Integrating spatially explicit representations of landscape perceptions into land change research

Current Landscape Ecology Reports
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Human perceptions of the landscape can influence land-use and land-management decisions. Recognizing the diversity of landscape perceptions across space and time is essential to understanding land change processes and emergent landscape patterns. We summarize the role of landscape perceptions in the land change process, demonstrate advances in quantifying and mapping landscape perceptions, and describe how these spatially explicit techniques have and may benefit land change research.

Recent Findings

Mapping landscape perceptions is becoming increasingly common, particularly in research focused on quantifying ecosystem services provision. Spatial representations of landscape perceptions, often measured in terms of landscape values and functions, provide an avenue for matching social and environmental data in land change studies. Integrating these data can provide new insights into land change processes, contribute to landscape planning strategies, and guide the design and implementation of land change models.

Summary

Challenges remain in creating spatial representations of human perceptions. Maps must be accompanied by descriptions of whose perceptions are being represented and the validity and uncertainty of those representations across space. With these considerations, rapid advancements in mapping landscape perceptions hold great promise for improving representation of human dimensions in landscape ecology and land change research.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Integrating spatially explicit representations of landscape perceptions into land change research
Series title Current Landscape Ecology Reports
DOI 10.1007/s40823-017-0025-1
Volume 2
Issue 3
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Description 16 p.
First page 73
Last page 88
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