Aesthetic perceptions of green-tree retention harvests in vista views: The interaction of cut level, retention pattern and harvest shape

The scenic beauty of timber harvests affects perceptions of the social acceptability of forest management. Aesthetic perceptions of green-tree retention options within harvests were investigated. Study scenes depicted close-up vista views of clear-cuts, an unharvested forest, and a full set of harvests that varied by amount and pattern of green-tree retention, and by landscape design. These attributes were tested to explain differences in scenic beauty estimates derived from 331 respondents. Higher scenic beauty was associated with increased dispersed green-tree retention levels. An important finding was that all levels of aggregated retention, with different amounts of clear-cut patches inside harvests, were perceived as ugly. Dispersed retention levels below about 25% are likely to produce various degrees of perceived ugliness. The design of harvest shapes to look more irregular, rather than geometric, only improved perceived scenic beauty slightly and only at very low retention levels.