Public visual preference for dead wood in different types of landscape

Abstract

Although dead wood is considered to be one of the most reliable indicators for measuring the level of biodiversity, it was still seemingly unpopular with the public. In order to identify the public’s preferences for dead wood and explore the driving factors for it, this study investigated academic-related group and layman group preferences for a variety of forms of dead wood in different types of environment through the use of questionnaire surveys. The results showed: (a) The participants preferred the urban natural environments with dead wood, especially the layman group; (b) the existence of dead wood in semi-open/semi-closed green space and blue space was most likely to be appreciated; (c) the participants most liked the dead wood with a peculiar shape in the semi-open/semi-closed and the closed green space, and a regular shape in the open green space; (d) the information of landscape appreciation had the greatest positive influence on public’s dead wood preference, followed by the information of recreational facility and ecological education, and the information of “leading the way” was the least; (e) the present findings serve to provide a practical guidance for future optimal planning of urban environments from urban biodiversity and human recreation aspects.