Perceptions of Large Wood in River Corridors: Visual Cues, Risk, and Management Expectations in Brazil

Public perceptions of river corridors often diverge from scientific understanding, particularly regarding the ecological and geomorphological role of large wood (LW). This study examines how different societal and professional groups perceive large wood in Brazilian rivers using a structured photo-questionnaire. A total of 437 respondents evaluated images of river scenes with and without large wood across four perceptual dimensions (naturalness, aesthetics, hazard, and need for improvement). Large wood was frequently associated with flow obstruction, flood hazard, and the need for channel intervention, while relatively few respondents explicitly recognized its ecological functions. Comparisons between conditions showed statistically significant but modest effects, indicating that evaluations were strongly influenced by landscape context and image characteristics rather than by wood presence alone. Disciplinary background also affected responses, with participants from environmental and natural resource sciences showing greater acceptance of large wood. Overall, the results provide empirical evidence on how large wood is socially interpreted in river corridors and may inform discussions related to river management and restoration.