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Impact Of Recent Timber Harvests On Autumn Scenic Beauty Of Near-Stand Views

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Abstract - This study estimated the impact of 10 recent timber cutting regimes on the autumn scenic beauty of shortleaf pine-hardwood forests in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. Scenes were photographed near forest stand edges—views typically observed by sightseeing visitors—from 36 treated areas cut the previous winter and 3 comparable untreated areas. Cutting regimes varied in hardwood retention, spatial arrangement, and harvest intensity. We averaged scenic beauty ratings from several groups of judges. Results showed that scenic beauty of autumn, near-stand views were significantly (P<0.05) lower and in inverse proportion to the amount of wood recently removed. Pine vs. pine-hardwood retention and differences among groups of judges had no significant effect on scenic beauty ratings among various treatments. The treatments—grouped into similar impact categories and in order of increasing negative impact—were: (1) low-impact and pine single-tree selection, (2) pine-hardwood single-tree selection, pine and pine-hardwood group selection, and pine and pine-hardwood shelterwood, (3) pine and pine-hardwood seed tree, and (4) clearcut harvest.

Parent Publication

Citation

Barlow, Rebecca J. Ray; Rudis, Victor A. 2004. Impact Of Recent Timber Harvests On Autumn Scenic Beauty Of Near-Stand Views. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 121-129
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6473