Visitor Perception of Burnt Landscapes
A Case Study from Il Fuorn, Swiss National Park
Thomas Scheurer1(ex), Norman Backhaus2, Stefanie Gubler1
1 Forschungskommission des Schweizerischen Nationalparks (FOK-SNP), SCNAT
2 Universität Zürich
This study asks for how visitors of protected areas explain specific landscape features and how visitor information could consider explanation patterns. The study is based on a survey on visitors’ explanation of a bare slope in a forested area created by a forest fire in 1951 in the Swiss National Park (Biosphere Reserve Engiadina Val Müstair). 93% of surveyed visitors are very attentive of the highlighted phenomena and search for explanation, independent from the number of visits. 45% explain the formation and the state of this surface with available information, 66% of this information is on site (educational trail, info point, etc.), 16% from printed media and only 2% from digital media. We conclude that written or oral information on place is the most used source of information by visitors regarding the investigated landscape feature. However, 68% indicate, that they use own considerations for explaining the phenomena. When using own considerations, the results of the explanation are not only more diverse, but also more differentiated than using mainly given information. Moreover we could state, that the estimation of long-lasting processes is differing a lot among visitors for both, formation and future development of the burnt area. Landscape features attract visitor``s attention and are a connecting element for developing nature- and process-oriented information and in conveying the apprehension of long-lasting natural processes. We conclude, that information on place should integrate the visitor`s own observations and reflections and guide them to answers.
