For the roadside forest, utility vegetation management is a driver of landscape change involving tradeoffs between reliable electric power and preservation of trees. However, little is known about public perceptions of vegetation management in the landscape context. Our objective was to evaluate social and residential context characteristics associated with resident attitudes toward roadside utility vegetation management across Connecticut. We used a mail survey to collect social science data from residents in two study areas in Connecticut. We measured landscape characteristics associated with tree cover and development density at multiple scales around each respondent household. Random forest predictive models were used to assess attitudes toward vegetation management as explained by social and residential context variables. Respondents generally had positive attitudes toward vegetation management, agreeing that it improves public safety and minimizes power outages. Social variables revealed that residents were more likely to have favorable attitudes if they had greater knowledge about trees, believed that trees should be used for human benefits, prioritized reduced power outages over forest aesthetics, and considered changes in the roadside forest to be acceptable. Residential context variables were not as strongly associated with attitudes as social variables, but did rank as important for two out of three attitudes variables. Attitudes toward vegetation management may be influenced by residential context, yet likely are formed independently of it. Spatial heterogeneity of exurban land use and social characteristics suggest encompassing variability in approaches to roadside forest management policy.

中文翻译：

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景观特征及影响路边植被管理态度的社会因素

对于路边森林，公用设施植被管理是景观变化的驱动因素，涉及可靠电力和树木保护之间的权衡。然而，公众对景观环境中植被管理的看法知之甚少。我们的目标是评估与康涅狄格州居民对路边实用植被管理的态度相关的社会和住宅环境特征。我们使用邮件调查从康涅狄格州两个研究区的居民那里收集社会科学数据。我们在每个受访家庭周围的多个尺度上测量了与树木覆盖率和开发密度相关的景观特征。随机森林预测模型用于评估对植被管理的态度，如社会和居住环境变量所解释的那样。受访者普遍对植被管理持积极态度，同意它可以改善公共安全并最大限度地减少停电。社会变量显示，如果居民对树木有更多的了解，相信树木应该为人类造福，优先考虑减少停电而不是森林美学，并且认为路边森林的变化是可以接受的，那么居民更有可能持有良好的态度。居住环境变量与态度的相关性不如社会变量那么强，但在三个态度变量中的两个方面确实具有同等重要性。对植被管理的态度可能会受到居住环境的影响，但很可能是独立于它形成的。