A method for estimating forest landowners’ landscape preferences

A simple and unsubtle method is presented for estimating the landscape preferences of a private non-industrial forest landowner. Scenic beauties of forest landscapes were compared pairwise: verbal comparisons were converted into numerical values using the same techniques as applied in the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Using the eigenvalue method and a scaling method, scenic beauty indices for forest stands, expressed on a ratio scale, were computed. Regression models that predict the scenic beauty of forest stands according to the preferences of the person in question were estimated, using mensurational forest stand parameters as predictors. Encouraging results on the applicability of the method were obtained in practical tests: the method proved to be worth developing further.