<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> This study examines how local population, tourists and farmers relate to rural landscapes, by exploring visual landscape preferences and the influence of everyday landscapes on the research subjects. Results point towards an immense variability in visual landscape preferences amongst user groups living in or visiting the study area (Plana de l’Empordà, Girona, Spain). Tourists rate grasslands at the top of their preference list, local residents prefer orchards, and farmers favour fields of irrigated herbaceous crops; showing, altogether, that the user's relationship with the landscape determines their visual preferences. Results show that farmers prefer agriculture dominated scenes while local residents and tourists prefer scenes with equilibrium between agricultural and natural elements. Likewise, the presence of margins is widely appreciated aesthetically by all respondents. Furthermore, results underline the importance of landscapes that are familiar to the respondents.</abstract>

Landscape Analyses and Management Laboratory. Geography Department, University of Girona, Pl. Ferreter i Móra, 1. 17071 Girona, Spain, 0034 972 41 8999

CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain

Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health (GRECS), University of Girona. Campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain, 0034 972 41 8338

Exploring Aesthetic Preferences in Rural Landscapes and the Relationship with Spatial Pattern Indices

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The article presents dialogic attitude towards nature and focuses on the aesthetic form of interaction with environment via folklore and imaginative writing. The article analyzes the development of scientific thought from human ecology to environmental hermeneutics. Hermeneutic methodology is used in the field of “aesthetics of nature”, therefore, the author applies hermeneutic categories such as tradition, historically effective consciousness, hermeneutic circle, application to cultural heritage of one of Siberia’s natives and proves the advantages, heuristic value of these categories in analyzing dialogue with nature. Aesthetic dialogue with nature is studied on the example of ethnic and ecological traditions of the Buryat nomads, who historically migrated across Central Asia, nowadays live around Lake Baikal. The author argues that revitalizing ethnic and ecological traditions in folklore and contemporary national literature presents a hermeneutic dialogue with nature and considers it a valuable resource for ethical assumptions and ecological education for sustainable development.</abstract>

Environmental Hermeneutics: Ethnic and Ecological Traditions in Aesthetic Dialogue with Nature

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Estimations of Leaf Area Index (LAI) have recently gained attention due to the sensitivity to the effects of climate change and its impact on forest ecosystems. Hence, a study was conducted on the LAI estimation of four vegetation types: (i) gallery forests, (ii) woodland savannas, (iii) tree savannas, and (iv) shrub savannas, at two protected areas of Nazinga Game Ranch and Bontioli Nature Reserve, Burkina Faso. A relationship between LAI and Crown Diameter was also investigated at these two sites. Digital hemispherical photography was used for the LAI estimation. Crown diameters (CD) were determined perpendicular to each other and averaged for each tree and shrub. Overall results revealed that LAI ranged from 0-1.33 and the CD was recorded in the range of 0.46-11.01 m. The gallery forests recorded the highest mean LAI 1.33 ± 0.32 as well as the highest mean CD 7.69 ± 1.90 m. The LAI for the vegetation types were at their lower ends as the study was conducted in summer season, higher values are therefore expected in the wet season, as a significant correlation between LAI and precipitation has been emphasized by various studies. Continuous LAI monitoring and studies on various growth parameters of different vegetation types at the study sites are recommended towards enhanced monitoring and an ecologically feasible forest- and savanna-use and management to maintain essential ecosystem functions and services.</abstract>

Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products, Technische Universität Dresden, Pienner Strasse 7, 01737 Tharandt, Germany

Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Wismarsche Str. 8, 18051 Rostock

Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Martin-Weg 52, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany

Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management – CIPSEM, Technische Universität Dresden, Zellescher Weg 41c, 01207 Dresden, Germany

Rapid Assessment of Key Structural Elements of Different Vegetation Types of West African Savannas in Burkina Faso

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> In the past 50 years, widespread removal of hedges and hedgerows in many European regions, with a consequent reduction in biodiversity, has occurred as a result of farming intensification. Acknowledging the ecological importance of linear farmland landscape elements, many agro-environmental schemes provide financial support for the management, conservation and reconstruction of hedges and hedgerows. The efficacy of such initiatives, also aimed at bat conservation, could be enhanced by including the role of hedges and hedgerows correlated to the variability of their physical structure and to the surrounding landscape context. Linear landscape elements are in fact of great importance to bats, whose flight activity tends to increase in proximity to hedges and hedgerows, used both during foraging and as commuting routes. Nevertheless, information concerning the correlation between various physical structures of hedges and flight and foraging techniques in bats is still lacking. The present study analyses the activity of bats along two different hedge types, with and without trees, and in open spaces, in an area of the Padana plane (North-western Italy) as a function of different flight behaviours. Activity in bats appears higher along hedges than in open spaces but no significant differences are noted between the various hedge types under investigation. Foraging behaviour is primarily detected along hedges with trees but is lower along hedges without trees and in open spaces. This is particularly evident in bat species that have adapted to foraging in closed spaces surrounded by foliage (Myotis and Plecotus genera) or at the periphery of these environments (Pipistrellus genus), whereas it not seen species that forage in open spaces (Nyctalus genus). Hedge reconstruction aimed at bat conservation ought to, therefore, favour tall hedges with trees as opposed to low hedges without trees.</abstract>

The Importance of Linear Landscape Elements for Bats in a Farmland Area: The Influence of Height on Activity

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) are the most effective tools in spatial data analysis. Natural resources like land, forest and water, these techniques have proved a valuable source of information generation as well as in the management and planning purposes. This study aims to suggest possible land and forest management strategies in Chakia tahsil based on land use and land cover analysis and the changing pattern observed during the last ten years. The population of Chakia tahsil is mainly rural in nature. The study has revealed that the northern part of the region, which offers for the settlement and all the agricultural practices constitutes nearly 23.48% and is a dead level plain, whereas the southern part, which constitute nearly 76.6% of the region is characterized by plateau and is covered with forest. The southern plateau rises abruptly from the northern alluvial plain with a number of escarpments. The contour line of 100 m mainly demarcates the boundary between plateau and plain. The plateau zone is deeply dissected and highly rugged terrain. The resultant topography comprises of a number of mesas and isolated hillocks showing elevation differences from 150 m to 385 m above mean sea level. Being rugged terrain in the southern part, nowadays human encroachment are taking place for more land for the cultivation. The changes were well observed in the land use and land cover in the study region. A large part of fallow land and open forest were converted into cultivated land.</abstract>

Land and Forest Management by Land Use/ Land Cover Analysis and Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS

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Journal of Landscape Ecology

The Journal of Landscape Ecology supports integration of knowledge from geo-, bio- and socio-sciences at the ecosystem and landscape level. Great emphasis is given to relationships between nature and culture including knowledge of ancient landscapes. The Journal publishes papers on spatial and temporal heterogeneity especially in the context of climate change and its impacts on terestrial environment across adequate scale hierarchy. Expertise from the spheres of land-use planning and design, habitat and landscape typology, ecosystem management, biodiversity protection and ecological restoration, and rules of ecological processes are promoted. The scope of the journal includes different landscapes and ecosystems of the world.  Why subscribe and read  Journal of landscape ecology publishes articles focused on spatial and temporal heterogeneity in natural and cultural landscape. Journal supports integration of geo-, bio- and sociosciences at the landscape level.  Why submit  Journal of Landscape Ecology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal according to standard procedure.  Rejection Rate   50%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 