Viewshed and sense of place as conservation features: A case study and research agenda for South Africa's national parks

Abstract

Sense of place (SoP) refers to the meanings and values that people attach to places. The concept can be used to frame how people engage or form a connection with the natural environment. At a sensory level, SoP is influenced by people’s visual experiences, which in turn can be linked to the concept of viewsheds. Viewsheds can be transformed, either abruptly (e.g. by infrastructure development such as wind turbines) or more gradually (e.g. by non-native trees invading a landscape). In this study, we focus on the Garden Route National Park to explore the potential importance of viewsheds as a conservation feature, specifically in the context of non-native (especially invasive) tree species. Using mixed information sources, we explore the potential role of invasive trees on experiences of visitors to this protected area and speculate on how viewsheds may shape SoP associations and how such associations may inform protected area management. Our investigation shows that people’s experiences regarding natural and modified viewsheds are varied and intricate. Both SoP and viewsheds have the potential to inform conservation action, and these concepts should form an integral part of objective hierarchies and management plans for national parks. However, while legislation and park management plans make provision for the use of these concepts, associated research in South Africa is virtually non-existent. We conclude by proposing a conceptual model and research agenda to promote the use of viewsheds and SoP in the management of national parks in South Africa.Conservation implications: Viewshed and sense of place can be used as boundary concepts to (1) facilitate interdisciplinary research between social and natural scientists, (2) help understand the connectedness and feedbacks between people and nature and (3) promote communication between science, management and stakeholders regarding desired conditions of landscapes in and around parks.

Social media reveal that charismatic species are not the main attractor of ecotourists to sub-Saharan protected areas

“…In accordance, we found that areas with open vegetation (generally attractive to people as they allow views in the distance 31 ), had higher use of social media, and received more likes, across different protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa. Viewsheds are key aspects of the visual landscape affecting visitor’s experiences 32 and part of the sense of place sought by tourists in protected areas 33 . In addition, while in other regions (e.g.…”

Understanding sentiment of national park visitors from social media data

“…In addition, the parks are located in different biomes offering a variety of landscape experiences and aesthetic cultural services. While Kruger NP is located in the Savanna and Thickets biomes, Addo Elephant NP is located in the Fynbos, Forest, Nama-Karoo and the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biomes (Mucina & Rutherford, 2006 (Barendse et al, 2016;Hausmann, Slotow, Fraser, & Di Minin, 2017). They are both located in the Fynbos biome (Mucina & Rutherford, 2006) and access to the parks is open as they are mostly unfenced.…”

Measuring Kruger visitors’ place attachment to specific camps

“…From the above discussion, it is clear that place attachment is made up of different dimensions, and that individuals differ in terms of their levels of attachment to a specific place. The same seems to be true in the context of South African National Parks, and Barendse et al (2016) raised specific questions that still remain unanswered in terms of place attachment (sense of place) experiences in South African National Parks, for example, how place attachment experiences vary across groups of visitors. For this reason, we hypothesise that:…”

“…According to Halpenny (2010), the value and meaning of place are given by individuals and society, and presented in groups, cultures and individuals. Researchers are increasingly acknowledging the value of the less quantifiable and less tangible advantages that individuals get from nature and places such as protected areas (Barendse et al 2016), for example the recreational, spiritual, experiential and educational exchanges with nature that add to the well-being of a human (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). More importantly, the extent to which one appreciates such benefits is often dependent on one's ability to engage with or form an association with the natural environment (Hinds & Sparks 2008).…”