Perception of landscape, forest and settlement in protected landscape areas.

MIKULEC JANA, ANTOUSKOVA MICHAELA: Perception of landscape, forest and settlement in protected landscape areas. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 3, pp. 721–728 The paper focuses on perception of landscape, forest and settlement in four Czech protected landscape areas (Kokořinsko, Ceský Kras, Železne Hory, and Blanik). It studies the relation of perception between the mentioned variables. To study this relation the probability model of logistic regression and Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient are applied. Necessary data for conducted analysis are collected through visitors’ (both tourists and residents) survey in studied areas. Data collection was eff ectuated during summer 2011. The results prove the positive relation between studied variables and are supposed to help to improve economical, ecological and social conditions of these areas. Pieces of knowledge introduced in this paper resulted from a solution of the institutional research intention MSM 6046070906 „Economics of resources of Czech agriculture and their effi cient use in frame of multifunctional agri-food systems“ and the Internal Grant Agency (IGA) of the Czech University of Life Science in Prague, Registration Number 201111110049. protected landscape area, tourism, landscape, forest, settlement, tourist’s profi le, perception The main part of landscape perception occurs through the sense of sight and therefore visual impacts of land-use or management activities are important (Tahvanainen et al., 2001). According to Ewald (2001) beautiful landscape plays an important role. The scenic beauty of the landscape aff ects recreational value since landscape forms the central environment for recreation activities (Karhu and Kellomaki, 1980). There appear many factors aff ecting the scenic beauty of forest including tree species, forest structure and traces of silviculture practices (Tahvanainen et al., 2001). Many people like sightseeing in the natural environments and it is considered as one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities (Hammit et al.,1994). Perception of protected landscape areas by tourists plays important role in rural tourism because a positive or negative attitude to the landscape have an infl uence on the number of tourists. Protected areas are very attractive settings for the growing demand for outdoor, appreciative activities in natural environments (Eagles et al., 2011). European landscapes have been subject to change during the last few decades, both physically and perceptually, related to alterations of local ways of life and dissemination of romantic attitudes towards nature (Wang, 2000). A number of studies have found that landscapes that are perceived as natural are considered to be more scenic than cultural landscapes (Ulrich et al., 1991; Kent and Elliot, 1995; Real et al., 2000). According to Norton (1996) little is known about how more or less “ordinary” people perceive the landscapes. “Landscape” seems to be one of the most important kinds of locations in contemporary nonurban tourism (Jacobsen, 2001). Public preferences of landscape qualities can be examined through verbal questions or through visual presentations. At the same time as landscape qualities are considered crucial for tourism, many tourism-related 722 Jana Mikulec, Michaela Antouskova environments are undergoing considerable change, making it imperative to explore and identify tourists’ landscape perceptions and assessments, in relation to landscape planning, maintenance and restoration as well as tourism development (Jacobsen, 2007). The paper focuses on perception of landscape, forest, and settlement in the protected landscape areas and solves following research question: Is there any relation between perception of landscape, forest and settlement? MATERIALS AND METHODS Studied areas For this study there were selected four protected landscape areas (PLAs) in Czech Republic which are situated near the capital Prague – PLA Blanik, PLA Ceský Kras, PLA Kokořinsko, PLA Železne hory (see Fig.1). Data collection The data for further analysis were provided from various resources. The necessary data were collected through respondents’ survey conducted in studied protected landscape areas. The respondents included visitors of PLAs, both tourists and residents. Respondents were asked to evaluate the landscape, forest and settlement scaled from −3 (totally dislike) to +3 (totally like). This scale was used from concept of Semantic Diff erential scale with using some elements of Stapel scale. The survey was conducted in summer 2011 in beforehand given location to ensure the reliability of survey. Respondents were ensured that results would serve for academic purposes. Totally 480 respondents were interviewed. The geographic data with information about type of land use were used from accessible internet map service of agency Cenia. The ARCIMS address of this map service is http://geoportal.cenia. cz. The analysis was focused on surface calculating area of each type of land use. Maps and layouts were done in program GIS version 9.3 ESRI. Used methods The relation of perception of landscape, forest and settlement is analysed by probability model of logistic regression and Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient. Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient The relation between perception of landscape, forest and settlement was analysed by Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient (Spearman’s rho), which works by fi rst ranking the data, and then applying Pearson’s equation to those ranks. The Spearman coeffi cient is defi ned as follows: