Sound Аrt as an Instrument for Raising Awareness of Untouched Nature

The natural quiet in a protected forest area, i.e. the undisturbed state of an acoustic environment with all the natural sounds, free from human-made noises, is not only important for human well-being, but also for the wilderness character of a landscape.

A current study by the Anton Bruckner Private University and the University of Salzburg, Austria is carrying out ecoacoustic measurements to record the human impacts on the soundscapes as well as the biodiversity at the protected (LTER Zöbelboden- Austria) and urban location (Molln). Socio-ecological research with an artistic approach offers new perspectives for effectively communicating ecoacoustic findings to the public. 

Listen to A1 (urban location);  Listen to A2 (urban location; recorded from below ground)

The difference between the sounds of protected nature and the human-altered space is noticeable. In contrast to the urban location (A1), the absence of road and industrial noise in the background and the close proximity to the wilderness at Zöbelboden create a brief sense of natural quiet. However, appearances are deceptive and this seemingly idyllic mountain landscape, analogized here with the call of a buzzard or the territorial quarrels of two tawny owls, is drowned out by aircraft noise (B1). 

Listen to B1 (wilderness and aircraft noise); Listen to B1 (more wilderness and aircraft noise)

Listen to B2 (wilderness and aircraft noise recorded from below ground)

The regular air traffic is mainly frequent during the day, especially in summer, is similarly present at both sites and it is audible even below ground (A2, B2). These quiet phases at Zöbelboden almost never last longer than a quarter of an hour during the day and are slightly longer at night and during winter months.

Characteristic and fragile soundscapes such as those of the Kalkalpen National Park still contain a wealth of untapped knowledge about our planet. Ecoacoustics is not only intended to serve nature conservation in the sense of environmental monitoring, but also the artistic-scientific approaches in the form of intermedia sound art, such as sound installations (Saxicola Rubetra L.) and compositions (Chiroptera Socius Docta) should archive these unique soundscapes for future generations and make society at large aware of the fragility and uniqueness of the remnants of European forests and their acoustic treasures.

This contributes to better understand the acoustic environment, reduce acoustic emissions and thus ensure measures to preserve protected quiet zones. Providing insights into the health of a soundscape therefore also represents particular added value for the Lifeplan global biodiversity monitoring initiative and for infrastructures such as eLTER.