High Landscape Value Research Articles

The evolutionary circular and human centered city: Towards an ecological and humanistic “re-generation” of the current city governance

BACKGROUND: Local governments are fundamental for achieving the ecological transition of our societies/cities. Also COVID-19 has shown that many of the barriers and bottlenecks in implementing public top-down initiatives are not technical (financial, economic, administrative, etc.) but cultural. They generate a lack of consensus with the risks of reducing the effectiveness of public interventions and investments. OBJECTIVE: The paper proposes the profile of a “circular governance” (i.e. that assumes the model of the circular economy) that is also “human centered”, capable of reducing inequalities, enhancing the processes of real participation in the construction of a desirable future for cities, through its capacity to regenerate material and no-material components/values. This perspective intersects with the cultural/educational dimension to which the new governance should devote much greater attention. CONCLUSION: A critical test is the transformation of abandoned urban spaces into attractive places for activities, investments and people. These disused spaces, which have often become repulsive waste deposits, are especially abundant in port cities. They are most often included in areas of particularly high landscape and cultural value. The paper suggests the elaboration of prototypes of “circular heritage symbiotic ecosystems” that are able to respect some general conditions (or principles). Suitable and effective assessment tools must be available to public, private and social actors to verify the proposal consistency and then to build new win-win-win partnerships. But it is also necessary to strengthen the educational perspective in the activities of the new governance, because preferences, values and needs should not be considered as already “given”, but should be constructed, thus nourishing the critical spirit of citizens so that they can creatively combine private interests and common good, thus becoming “artist of citizenship/civic engagement”.

How do the surrounding areas of national parks work in the context of landscape fragmentation? A case study of 159 protected areas selected in 11 EU countries

Europe has unique natural values but also has the highest level of ecosystem fragmentation. Evaluating the effectiveness of protected area management is becoming an increasingly common practice. Our main goal was to assess the dynamics of LULC changes in the buffer zones of 159 national parks in 11 selected European countries on the basis of the CORINE Land Cover database in the period from 1990 to 2018. We used five landscape metrics in order to investigate whether high natural and landscape values in the areas surrounding national parks affect the degree and rate of landscape fragmentation and isolation. We checked the statistical significance of the differences in the measured values among different distances to parks (1, 2 and 3 km) in different years and countries using the two-way ANOVA test. Furthermore, the classical principal component analysis method was applied to measure data grouped by country and then averaged by year and distance factor. We showed that high natural and landscape values in the surrounding areas of national parks affect the degree and rate of landscape fragmentation. The patch density index shows an evident increase, both in dynamic terms (1990–2018) and, mainly, in the spatial aspect. In 2018, there was an increasing rate of the patch density index of approximately 5–7% compared to that in 1990. It should be kept in mind that management efforts focused on the buffer zones of national parks may have limited success. Undoubtedly, the obtained results will contribute to the development of landscape ecology and spatial developments in the context of the effective management of national parks and their surroundings.

Assessment of Visual Values as a Tool Supporting the Design Decisions of the Cultural Park Protection Plan. The Case of Kazimierz and Stradom in Kraków

Krakow is a city of high landscape values, which has found confirmation in the entry onto the UNESCO heritage list. Its cultural landscape requires protection and clarification within the context of intensive tourist use and a rapid pace of urban spatial development. For preservation protection and restoration of landscape values, the city authorities undertook work on the creation of a Cultural Park in the Stradom and Kazimierz districts, providing a comprehensive, sustainable, and multidisciplinary approach to natural, cultural and visual values of the urban structure. The article presents the application of the method of research on visual values in order to protect individual scenic resources of the historical urban structure. It is one of the analytical studies of a comprehensive protection plan project. This project defines the scope, framework and methods of development and management of a Cultural Park. The task of the visual analysis was to identify, characterize and evaluate the visual resources. It created a visual framework for further development of the historical district while preserving its local spatial identity. The studies resulted in a division into zones according to their nature and intensity of activities as well as outlining protection zones and intervention zones adjusted to individual characteristics of those places. An original method combining achievements of the method of landscape and visual assessment (LVIA) as well as achievements of the Krakow School of Landscape Architecture (KSLA) in terms of cultural landscape assessment was used for the research. The applied method provided guidelines to support sustainable project decisions regarding further development of the district for the preservation of local spatial identity. Its universal character creates possibilities for its application into the plans of other Krakow districts and is intended to be applicable to both urban and rural structures.

