Measuring Forest Preferences of the Population - A Danish Approach

This paper is based on the report entitled «Forest recreation in Denmark» by KOCH and JENSEN (1988). The authors discuss the concept and the interest of preference measurements. The paper describes how the preference surveys developed at the Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute are implemented. Two national interview-based surveys covering 3087 persons were carried out in 1977–78. The first survey used the «experimental method» based on postal questionnaires. Respondents assessed 52 black-and-white photographs considered in pairs, and 100 verbal stimuli. The second survey used the «standard assessment method». 216 persons were shown 80 colour slides photographed at different seasons. Processing and analysis of data, sources of errors and main outcomes are discussed.