Speaker
Description
Soundscape perception is an important part of the nature experience, but increasing aircraft noise events (airplanes, helicopters, etc.) are impacting the natural soundscapes in national parks. We study the influence of aircraft noise on visitor experience and how it influences visitor willingness to revisit a national park, taking into account visitors’ perceptions of “wild remote” vs. “near, peri-urban natural parksTwo Norwegian national parks were chosen based on their popular perception: Femundsmarka National Park (remote and wilderness) and Østmarka National Park (peri-urban and accessible). To study these effects dose-response methodology is used, a technique to understand the relationship between aircraft noise and visitor experience in national parks. Visitors were asked to participate in an intercept (in-situ) survey that assessed tolerance for different scenarios of aircraft noise by administering a “dose” of aircraft noise through temporarily installed speakers, and attaining their corresponding response for acceptability and emotive reactions to hearing differing aircraft levels. This study is important to inform national park management about how people perceive aircraft noise which affects soundscape management and conservation decisions. It also contributes to an international body of work mapping the effects of aircraft noise in national parks. This research also contributes to finding an acceptable threshold for aircraft noise disturbance in national parks.