Assessing the scenic quality of transgressive dune systems on volcanic islands. The case of Corralejo (Fuerteventura island, Spain)

The formation of transgressive aeolian sedimentary systems on hot-spot volcanic islands results in globally singular conditions. The natural attractions and landscape features of these spaces can result in the concentration of urban-tourist developments in their surroundings, altering their physical integrity and their ecological and scenic functionality. This has been the case of the Corralejo dunefield in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain), where the strong pressure exerted by tourism is endangering the area's natural and landscape resources. This study aims to qualitatively assess the landscape heritage through a number of indicators, some of which are developed on the basis of user perception. Four landscape dimensions (substratum, sea, vegetation, and scenic background) were used to analyse the 24 landscape units into which the Corralejo beach-dune system was divided. The results show that this system presents a high landscape value, as do its four different dimensions. This value was found to decrease in areas bordering the urban area or where tourists were commonly present. Recommendations are proposed to improve the area based on user perceptions. This type of research is of interest for future planning, ordinance preparation and management with a view to establishing a balance between the physical medium and anthropic pressure.

Analysis of instabilities in the Basque Coast Geopark coastal cliffs for its environmentally friendly management (Basque-Cantabrian basin, northern Spain)

Coastal cliffs provide a high landscape value to many natural sites around the world. This means that an ever-increasing number of people are attracted to them. At this point, there is a growing need to manage these spaces from the safety of visitors, but with a view to preserving the environment. With this aim, this paper presents an approach to analyze and manage instabilities in these environments, particularly those subjected to significant anthropic activity, which has been implemented in the cliffs of the Basque Coast Geopark. The starting point is a detailed topographic information, obtained from UAV flights, and the identification on site of unstable elements, including their typology, active source areas, dynamics and reach. From this information, the simulation of rockfall processes, which basically correspond to toppling and infinite slope instabilities favored by differential erosion along the coastline, is approached in two and three dimensions. Results allow the design of precise actions by sectors, according to the energy, height and reach of the detached blocks, including barriers, middle slope actions, ditches and information strategies, depending on the different uses of the sectors. Therefore, this approach leads to a more detailed and environmentally friendly management of these environments.

Applications of Stratigraphic Analysis to Enhance the Inspection and Structural Characterization of Historic Bridges

Road networks are disseminated of bridge structures whose typology reflects the time of design and construction of the transportation infrastructure and its relevance in the reference geographical area. Among others, masonry bridges are still widely operational, especially in those regions affected by a limited urbanization and a very high landscape value. As a consequence, the maintenance and the reliability of existing structures is a key issue for owners and managers of road and railway infrastructures. This circumstance leads to the development of an integrated approach able to cover the needs of knowledge of the technological and structural features of the bridge along with its history and current conditions. The main contribution of the study lies in the implementation of such an interdisciplinary approach through the application of archaeological stratigraphic method and 3D data management to historical masonry bridges. The survey and inspection protocol, whose first results are here presented, aims to improve the knowledge of the assets, and facilitate the visual inspection. The results refer to a road infrastructure located along the Aterno River in the surroundings of L’Aquila (Central Italy) and point out promising perspectives in terms of feasibility and scalability of the approach to large stocks of assets.

The Effect of Worm Fertilizer and Peat Applications on the Development of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Plant in Different Pot Environment

Sustainable plant production needs to monitor the development of plants, which are important in terms of food, medicinal, and aromatic properties, in different volumes and nutrient media, and to determine their ability to adapt to different ecological environments.For this purpose, the Cuban Oregano Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) plant was chosen as study material. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of organic worm manure and peat applications on the development of the plant of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) in different pot sizes and different media. For this purpose, pots of 3 different sizes and volumes (250, 450 and 700 cc) were filled with commercial peat. Later, randomly selected Cuban Oregano seedlings were planted in pots filled with peat. 8 different doses (peat +10 g vermicompost+ 30 ml vermiwash, peat +10 g vermicompost + 10 ml vermiwash, peat + 15 g vermicompost + 10 ml vermiwash, peat + 20 g vermicompost + 10 ml vermiwash, peat + 10 g vermicompost were applied to seedlings planted in pots, and peat only applications were made as control group. As a result of the research, the best development according to the media was obtained from the experimental plots where 10 grams of vermicompost was applied. The best plant development according to the pot sizes was obtained from the 450 cc pot. The highest leaf surface area by 9.33 cm2 was found in a 450 cc pot, while the highest belowground biomass was found in 700 cc pot and peat medium in T5 treatment where 10 g vermicompost was applied. In addition, increasing the production of medical-aromatic and high landscape value plants can contribute to the success of rural development studies and the development of the national economy.

