What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland

<p>Forest is an important element of Swiss landscape, with about 30&thinsp;% of the country covered by it, forming a finely structured patchwork together with water bodies, agricultural land and settlements. It is highly valued by residents as part of their everyday living and recreati...

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Main Authors: J. Frick, N. Bauer, E. von Lindern, M. Hunziker
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-11-01
Series:Geographica Helvetica
Online Access:https://www.geogr-helv.net/73/335/2018/gh-73-335-2018.pdf
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spelling doaj-8c55880b7a3142e5902860ba5b2befc22020-11-24T21:49:14ZdeuCopernicus PublicationsGeographica Helvetica0016-73122194-87982018-11-017333534510.5194/gh-73-335-2018What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in SwitzerlandJ. Frick0N. Bauer1E. von Lindern2M. Hunziker3Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, 8820, SwitzerlandSwiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, SwitzerlandDialog N – Research and Communication for People, Environment and Nature, Uster, 8610, SwitzerlandSwiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland<p>Forest is an important element of Swiss landscape, with about 30&thinsp;% of the country covered by it, forming a finely structured patchwork together with water bodies, agricultural land and settlements. It is highly valued by residents as part of their everyday living and recreational environment. The aim of this paper is to provide knowledge about how residents perceive and value forests and what their dominant preferences are. The data were collected through the Socio-cultural Forest Monitoring (WaMos). In this survey, 3022 persons responded by telephone interview or online survey. Respondents were well informed about forest issues, especially about recreation, animals and protection from natural hazards. Nevertheless, functions such as wood production, air quality and biodiversity were rated as even more important than recreational functions. Mixed forests and multisensory experiences were preferred, whereas wilderness was only moderately approved of. Respondents did not much appreciate sports and fun infrastructure, but valued infrastructure for contemplative and social activities and for education about forest issues.</p>https://www.geogr-helv.net/73/335/2018/gh-73-335-2018.pdf
collection DOAJ
language deu
format Article
sources DOAJ
author J. Frick
N. Bauer
E. von Lindern
M. Hunziker
spellingShingle J. Frick
N. Bauer
E. von Lindern
M. Hunziker
What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
Geographica Helvetica
author_facet J. Frick
N. Bauer
E. von Lindern
M. Hunziker
author_sort J. Frick
title What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
title_short What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
title_full What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
title_fullStr What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
title_full_unstemmed What forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in Switzerland
title_sort what forest is in the light of people's perceptions and values: socio-cultural forest monitoring in switzerland
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Geographica Helvetica
issn 0016-7312
2194-8798
publishDate 2018-11-01
description <p>Forest is an important element of Swiss landscape, with about 30&thinsp;% of the country covered by it, forming a finely structured patchwork together with water bodies, agricultural land and settlements. It is highly valued by residents as part of their everyday living and recreational environment. The aim of this paper is to provide knowledge about how residents perceive and value forests and what their dominant preferences are. The data were collected through the Socio-cultural Forest Monitoring (WaMos). In this survey, 3022 persons responded by telephone interview or online survey. Respondents were well informed about forest issues, especially about recreation, animals and protection from natural hazards. Nevertheless, functions such as wood production, air quality and biodiversity were rated as even more important than recreational functions. Mixed forests and multisensory experiences were preferred, whereas wilderness was only moderately approved of. Respondents did not much appreciate sports and fun infrastructure, but valued infrastructure for contemplative and social activities and for education about forest issues.</p>
url https://www.geogr-helv.net/73/335/2018/gh-73-335-2018.pdf
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