Modeling Forest Scenic Beauty: Concepts and Application to Ponderosa Pine

摘要

Statistical Models are presented which relate near-view scenic beauty of ponderosa pine stands in the Southwest to variables describing physical characteristics. The models suggest that herbage and large ponderosa pine contribute to scenic beauty, while numbers of small and intermediate-sized pine trees and downed wood, especially as slash, detract from scenic beauty. Areas of lower overstory density and less tree clumping were preferred. Moderate harvest of relatively dense stands tends to improve scenic beauty once the stand has recovered from obvious harvest effects. The recovery period can be greatly reduced by slash cleanup.