• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.405-412
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to suggest fundamental data for managing forest trail efficiently from the aspect of users near metropolitan city of Daegu, and to reveal the differences in visiting motivation and satisfaction on forest trail between regional users and distant users, which based upon the convenience of accessibility. As a result of questionnaire survey on the users of forest trail, it was revealed that they mostly visited recreational and therapeutic purposes. Most users were also satisfied with forest trail experiences without any differences between groups. Regarding to trail facilities, however, regional users within 30 minutes distances from the trail were significantly dissatisfied with the facilities. It was suggested that improving facilities and programs for recreational and therapeutic purposes should be established for regional users in the policy of self governing body.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the potentiality of urban forest roads as an environment for enhancing physical fitness. Six male university students participated in the study as subjects. The subjects walked on an urban forest road for 30 minutes. As a control experiment, they also walked on a national park trail for 30 minutes. Subjects' heart rates were monitored during the walks to calculate the ratio of the average time their heart rates were within the target range (from 60% to 80% of the maximal heart rate) for Enhancing Physical Fitness. After the walks, images of the spaces were analyzed using the semantic differential (SD) method. During the walk on the urban forest road, subjects' heart rates were within the target range 63.3% of the time, and lower than the target range 36.7% of the time. During the control experiment on the national park trail, subjects' heart rates were within the target range only 23.3% of the time, and higher than the target range 76.7% of the time. From the spatial perception evaluation using the SD method, subjects' comfortable and natural feelings when they were on the national park trail were significantly greater than when they were on the urban forest trail, but there were no differences in terms of other SD descriptors, such as friendliness and likeability. The results of our study indicate that the urban forest road provides a good environment for walking to enhance physical fitness. Although not as close to nature as national park trails, urban forest roads offer similar natural environments and have a high potentiality for serving as leisure spaces for urban residents who seek physical activities.