The Meanings Associated with Varying Degrees of Attachment to a Natural Landscape

There has been little research concerning the association between “place meanings” and “place attachment.” An understanding of the association between these constructs is important because they do not stand alone, but rather, complement one another. We documented the meanings ascribed to a national forest in California by five groups of respondents that varied in their mode and attachment intensity to the setting. For example, respondents with high-attachment intensity ascribed meanings related to memories of shared experiences and sense of comfort; whereas the low-attachment respondents were distinguished by the brevity of their narratives. The findings provide a more nuanced understanding of how individuals’ level of place attachment is manifested in the way in which they understand and experience the setting.