Assessment of Changes in a Viewshed in the Western Carpathians Landscape as a Result of Reforestation

A viewshed analysis is of great importance in mountainous areas characterized by high landscape values. The aim of this research was to determine the impact of reforestation occurring on former pasturelands on changes in the viewshed, and to quantify changes in the surface of glades. We combine a horizontal and a vertical approach to landscape analysis. The changes in non-forest areas and the viewshed from viewpoints located in glades were calculated using historical cartographic materials and a more recent Digital Elevation Model and Digital Surface Model. An analysis was conducted using a Visibility tool in ArcGIS. The non-forest areas decreased in the period 1848–2015. The viewshed in the majority of viewpoints also decreased in the period 1848–2015. In the majority of cases, the maximal viewsheds were calculated in 1879/1885 and 1933 (43.8% of the analyzed cases), whereas the minimal ones were calculated in 2015 (almost 57.5% of analyzed cases). Changes in the viewshed range from 0.2 to 23.5 km2 with half the cases analyzed being no more than 1.4 km2. The results indicate that forest succession on abandoned glades does not always cause a decline in the viewshed. Deforestation in neighboring areas may be another factor that has an influence on the decline.

Cultural Heritage, Landforms, and Integrated Territorial Heritage: the Close Relationship Between Tufas, Cultural Remains, and Landscape in the Upper Ebro Basin (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain)

The heritage cannot be appreciated nor entirely understood without considering the genesis and evolution of natural elements. Four places located in the north of Spain are analyzed. They are featured by the importance of natural environment, as Pleistocene and Holocene tufa buildups, and the important cultural goods, vernacules, or belonging to Prehistoric, Middle Age, and Modern ages. The inventory and assessing of geomorphosites have been made, and their scientific, cultural, and use and management values have been analyzed. The protection laws and territorial planning were also analyzed to complete the study of cultural heritage. Finally, a scalar assessment, from facies to landscape and past and current uses, has been made. Tufas explain traditional land uses and landscapes from the Holocene to the present. They are complex units with functions as defence, hydraulic power, and agriculture, and they are divided in specialized internal areas depending on their natural and socio-economical features. Three cases of natural-cultural relationships can be identified: as hydraulic and agricultural resources (farmland, proto-industrial goods, or well organized plots), as defensive emplacements, and urban development conditioned by the use of the tufa for communications, strategic emplacements, hydraulic resources—watermills and proto-industrial fulling mills. All of them make up an integrated cultural ensemble, a heritage of high territorial and landscape value. The geomorphological elements are not just a context, they are part of the cultural monument, an essential and dynamic component. So, potentialities and limitations of use must be taken into account by territorial managers in the planning and interpretation of integrated geotouristic products. In all studied cases, we have detected that natural components are ignored in tourist, cultural, and territorial management.

Floristic study and conservation value analysis of the Jordán river middle basin forest (Jujuy, Argentina)

The floristic study and the conservation value analysis of forest from the Jordan river middle basin are addressed in this research. This vegetation forms part of the subtropical mountain forests or Yungas, one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Present forest species were surveyed, and the vegetation Interest Conservation index (INCON) was determined based on a series of conservation value criteria (Phytocenotic, Territorial, Mesological, Ethnobotanical, Perceptual and Didactics) recorded in the field. Available data on socio-cultural aspects of the area was also included in the study. All plants were identified up to genera and/or species. INCON was calculated from the sum of scoring assigned to each analyzed criterion. As a result, 42 forest species were identified; for each one, its conservation status was performed, including the altitudinal vegetation belt, biogeographical origin (at least for the genus), and their ethnobotanical value. The INCON obtained (135 points) showed the high natural, ethnocultural, landscape, and educational value of these forest vegetation according to the criteria analyzed. This information provides a useful tool to have a more precise knowledge of the diversity conservation status of Las Yungas. It also serves to recognize the biological and environmental relevance of this area, whose usefulness can be used for conservation purposes or decision making on protection plans.

