Methodologycal problems and approaches to identifying and evaluating typical and rare landscapes of the Republic of Belarus

Abstract

The analysis of the studying of the problem of identifying and evaluating of typical and rare landscapes was carried out, which showed that quite a lot of knowledge has been accumulated in this area of the identification of such landscapes and the criteria for their assessment. It is established that insufficient attention is paid to the classification and mapping of landscapes, the use of mathematical methods for their assessment. A scientific concept is proposed for the study of typical and rare landscapes, which contains four levels of their study (country, regional, subregional, local), the scale of work corresponding to the level, landscape classification units, criteria and indicators for their allocation are determined. So, at the country level, the criterion for assessing typical landscapes is the degree of representativeness, depending on bioclimatic factors and the large size of the landscape contour, at the regional (provincial) – the contour size of the dominant landscapes of the province and the index of landscape diversity, at the subregional – the intensity of anthropogenic transformation, at the local – characteristic value of attractiveness. The main criteria for assessing rare landscapes at the country level are the small size of the contour and the criteria of uniqueness, at the regional (provincial) indicator of occurrence, at the subregional – naturalness, at local – vulnerability. A geographic information database has been created, a methodology has been developed for identifying typical and rare landscapes and their typology. An assessment of landscape diversity was made and the map showing that typical landscapes are characterised by a high and medium level of diversity, and rare landscapes are characterised by medium and low was created. An assessment of the occurrence of rare landscapes was carried out, which made it possible to distinguish three groups – low, medium, and high occurrence; their list and a map of occurrence were created. It has been determined that unique landscapes, which are part of a group with low occurrence, require special protection. A direct correlation has been established between the level of landscape diversity and occurrence. The proposed criteria for identifying and assessing typical and rare landscapes can be used in organising or transforming nature protected areas, in the design of their passports and conservation obligations.