Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
study was conducted to assess the perception of braided
patterns by different social groups. In June, 2006, 127 peo-
ple were surveyed using a photo-questionnaire consisting
of 10 photographs that depicted riverscapes with different
proportions of water and gravel bar areas. Respondents
were asked to score each photograph in terms of aesthetic
value, beneficial uses, and river management needs.
In the Roubion catchment (near Montelimar, France),
a survey focused on the local population and their pre-
ferred riverscape features. 176 individuals evaluated 9
photographs. Thus, 10% of the residents in the basin
were surveyed, taking into account respondent's age and
socio-professional group. The sample was representative
of the public, so that findings are valuable in terms of
public decision-making at a local scale. The participants
were asked to consider each scene, to rank them accord-
ing to their preference, and to justify and characterise
their choice. The aesthetics scores were then linked to
the structural characteristics of the riverscape in order
to provide a predictive model. Similarly, scores for the
perception of water in floodplain lakes was also related to
the characteristics of the landscape. The Lower Ain and
the Upper Rh one Rivers (Rh one-Alpes, France) are char-
acterised by the existence of floodplain lakes caused by
historical river migration and channel abandonment. The
disappearance of these former channels over the last cen-
tury led to numerous restoration projects. In this context,
specific attention has been paid to the public perception of
floodplain lakes, focusing on the appearance of the water.
An internet survey using photo-questionnaires was con-
ducted with more than 100 persons, who were asked to
assess the aesthetics of the scene. The survey aims to build
a model associating the visual physical characteristics of
floodplain lakes and the public's aesthetics judgments.
areas (France, Poland, Sweden, India, Russia, Germany,
Italy, Spain, China, Oregon (U.S.), Texas (U.S.)). These
areas were selected for the potential diversity of socio-
cultural environments that they represent. Owing to the
low variability in age classes, the student community is a
very interesting experimental population for international
comparisons, and students' responses were presumed to
represent the knowledge of non expert groups (Brown
and Daniel, 1991). Similar disciplines were surveyed in
each of the areas concerned. More information about
methodological aspects is presented in Piegay et al. (2005).
The results show that the presence of in-channel
LW modifies students' perceptions (Figure 18.1a). The
respondents considered riverscapes with LW to be less
aesthetically pleasing, more natural, more dangerous,
and needing more improvement than those without LW.
When considering the danger perceived (Figure 18.1b),
the participants evaluate the scenes with wood as being
more dangerous in terms of water quality and affecting
leisure activities. Moreover, the students consider that the
riverscapes with LW require much more improvement
than those without (Figure 18.1c). With the presence of
LW, there is an increase in the perceived need for cleaning
the channel and improving the quality of the land-
scape. The comparative geographical analysis demon-
strates some substantial cultural differences amongst
the geographical areas (Figure 18.2a). Particularly, Asian
students show a great motivation for improving water-
courses, whereas respondents from other countries (Ger-
man, Oregon, or Sweden) show a more conservationist
attitude towards streams and rivers. Many factors can
explain the geographical variability. For instance, the
motivation for improvement (Figure 18.2b) seems to be
linked to the familiarity with LW, the combination of
forest cover and density of population, the history of land
use (agricultural tradition in Western Europe or forestry
in Oregon and Sweden), the technocratic management
of watercourses (France and Russia) and the necessity of
development (China and India).
In the survey that focused on the restored features of the
Rh one, results show that the flowing water channels are
preferred to their margins (Figure 18.3). The photographs
of the Rh one River obtained higher aesthetic scores than
those of the floodplain lakes. The participants considered
the Rh one River to be more representative of the valley
than the floodplain lakes. While the latter provoke a feel-
ing of danger, the former seem to be considered suitable
for recreational purposes. Moreover, riverscape evalua-
tion is different before and after restoration (Figure 18.3).
After river works, observers consider the photographs
18.4.2 Comparingreactionsbetweenscenesand
betweenobservers
Over the last three decades, there has been an increasing
scientific interest in large pieces of wood (LW) and sci-
entists have recognised the hydraulic, geomorphic and
biological role of wood in temperate river systems.
Although LW re-introduction has been promoted in
different areas, such as North America, Australia, Switzer-
land or Germany, such measures are not commonly
accepted by managers and users in other countries. In
order to understand the reasons for some regional varia-
tions in LW public perception, we have analysed the social,
cultural and historical context of the question. The wood
perception study was performed in eleven geographical
Search WWH ::
Custom Search