455
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_15
Chapter 15
Ecological Aesthetics Perspective for Coastal
Wetland Conservation
LeeHsueh Lee
Abstract Ever increasing amounts of coastal wetlands are being destroyed; therefore, public participation in wetland conservation is important. Aesthetic preference
provides a critical connection between humans and ecology that could greatly promote public awareness regarding conservation actions. The prospect-refuge theory
and the preference matrix of the bioevolutionary hypothesis illustrate that aesthetic
experience could drive landscape change, and pull with it ecological quality. Based
on these concepts, a healthy coastal wetland with beautiful scenery might have high
aesthetic value and generate positive emotional reactions that are preferred by people, thus encouraging them to venture further into such environments to explore.
The comprehensive attributes of physical landscape and ecological function affect
the aesthetics of coastal wetlands. In particular, 15 factors spread among four attributes influenced peoples’ perception of the aesthetic and ecological quality of
coastal wetlands. Attribute 1, the quality of the waterbody, is a predominant influence on the health of coastal wetlands, which appearance of waterbody affects aesthetic value. Attribute 2, the natural water edge of coastal wetlands could maintain
the health of the wetland well and ensure the quality of the ecotone, which is perceived naturalness and high aesthetic value. Attribute 3 is the quality of terrestrial
plants, which affects the diversity of wetlands and benefit to protect the terrestrial
and aquatic habitats. Visual penetration of terrestrial plants is the main influential
attribute of aesthetic preference. Attribute 4, the overall landscape of wetlands,
shows peoples’ attitudes toward wetlands, related to the quality and size of the wetland and the challenge of aesthetics.
L. Lee (*)
Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China
e-mail: lslee@chu.edu.tw
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_15
Chapter 15
Ecological Aesthetics Perspective for Coastal
Wetland Conservation
LeeHsueh Lee
Abstract Ever increasing amounts of coastal wetlands are being destroyed; therefore, public participation in wetland conservation is important. Aesthetic preference
provides a critical connection between humans and ecology that could greatly promote public awareness regarding conservation actions. The prospect-refuge theory
and the preference matrix of the bioevolutionary hypothesis illustrate that aesthetic
experience could drive landscape change, and pull with it ecological quality. Based
on these concepts, a healthy coastal wetland with beautiful scenery might have high
aesthetic value and generate positive emotional reactions that are preferred by people, thus encouraging them to venture further into such environments to explore.
The comprehensive attributes of physical landscape and ecological function affect
the aesthetics of coastal wetlands. In particular, 15 factors spread among four attributes influenced peoples’ perception of the aesthetic and ecological quality of
coastal wetlands. Attribute 1, the quality of the waterbody, is a predominant influence on the health of coastal wetlands, which appearance of waterbody affects aesthetic value. Attribute 2, the natural water edge of coastal wetlands could maintain
the health of the wetland well and ensure the quality of the ecotone, which is perceived naturalness and high aesthetic value. Attribute 3 is the quality of terrestrial
plants, which affects the diversity of wetlands and benefit to protect the terrestrial
and aquatic habitats. Visual penetration of terrestrial plants is the main influential
attribute of aesthetic preference. Attribute 4, the overall landscape of wetlands,
shows peoples’ attitudes toward wetlands, related to the quality and size of the wetland and the challenge of aesthetics.
L. Lee (*)
Department of Landscape Architecture, Chung Hua University, Taiwan, Republic of China
e-mail: lslee@chu.edu.tw