Valuation of spatial configurations and forest types in the southern appalachian highlands

Environ Manage. 2009 Apr;43(4):628-44. doi: 10.1007/s00267-008-9209-0. Epub 2008 Oct 2.

Abstract

Site-specific estimates of the values of spatial configuration and forest composition are presented. Amenity values of forest patches are found to vary the most by urban and sprawling development patterns of specific areas and forest types. For example, smaller patches of deciduous forest are more highly valued in the urban and sprawling areas of Greensboro, North Carolina, whereas larger patches of deciduous forest are more highly valued in the urban and sprawling areas of Greenville, South Carolina. Within the Greenville and Greensboro areas, visible landscape complexity is highly valued for deciduous and evergreen forest patches, whereas lower visible landscape complexity, i.e., smoothly trimmed forest patch boundaries, is highly valued for mixed forest patches.

MeSH terms

  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • North Carolina
  • South Carolina
  • Trees*
  • United States