Participatory mapping of human-nature interactions in mountain landscapes: Instances of experiential multi-functionality

• Diverse human-nature interactions reflecting non-material benefits were mapped. • Mountain landscapes feature experiential multi-functionality. • Mapping patterns reflect landscape characteristics, especially elevation. • Potential conflicts zones identified by overlapping positive and negative hotspots. • Participatory mapping supports capturing multiple experiential dimensions. Mountain landscapes offer numerous opportunities for human-nature interactions that contribute to human well-being. While recreational and aesthetic values are well-studied, both experiences of non-material benefits to well-being and experiences impairing experiential quality remain underexplored, particularly in spatial analyses. Therefore, this study employs participatory mapping by residents and visitors in a cross-regional mountain landscape (Austria, Germany), aiming to (1) map the spatial distribution and patterns of positive and negative mountain experiences, (2) examine how experiences align with landscape characteristics and (3) explore spatial hotspots of experiences. Our results show that mountain landscapes support diverse positive experiences mapped across 1,340 places, including aesthetic and nature experiences, while also other sensory impressions such as pleasant natural sounds were important experiential components. Negative experiences mapped across 548 places included mostly crowding (46.9%) and anthropogenic noise (18.8%), often overlapping positive experiences (Jaccard similarity index: 0.41). These co-occurrences were confirmed in density-based spatial clustering indicating 16 hotspots highlighting the place-specific experiential multi-functionality of mountain landscapes. These patterns were also reflected by landscape characteristics, with significant difference in mapped experiences by elevation and accessibility, whereby mountain grasslands and, especially, rocky/sparsely vegetated areas featured highest area-weighted indices for aesthetic, recreational, and nature experiences. The evident spatial patterns, hotspots, and emergence of potential conflict zones by coinciding positive and negative experiences highlights the importance of incorporating multiple experiential dimensions into landscape management and planning to support the quality of human-nature interactions in mountains.