Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Effects of traditional and "New Forestry" practices on recreational and scenic quality of managed forests

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  • Criticism of established forestry practices has led to the development of alternative silvicultural methods known collectively as "New Forestry." The primary objective of New Forestry is to address concerns about biological diversity, but it is generally acknowledged that controversy will continue until social concerns are also addressed. Consequently, this dissertation examines potential effects of New Forestry on public enjoyment of forests. A literature review found considerable research on the aesthetic impacts of forest management, and a somewhat smaller body of work on recreational impacts. No prior study has examined Northwest forests, nor New Forestry. In the present study, judgments of scenic, hiking, and camping quality were compared for stands in which New Forestry and traditional prescriptions were employed. Research consisted of two phases, one in which 95 persons judged six stands on-site, and a second in which 117 other subjects rated slides showing 12 silvicultural treatments. Other research questions examined the stand attributes that influence quality judgments, the particular effects of artificial snag-creation methods, and the ability of information about New Forestry to improve acceptability of non-traditional practices. New Forestry practices were preferred over traditional methods when judgments were made on-site, but traditional methods were rated more acceptable by slide viewers. Theoretical and methodological reasons for the discrepancy are discussed. Judgments of scenic quality differed slightly from those of hiking quality, and were more divergent from those of camping quality. The contribution of scenic beauty to recreational quality is examined. Attributes relating to the evidence of human presence were the most influential on both scenic and recreational judgments. Biodiversity also affected scenic beauty, while attraction places enhanced recreational quality. Artificial snag creation reduced the perceived quality of stands where a majority of trees had been harvested, but judgments improved after snag creation in stands where group selection methods were employed. Information about New Forestry had a limited mitigative effect on adverse scenic impacts of non-traditional silviculture. A concluding section of the dissertation discusses implications of this study on management of forests where the new methods are tested, and suggests directions for future research.
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