood that diversity is a key aspect of what makes a landscape attractive but to what degree of diversity and how is it experienced? Many forest landscapes are generally monotonous in character or are broken up by forest management activities such as clear cutting, which may negatively impact their potential for recreation and psychological well-being benefits. We conducted a virtual reality experiment where people were taken on a trip along a simulated cross country skiing track in an Estonian forest. Participants followed a route at simulated speeds typical of cross-country skiing. The route was long enough to experience several minutes passing through one type of forest landscape with a series of small variations in character followed by several minutes passing through a notably different forest landscape. The restorative experience obtained by the visit was measured periodically in each version of the landscape. Univariate general linear modelling analysis was statistically significant (r2 = 0.651, F(198, 965) = 9.108, p &lt; 0.001) and showed that while respondents preferred less-dense forest in general (B = 0.189, p = 0.001)—an expected result—a comparable amount of positive restorative response could also be attributed to prominent changes in forest character, regardless of the type of forest (B = 0.401, p &lt; 0.001). We hypothesise that respondents were reacting favourably to sudden changes in forest appearance after prolonged exposure to one forest type—that diversity is important in maintaining interest, reducing boredom, and in providing a restorative experience. The implications are, firstly, that a virtual experience can detect restorative effects and, secondly, that recreational trails should be designed to pass through varied landscapes offering continually changing diverse experiences—the impact of which can be tested in the virtual setting because there is control of all variables.

Green and Pleasant Lands: The Affective and Cerebral Hemodynamic Effects of Presence in Virtual Environments During Exercise.

Pleasant exercise experiences increase the likelihood of exercise adherence, and innovative strategies to promote consistently pleasant exercise experiences are needed. In this study we compared a novel nature-based virtual reality environment, a nature-based 360° video, and a control condition to test the hypothesis that greater presence in virtual space would promote positive affective experiences during exercise. Moreover, we assessed prefrontal cerebral hemodynamics using near infrared spectroscopy to explore possible neural underpinnings of dissociative strategies during exercise. Twelve participants (M = 26.2, SD = 7.7years; M BMI = 25.5, SD = 5.2kg/m2) completed a maximal aerobic test and three exercise conditions (Control, Virtual Reality [VR], and 360° video). The two experimental conditions differed in terms of the participants' sense of presence (VR eliciting greatest presence), and all conditions utilized similar exercise intensity. The VR condition setting was a virtual mountain forest trail, and the 360° video was of a forest road. The 360° video was perceived as the most distracting (p = .023, d = 1.07), pleasant (p = .007, d = .75), and enjoyable (p = .029; d = .82) condition. ΔHbDiff data indicated that the control condition caused the greatest prefrontal brain activation (p = .008, d = .84). Presence was not a salient factor in distracting participants from bodily sensations during exercise, but immersion in a stimulus was. These results provide support for using head-mounted displays during exercise as a strategy to increase pleasure, with practical implications for practitioners, researchers, and individuals.

여름철 계룡산국립공원 탐방로의 열쾌적성 및 어메니티 관리 연구

This study was conducted to understand the weather characteristics of the mountain environment and the thermal comfort of Gyeryongsan National Park trail and to provide information on activity time, activity space, and activity amount. For the analysis of the thermal comfort of the trail, the temperature of the city center in summer, the average temperature of the National Park Disaster Prevention Weather System (AWS), and the trail. Also, Microclimate elements and canopy closure were also measured in four major trails in Gyeryongsan National Park. After investigating a total of 240 points, thermal comfort was identified. When comparing the average temperature of the city center, National Park AWS, and trail, the average temperature was higher in the order of the city center, Gabsa AWS, Donghaksa AWS, Gabsa Trail, and Donghaksa Trail. As a result, it means that the thermal pleasure experienced by visitors should be considered. According to a survey of four major trails, the average canopy closure is Donghaksa~nammaetop route was high in the order of Donghaksa~Gwaneumbong route, Gabsa~Yeoncheonbong route and Gabsa~Geumjandigogae route. When PMV(Predicted Mean Vote) is 2.8MET, The PMV was highter in the order of Gabsa~Geumjandigogae route, Gabsa~ Yeoncheonbong route, Donghaksa~nammaetop route, Donghaksa~Gwaneumbong route. Through the survey, time information, spatial information, and activity information with high thermal comfort could be presented. By grasping the thermal comfort characteristics of the trail, we intend to lay the foundation for forest trail management measures that can increase the amenity of the trail.