Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(a)
(b)
Figure 18.2 (a) Segment diagrams. Each diagram represents one geographical area. On each of them, four continuous variables
(scores for aesthetics, naturalness, feeling of danger and need for improvement) are plotted by a radius whose length corresponds to
the mean value attributed by the students of the given area. (b) Dendrogram. A hierarchical cluster analysis has been performed on
the mean values of need for improvement (provided by students from 11 geographical areas who scored the 20 riverscapes).
to be more aesthetic, more typical of the valley, more
reassuring, and more suitable for walks. The removal
of trees and clearing of brushwood enhanced the feeling
of safety on the margins of the restored floodplain lakes.
Thus, the results demonstrate some positive effects of
restoration works on riverscape perception. Further anal-
yses highlighted clear differences between photographs
taken in summer and in winter. Summery scenes are
more appreciated, more typical of the valley, and more
reassuring than wintry scenes. Thus the season effect is
taken into account when selecting the sample of river-
scapes. Overall responses appeared to be similar between
groups of respondents. There was no statistical difference
concerning the aesthetic quality and the motivation for
strolling along a water body, however. School children
tended to underestimate the typical characteristic of river-
scapes and to be more sensitive to danger. By contrast,
members of water-related associations felt danger less
intensively, as if good knowledge of the river enhanced
the feeling of control.
The third survey performed in the Magra region is
based on a similar approach, focusing on the difference
between water and sediment areas in riverscapes. There
was a strong tendency towards a preference for land-
scapes that depicted high proportions of water, or con-
versely, low proportions of sediment (Figure 18.4). As an
example, strong positive associations were demonstrated
between the proportion of water depicted and the aver-
age responses for aesthetic value (r
0.015)
and beneficial use (r = 0.87; p < 0.0015). Six significant
negative correlations were also identified. Management
needs are negatively correlated to the satisfaction of uses
(r
=
0.76; p
<
<
0.0004), and proportion of water (r =− 0.70; p < 0.025).
Likewise, there were negative associations between the
proportion of sediments and beneficial use (r
=−
0.94; p
<
0.0001), aesthetic value (r
=−
0.90; p
=
0.80; p
<
0.025). River
landscapes characterised by a large proportion of sedi-
ment were recognised as less aesthetic, less usable, and
led respondents to require an improvement. The size of
0.005) or aesthetic value (r
=
0.70; p
<
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