Which sounds are important for our experience of nature? Researchers now map the quality of soundscapes in Norway's national parks, as part of the Sounds Like Norway project.
NINA Researcher Rose Keller uses volunteers who undertake "hikes of sound" in the national parks. It involves actively listening to the sourroundings, and describing the soundscapes in questionnaires.
Many of the participants were surprised, as they reported an increased awareness of the soundscapes in the surroundings, and the importance of natural silence.
Sound is important for the nature experience
Sounds can be just as important to a nature experience as visual impressions. And at a time when more and more people seek refuge in nature for peace and quiet, national parks play an important role as noise-free oases.
In the project Sounds Like Norway, Keller and colleagues map the importance of natural soundscapes for outdoor recreation and biodiversity. The "hikes of sound" are part of this project, and the results will describe which sounds are important for the hikers' experience of the national park, for the visual quality of an area and even the identity of Norwegian nature.
- Noise can make people less motivated to conserve nature areas, because the place already is perceived as degraded. On the other hand, natural silence can help people to safeuard nature, spend more time in nature, and leave less traces in nature such as litter, explains Keller.
By understanding which sounds are most significant for people's experience of nature, we can better safeguard these and ensure that future generations also can enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature.
Sounds like Norway
Imagine that you are hiking in the mountains. There is just enough mist to make the view magical. Then the silence is broken by the sound of a highway. This illustrates how sound is part of our "view" of nature. We cannot see the traffic, but can clearly hear it. This also changes the experience of the hike and the view of the landscape, often in a negatively, because we often seek the untouched.
The project aims to map how important natural soundscapes are for outdoor recreation and biodiversity, and to develop indicators that can be used in national park planning.
Learn more about Nordic Soundscapes Research Network: The Nordic Soundscapes Research Network (NSRN) addresses the foundational acoustic elements of conservation, experience of natural environments and sustainability.
The international collaboration project Silenzi maps the quiality of the soundscapes in national parks in Norway, Italy and UK.
Contakt: Rose Keller