Forest management and public perceptions -visual versus verbal information.

Forest and landscape management measures have impacts on the amenity value of forests. People may have certain attitudes towards management, in particular near urban areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts on scenic beauty and recreational value of five different management practices: small clear cutting, thinning, removal of undergrowth, natural state, and traditionally managed cultural landscape. In order to compare visual perceptions with preconceptions, two evaluation methods, visual presentation (pictures produced by image-capture technology) and verbal questions were used. Scenic beauty and recreational value were assessed from slides in which management measures were presented by the pairwise comparison technique. The results indicate that scenic beauty and recreational preferences differ considerably from each other. In the study areas, small clear cuttings had the most positive effect on scenic beauty and natural state had most positive effect on recreational value. Furthermore, preconceptions concerning different silvicultural measures did not consistently correspond to perceptions based on the assessment of visual images. This fact supports the use of visual presentation methods in future preference studies as well as in participatory forest planning projects.</p

Visuaalisiin maastoarviointeihin perustuvat mustikan ja puolukan tuotoksen ennustemallit kivennäismaille ja turvemaille

TutkimusselosteSeloste artikkelista: Ihalainen, M. & Pukkala, T. 2001. Modelling cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) yields from mineral soils and peatlands on the basis of visual fi eld estimates. Silva Fennica 35(3): 329–340

Mustikan ja puolukan tuotoksen ennustemallit Pohjois-Karjalan alueelle

TutkimusselosteSeloste artikkelista: Ihalainen, M., Salo, K. & Pukkala, T. 2003. Empirical prediction models for Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea berry yields in North Karelia, Finland. Silva Fennica 37(1): 95–108

Rintarauhasen tulehdukset

English summar

Empirical prediction models for Vaccinium myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea berry yields in North Carelia, Finland

Forest berries and the outdoor experiences related to berry collection are important goods and services provided by Finnish forests. Consequently, there is a need for models which facilitate the prediction of the impacts of alternative forest management options on berry yields. Very few such models are available. In particular, empirical models are lacking. Models used in forest management should express the effect of variables altered in forest management such as stand density and mean tree size. This study developed empirical models for bilberry and cowberry yields in North Karelia. The data consisted of 362 measurements of 40 m2 sample plots. The plots were located in clusters. The same plot was measured over 1 to 4 years. Besides berry yield some site and growing stock characteristics of each plot were measured. A random parameter model was used to express the berry yield as a function of site fertility, growing stock characteristics, and random parameters. The random part of the models accounted for the effect of plot, measurement year, and cluster. The fixed predictors of the model for bilberry were stand age and forest site type. Stand basal area, mean tree diameter and forest site type were used to predict cowberry yields. The most significant random parameter was the plot factor. The fixed model part explained only a few per cent of the variation in berry yields. The signs of regression coefficients were logical and the model predictions correlated rather well with the predictions of earlier models.</ja:p

Measures of the EU Agri-Environmental Protection Scheme (GAEPS) and their impacts on the visual acceptability of Finnis agricultural landscapes

v2002okYhan kirjast

Muuttuvan maaseutumaiseman arvostus

vokKirjasto Aj-

A visual landscape in the monitoring of the agri-environmental programme

Maatalouden ympäristöohjelman vaikuttavuuden seuranta (MYTVAS) -projektin osahankkeessa Visuaalinen maisema tutkimuksen perusmateriaaliksi valokuvattiin kesällä 1996 kymmenen tutkimusalueen otos eri puolilta Suomea. Aineistosta valittiin panoraamakuvia, joita muokattiin sekä maatalouden ympäristötukiohjelman erilaisilla perus- ja erityistuen toimenpiteillä että yhteiskunnallisilla muutostekijöillä. Kuvien muokkaus tehtiin Joensuun yliopistossa, joka myös vastasi käsitellyn kuva-aineiston arvottamisesta haastattelututkimuksen avulla. Suhtautuminen maatalouden ympäristöohjelman mukaisten toimenpiteiden vaikutuksiin maisemassa oli positiivista. Hoidettuja suojakaistoja pidettiin yleensä hoitamattomia suojakaistoja miellyttävämpinä. Suojakaistojen tärkeimpänä vaikutuksena pidettiin veden laadun paranemista vesistöissä. Viljelijöiden mielipiteet suaojakaistojen toiseksi ja kolmanneksi tärkeimmästä vaikutuksesta, rikkakasvien lisääntyminen ja viljelyalan pieneneminen, poikkesivat selvästi muiden haastateltujen mielipiteistä. Maatalouden ympäristötukiohjelmasta maisemanhoidon ja luonnon monimuotoisuuden edistämisen ei yleisesti tiedetty kuuluvan perustuen piiriin, kun taas erityistukimuotoihin kuuluvien vesiensuojelutoimien uskottiin olevan perustuen ehtoja. Tutkimuksen mukaan kaunein maisema oli valokuva maaseutumaisemasta, johon oli muokattu suojavyöhyke; kuvassa oli ennestään nähtävissä vesistöä ja maaston korkeuseroa. Maisemaa, johon oli muokattu yhteiskunnallisia muutosvisioita pidettiin keskimäärin vähemmän kauniina. Haastateltujen mielestä merkittävimpiä maaseutumaisemaa muuttavia tekijöitä Suomessa ovat peltojen metsitys ja hoitamattomuus.The Visual Landscape is a subproject of the Monitoring the Finnish Agri-Environmental Programme (MYTVAS). The basic material was photographed in ten different areas across Finland in summer 1996. A selection of the panorama photos was edited taking into account the practices of the Finnish Agri-Environmental Programme (FAEP) and societal change factors. The editing was done at the University of Joensuu, which also evaluated the photos on the basis of an interview survey. The interviewees approved of the effects of the FAEP measures on the landscape. They found the maintained buffer strips more pleasing than those not taken care of and considered that they improved the quality of watercourses. The opinions of farmers on the second and third most important effects on the landscape, i.e., an increase in weeds and a decrease in cultivated land, differed clearly from those of the other interviewees. According to the survey the most beautiful photo was the one of a rural landscape, which included digitally edited buffer zone with watercourses and distinctive relative differences in altitude in the background. Most interviewees did not know that landscape maintenance and the promotion of biodiversity were included in the General Agricultural Environment Protection Scheme (GAEPS): the water protection measures of the Supplementary Protection Scheme (SPS) were, however believed to be included in the scheme. The landscape digitally edited to accord with the visions societal change was, on the whole, considered less beautiful. According to the analysis of the survey, of forestation and a failure to look after fields are the most important factors changing landscapes in Finland.vokMyynti MTT tietopalveluyksikk