Robert L. Ryan

Woodlots in the rural landscape: landowner motivations and management attitudes in a Michigan (USA) case study

Abstract Woodlots provide important environmental benefits in the Midwestern (USA) landscape, where they are undergoing rapid change. An increasingly diverse farm and non-farm population owns these non-industrial private forests (NIPFs). It is essential to understand what motivates NIPF landowners to retain and manage their forests. We describe a study of NIPF owners in an agricultural watershed where forest cover is increasing. What motivations and management practices might be contributing to this increase? The results of a survey of 112 NIPF owners suggest that aesthetic appreciation is the strongest motivator for retaining woodlots, especially by non-farmers. Protecting the environment also seems to be important for both farmers and non-farmers, while economic motivations are significantly less important. Landowners indicated that they are primarily taking a “hands-off” approach to management. This study provides insights for those interested in understanding NIPF landowners’ motivations and for developing effective programs.

Exploring the effects of environmental experience on attachment to urban natural areas

This study explored the relationship between place attachment and both environmental experience and environmental attributes within three urban natural areas in Michigan. To understand these relationships, 328 park users—including neighbors, visitors, volunteers, and staff—were asked about their attachment, use, environmental knowledge, and attitudes toward management using a photo questionnaire. The results showed that attachment has different manifestations related to experience—a place-specific attachment was generally held by neighbors and recreational users, whereas a conceptual attachment was held by volunteers, staff, and those with extensive natural-areas knowledge. Each form of attachment was associated with distinctive perspectives on management. The study showed that the expert’s vision of appropriate management of a natural area may differ from those of neighbors and users, which can readily lead to conflict. If, however, attachment is recognized as a multifaceted and far-reaching component of people’s relationship to a place, such conflicts can be mitigated.

Preserving rural character in New England: local residents' perceptions of alternative residential development

Abstract Rural landscapes throughout North America and Europe are being threatened by new residential development at the edge of metropolitan areas. New development consumes farmland, woods, and other natural features—often destroying the rural character that attracted residents to these areas in the first place. In order for planners to develop alternative strategies for accommodating residential development, they need to understand the qualities of the rural landscape that are valuable to local residents. This study used a photo-questionnaire to elicit rural New Englanders’ preference for scenes of innovative cluster subdivisions and traditional rural development, their perceptions of rural character, and their attitudes toward rural living in general. The survey responses from 173 rural residents in western Massachusetts showed that subdivisions in which the protected open space is more visible from the public realm (e.g. along roads and entries) are perceived to be more compatible with the rural landscape. In addition, the study found that residents’ perceptions of rural character were strongly based on natural features, including farm fields, rather than on cultural features, such as old homes or stone walls.

Protecting and managing private farmland and public greenways in the urban fringe

This study explores the premise that privately-owned land is vital for meeting recreation and greenway demands in urban areas. A case study in the Great Meadows of the Connecticut River in the Hartford, Connecticut metropolitan area is used to illustrate the challenges in promoting recreational access and open space preservation in a privately-owned farming and riparian landscape. The study included a survey of local landowners to determine their attitudes toward land protection, public access, and collaborative planning, as well as interviews with stakeholder groups from a local land trust and sporting clubs. The results of the study showed that many landowners did allow recreation on their land, particularly hunting and fishing. However, access was often limited to members of local sporting clubs, family members and neighboring farmers. Landowner concerns about allowing widespread public access to this farming area included vandalism to crops and interruption of farm operations. Recommendations are discussed for developing partnerships with private landowners, including working with existing recreation and conservation organizations and increasing the role of local farmers in greenway and other land use planning decisions.

Local Residents’ Preferences and Attitudes toward Creating Defensible Space against Wildfire in the Northeast Pine Barrens

Creating more defensible neighborhoods in the wildland-urban interface requires better understanding of local preferences for residential landscaping meant to reduce wildland fire risk and of the motivation of residents to undertake action at home. A survey of local residents within two areas of fire-prone pitch pine ecosystem in the northeastern United States used a photo questionnaire depicting scenes of different residential landscaping, as well as written items about residents’ plans for creating more defensible space. The results indicate a low to mid-level perception of wildfire risk to homes and property, despite the participants’ experience with wildfires in the area. Participants showed higher preference for scenes showing a balance of native plants and ornamental lawns than for those with lawn only or entirely native forest plantings. Despite their perceptions, residents engaged in defensible space strategies. In particular, those with a higher degree of natural areas knowledge were more likely to thin trees or vegetation than were other residents. The desire to retain mature trees around residential homes is a challenge to creating more defensible space. The connection between landscape preference and willingness to engage in residential landscaping may both benefit local ecosystems and contribute to their resistance to fire.

Understanding the Role of Planners in Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation

As wildfires affect more residential areas across the United States, the need for collaboration between land managers, federal agencies, neighbours, and local governments has become more pressing especially in the context of the wildland-urban interface. Previous research has not focused much on land-use planners’ role in wildfire mitigation. This paper provides information on how land-use planners can assist communities in learning to live with wildfire risk through planning, preparedness, and mitigation efforts in the wildland-urban interface (WUI). Based on interviews with land-use planners, forest planners, and local emergency management officials, we identified a range of tools that could be used for improving wildfire preparedness and mitigation initiatives in the WUI, but also found that planners felt that they lacked the regulatory authority to use these tenaciously. The paper also identifies a range of possible actions that would contribute towards safer building practices in the interface communities.

Continuing a Planning Tradition: The New England Greenway Vision Plan

Following in the tradition of Olmsted and Eliot, this study highlights a visionary greenway plan for New England that is the culmination of volunteer efforts by over 200 professionals, academics, students, government officials, and citizens. The purpose of this study was to promote landscape architects’ leadership role in the greenway planning movement using New England as a demonstration project. Working across multiple scales, greenway plans at the state, regional, and site level were developed and disseminated using state-of-the-art computer technology. The study outlines a five-step approach for greenway planning that addresses nature protection, recreation and tourism development, and historic and cultural resource preservation. In addition, this study provides insights for coordinating regional greenway efforts across multi-jurisdictional political boundaries.

What makes a landscape contemplative

For centuries, landscape architects, architects, and urban planners have been designing outdoor green spaces for one to contemplate. In today’s urban realm, we can understand a contemplative space more specifically as one joining esthetic and environmental values with mental health benefits for its visitors. So far, the concept of contemplativeness of a space has not been operationalized and a definitive list of design principles of such a space has not been developed. In response to this gap of knowledge, we have identified a set of features that may be used in order to design and create a space of contemplation within seven categories: Landscape Layers, Landform, Vegetation, Light and Color, Compatibility, Archetypal Elements, and a Character of Peace and Silence. The developed framework is based on development and analysis of a Contemplative Landscape Questionnaire. This instrument was developed based on literature review and Delphi expert evaluation of multiple landscapes. The statistical tests on the Contemplative Landscape Questionnaire revealed satisfactory reliability and validity measures, which provided evidence-based support for the efficacy of designed spaces. This approach could enhance the practice of landscape architects and urban designers by reinforcing intuition-based designs with scientific evidence. The developed framework can also serve to identify contemplative spaces for subsequent research purposes.