Exploring the Relationship between Forest Scenic Beauty with Color Index and Ecological Integrity: Case Study of Jiuzhaigou and Giant Panda National Park in Sichuan, China

Abstract

Aesthetics of natural landscapes and the conservation of forest ecological integrity have received much attention because of the increasing public demand for aesthetic quality and the shift of forest conservation management objectives from single elements to multiple ecosystem services. However, existing research has not adequately addressed the relationship between forest scenic beauty with the color index and ecological integrity. This study aimed to evaluate and quantify the scenic beauty of forests and the vegetation color index using web questionnaires and Python color interpretation, with Jiuzhaigou World Natural Heritage and Giant Panda National Park in western Sichuan, China, as examples. The relationships between forest scenic beauty with vegetation color and ecological integrity were explored via correlation and linear regression analyses, respectively. The results showed that: (1) The overall scenic beauty of the autumn forests in the study area was at a “medium” level; (2) the scenic beauty of the autumn forest was significantly positively correlated with the saturation and value ratio; and (3) the scenic beauty was not significantly negatively correlated with ecological integrity. This research provides an important reference for the renovation of autumn foliage forests and ecotourism planning. This study also provides a theoretical basis for the transformation of forest conservation management objectives, offering the possibility for nature reserves to achieve the “win-win” management goal of ecological protection and local economic development.