Key Aesthetic Appeal Concepts of Coastal Dunes and Forests on the Example of the Curonian Spit (Lithuania)

Aesthetic appeal of coastal dunes and forests on the Curonian Spit varies significantly among visitors, local inhabitants, and experts. The most appealing landscapes include white mobile dunes and combinations of white and grey (grassland) dunes, with visual coherence being a key factor for locals. Experts, however, emphasized stewardship, naturalness, imageability, and visual scale as defining scenic appeal, while disturbance and complexity diminished attractiveness. This divergence in perceptions suggests potential management conflicts. The study used paired comparison surveys of 45 landscapes, semi-structured interviews with locals, and a Delphi technique involving experts to elicit key aesthetic concepts.

Urbis, A., Povilanskas, R., Šimanauskienė, R., & Taminskas, J. (2019). Key Aesthetic Appeal Concepts of Coastal Dunes and Forests on the Example of the Curonian Spit (Lithuania). Water, 11(6), 1193. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11061193