Abstract
We investigated whether people's landscape preferences could be readily influenced by information provision within the context of woodland management. Specifically, we determined: (i) people's preference regarding understorey density on the basis of visual images; (ii) the occurrence of change in preference due to information provision about biodiversity and deer management associated with different understorey densities; and (iii) demographic or social factors potentially explaining variation in the occurrence of such preference change. We found that of all participants (n=126) more than half changed their expressed preference. This largely entailed a shift away from denser understorey to intermediate levels, suggested a balancing between initial preference and the objectives linked with the information provided. Change in preference was unrelated to livelihood connection. However, preferences became more robust with age and familiarity with woodlands. There was an unprompted widespread desire for different understorey densities in different places, i.e. a 'patchwork' landscape, to maximise opportunities for different species and societal uses. This represents a clear interest for a spatially diverse rather than uniform woodland management. We recommend that the susceptibility of landscape preferences to information provision is explicitly recognised by landscape planners and researchers, notably where visualisation techniques are being used to inform decision making.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 129-139 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Landscape and Urban Planning |
| Volume | 124 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2014 |
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Keywords
- Bird and plant diversity
- Deer management
- Information provisioning
- Landscape preference change
- Visual assessments
- Woodland understorey vegetation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
- Nature and Landscape Conservation
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Cite this
The influence of information provision on people's landscape preferences : A case study on understorey vegetation of deer-browsed woodlands. / Van der Wal, René; Miller, David; Irvine, Justin; Fiorini, Stefano; Amar, Arjun; Yearley, Steven; Gill, Robin; Dandy, Norman.
In: Landscape and Urban Planning, Vol. 124, 04.2014, p. 129-139.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of information provision on people's landscape preferences
T2 - A case study on understorey vegetation of deer-browsed woodlands
AU - Van der Wal, René
AU - Miller, David
AU - Irvine, Justin
AU - Fiorini, Stefano
AU - Amar, Arjun
AU - Yearley, Steven
AU - Gill, Robin
AU - Dandy, Norman
PY - 2014/4
Y1 - 2014/4
N2 - We investigated whether people's landscape preferences could be readily influenced by information provision within the context of woodland management. Specifically, we determined: (i) people's preference regarding understorey density on the basis of visual images; (ii) the occurrence of change in preference due to information provision about biodiversity and deer management associated with different understorey densities; and (iii) demographic or social factors potentially explaining variation in the occurrence of such preference change. We found that of all participants (n=126) more than half changed their expressed preference. This largely entailed a shift away from denser understorey to intermediate levels, suggested a balancing between initial preference and the objectives linked with the information provided. Change in preference was unrelated to livelihood connection. However, preferences became more robust with age and familiarity with woodlands. There was an unprompted widespread desire for different understorey densities in different places, i.e. a 'patchwork' landscape, to maximise opportunities for different species and societal uses. This represents a clear interest for a spatially diverse rather than uniform woodland management. We recommend that the susceptibility of landscape preferences to information provision is explicitly recognised by landscape planners and researchers, notably where visualisation techniques are being used to inform decision making.
AB - We investigated whether people's landscape preferences could be readily influenced by information provision within the context of woodland management. Specifically, we determined: (i) people's preference regarding understorey density on the basis of visual images; (ii) the occurrence of change in preference due to information provision about biodiversity and deer management associated with different understorey densities; and (iii) demographic or social factors potentially explaining variation in the occurrence of such preference change. We found that of all participants (n=126) more than half changed their expressed preference. This largely entailed a shift away from denser understorey to intermediate levels, suggested a balancing between initial preference and the objectives linked with the information provided. Change in preference was unrelated to livelihood connection. However, preferences became more robust with age and familiarity with woodlands. There was an unprompted widespread desire for different understorey densities in different places, i.e. a 'patchwork' landscape, to maximise opportunities for different species and societal uses. This represents a clear interest for a spatially diverse rather than uniform woodland management. We recommend that the susceptibility of landscape preferences to information provision is explicitly recognised by landscape planners and researchers, notably where visualisation techniques are being used to inform decision making.
KW - Bird and plant diversity
KW - Deer management
KW - Information provisioning
KW - Landscape preference change
KW - Visual assessments
KW - Woodland understorey vegetation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894504422&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.009
M3 - Article
VL - 124
SP - 129
EP - 139
JO - Landscape and Urban Planning
JF - Landscape and Urban Planning
SN - 0169-2046
ER -