Portugal's experience in landscape conservation and planning

Abstract

Motives: The landscape is one of the key resources that not only reflects the society’s behaviour, but also affects the quality of life and well-being of citizens. Great care of landscape protection is visible in Portugal – a country with rich natural and cultural values. As a signatory of the European Landscape Convention, the country is obliged, among others, to integrate spatial planning with landscape issues. Aim: The aim of this paper is to indicate Portugal’s experience in implementing the European Landscape Convention in national legislation and public participation. Landscape protection is an important element of spatial planning at all levels there: national, regional and local. Results: The experience of Portugal may be an interesting example for Poland, where, although in particular voivodeships the implementation of a new instrument that is landscape audit is being carried out, there are no documents at the national level.