Perception on Scenic Beauty of Tropical Recreational Forests
Mohd Kher Bin Hussein*, Mohd Nazri Bin Saidon, Suhardi Bin Maulan
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Published in The Third NZAAR International Event Series on Natural and Built Environment, Cities, Sustainability and Advanced Engineering, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 15 July 2017, pages 10 to 23. New Zealand Academy of Applied Research. ISSN 2463-5979 (online), 2463-5960 (print). Indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection, Conference Proceedings Citation Index (Clarivate).
Abstract
The landscape beauty of a recreational forest refers to its landform and geology; plants and animals; the historic and other cultural heritage as well as the design incorporated to enhance forest beauty. Beauty is the quality that gives pleasure to the mind and it relates to the harmony of forms, colors, textures, artistic excellence, truthfulness, and originality. Beauty is the main category in aesthetics as it is the quality which gives pleasure to the senses. People can experience and appreciate landscape beauties from recreational forest. The recreational forests in Peninsular Malaysia received many visitations from local and international visitors who seek to find landscape beauty in them. Recreational forests provide outdoor activities and scenic views for people to enjoy. However, human interference in a recreational forest can affect the landscape beauty and lead to scenic degradation. Managing the beauty of recreational forest is essential for quality outdoor experiences and their sustainability. The aim of this study is to understand the importance of landscape beauty for outdoor activities in Peninsular Malaysia’s tropical recreational forest. The main objective of this study is to examine people’s perception towards the landscape beauty of tropical recreational forest. Two recreational forest sites were selected for this study. They are Sungai Chongkak Recreational Forest and Ampang Recreational Forest located in Selangor. The results show that both parks still maintain the existing natural landscapes in a pristine condition that enhances their beauty. However, urgent action needs to be taken on the matter of maintenance and cleanliness aspects. A comprehensive management plan in these sites is vital and should be aware of the main factors that cause degradation of natural landscape beauty.
Keywords: Landscape Beauty; Landscape Architecture; Recreational Forest; Outdoor Activity
Rights
Copyright © New Zealand Academy of Applied Research Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduced in the GDI Academy archive from the original proceedings without change to the authors’ text.