<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The study presented in this paper uses a representative sample of the Czech population to analyse the relationships between attitudes to trees and preferences for landscapes with trees. We ask whether a positive assessment of the environmental benefits of trees in general and old and dead trees in particular leads to preferences for close-to-nature forms of the tree landscape. The results show that tree landscape preferences are primarily affected by attitudes attached to trees, rather than by sociodemographic factors. People who appreciate the environmental benefits of trees are more likely to prefer transparent and organized landscapes with trees, whereas the more specific environmental attitude appreciating old or dead trees is reflected in higher preferences for wilderness-like landscapes. The results of our research suggest that the perceived environmental benefits of trees are anthropocentric in nature, in a way utilitarian; trees serve people and their environment, and not nature as such.</p>
</abstract>

The study presented in this paper uses a representative sample of the Czech population to analyse the relationships between attitudes to trees and preferences for landscapes with trees. We ask whether a positive assessment of the environmental benefits of trees in general and old and dead trees in particular leads to preferences for close-to-nature forms of the tree landscape. The results show that tree landscape preferences are primarily affected by attitudes attached to trees, rather than by sociodemographic factors. People who appreciate the environmental benefits of trees are more likely to prefer transparent and organized landscapes with trees, whereas the more specific environmental attitude appreciating old or dead trees is reflected in higher preferences for wilderness-like landscapes. The results of our research suggest that the perceived environmental benefits of trees are anthropocentric in nature, in a way utilitarian; trees serve people and their environment, and not nature as such.

Social Perception of Trees in the Landscape: The Connection Between Attitudes and Visual Preferences

Journal of Landscape Ecology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The study presented in this paper uses a representative sample of the Czech population to analyse the relationships between attitudes to trees and preferences...

Social Perception of Trees in the Landscape: The Connection Between Attitudes and Visual Preferences

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 66 - 87

Received: Mar 16, 2023

Accepted: May 12, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2023-0004

Keywords
trees, landscape with trees, attitudes to trees, visual preferences, Czechia

© 2023 Jana Stachová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Social Perception of Trees in the Landscape: The Connection Between Attitudes and Visual Preferences

Published Online: Jun 09, 2023

Page range: 66 - 87

Received: Mar 16, 2023

Accepted: May 12, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jlecol-2023-0004

Keywordstrees, landscape with trees, attitudes to trees, visual preferences, Czechia

© 2023 Jana Stachová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
trees, landscape with trees, attitudes to trees, visual preferences, Czechia