This study examined the potential for Perceived Affective Quality (PAQ; pleasantness, eventfulness, familiarity) soundscape measures developed within urban settings to enrich current soundscape management approaches within protected areas (PAs). Drawing on the premise that people bring experiences from other life contexts into PA settings and PA visitors are increasingly coming from urban areas, research integrated urban visitors’ soundscape perceptions of their home and work acoustic environments with their perceptions of acoustic environments in PAs. Two-phased survey research (n = 333) separated visitors into urban density groups and compared PAQ variables across home, work, and PA contexts. Significant differences resulted, both in ratings of the three acoustic contexts (PA, home, work) for all three PAQ components and between urban density groups. The importance of pleasantness was confirmed across all contexts; however, alone, this dimension lacked sufficient contrast to interpret the complexity of soundscape perceptions, especially considering diverse Healthy Parks, Healthy People (HPHP) visitor experience scenarios and goals. Thus, managers should consider (1) additional PAQ variables that can provide more useful and contrasting information; (2) incorporating methods that integrate PAQ measures across visitors’ different acoustic contexts, and (3) including urban density measures within HPHP research.
Protected areas (PA) represent the primary mechanism to protect global ecosystems; yet current capacities often lead to geographic imbalances for PA management around the world. PA soundscapes have proved a valuable element to inform effective management, as natural sounds are important for healthy natural systems and rewarding visitor experiences. This article employed a systematized literature review of PA soundscape research, matching the areas of study described for the 218 articles, with PA from the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). The studies took place in 372 PA, which were cataloged by geographic location and size where possible, country, and continent. Data charting included extracted keywords, research objectives, methods, outcomes and future research needs. Numeric and geographic analysis focused on understanding the nature, extent, and distribution of the studies, while thematic analysis was applied to identify trends with respect to methods, outcomes, and future research. Study results identified content and geographic imbalances between studies in tropical and temperate zones, terrestrial and marine environments, and the Global South and North. Discussion considers how global initiatives may support information and resource sharing that facilitates knowledge and capacity transfer between the two regions.
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