Conversion of Agricultural Land for Urbanization Purposes: A Case Study of the Suburbs of the Capital of Warmia and Mazury, Poland

Population growth, economic globalization and the launch of market economy instruments have become the main triggers for processes related to the anthropogenization of space. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics, the developed area indication tripled in the last 25 years. Humans keep appropriating more natural and semi-natural areas, which entails specific social, economic and environmental consequences. Provisions in some countries’ laws and some economic factors encourage investors to engage in urbanization. The authors of this study noticed a research gap in the analysis of suburban areas in this topic. Our research aimed to analyze the conversion of plots of land used for agricultural purposes into urbanized land in the city’s suburban zone, in areas of high landscape and natural value. We focused on the analysis of geodetic and legal divisions of plots of land and analyzed the conditions of plots of land “ex ante” and “ex post” and the changes in their values. To achieve the research objective, we used Corine Land Cover (CLC) data for various time intervals, orthophotomaps (using the Web Map Service browsing service compliant with Open Geospatial Consortium standards), cadastral data, administrative decisions, data from the real estate market, spatial analyses and statistical modeling (linear, non-linear and stepwise regression). In general, the CLC data resolution enables analysis at regional or national levels. We used them innovatively at the local level because CLC data allowed us to notice the development of the area over time. Detailed research confirmed that, in the studied area, the conversion of agricultural land into developed areas results from economic factors. The division procedure increases the plot value by about 10%. However, the effects of uncontrolled urbanization, which we are currently dealing with, generate long term social and economic losses, difficulties in the labour market and may become a barrier to development.

An example of environmental, hydrodynamic and hydrobiological features of coastal zone springs of the Baltic: the Roztoka Springs case study

The occurrence of springs in the European Lowlands has not yet been satisfactorily recognised. This is because crenological research focuses mainly on mountainous areas, where springs are common and rich in water. The premise to undertake research on the springs of lowland and postglacial areas in Poland is the fact that they allow the assessment of spring abundance in the areas with geological structure and hydrological conditions different than in the mountains, which is now an extremely important argument. The study presents preliminary results of research on Roztoka Springs, located in the Polish Lowland in the coastal zone of the South Baltic, covering the hydrogeological, hydrological and hydrobiological issues. The results indicate that the springs are fed from the Quaternary aquifer, in which three hydrostructural zones were distinguished. The third zone (III) with the largest area and water resources is of crucial importance in the recharge of the springs. The yield of the springs is relatively high for young glacial areas, and in summer exceeds 70 dm−3·s−1. The Roztoka Springs have a much larger underground recharge area than it is apparent from the topographic course of the watershed. Bicarbonates dominate the chemical composition of the springs. The primary type of water is calcium-bicarbonate-sulphate. The vegetation corresponds to the difficult environmental conditions and is represented primarily by the Montio-Cardaminetea group. The Roztoka Springs area represents high landscape values. This is why it should be recommended for protection in order to preserve its natural condition, which is threatened by current forest management.

PROGNOZA ODDZIAŁYWANIA NA SZATĘ ROŚLINNĄ ORAZ WALORY OCHRONIARSKIE PROJEKTOWANEGO PRZEDSIĘWZIĘCIA POD NAZWĄ „BUDOWA I MODERNIZACJA URZĄDZEŃ SPOWALNIAJĄCYCH ODPŁYW WODY NA TERENIE LEŚNICTWA GAJ” W NADLEŚNICTWIE LUTÓWKO

The purpose of this article is to assess the usefulness of the hydrotechnical project for the natural environment, designed in one of the most valuable fragments of the Lutówko Forest District in terms of natural resources, using phytosociological methods. For the needs of the project, there have been applied both the existing, long-term research on vegetation made in the area of the planned investment, as well as the results of supplementary research. In addition, research transects have been established, which in the future may be used as starting surfaces (zero state) for monitoring studies. As a result, it will be possible to assess thoroughly the effects of implementation and operation of modernized or newly created hydrotechnical equipment under the small retention program. The research shows that the planned investment will have a particularly large and positive impact on the plant groups developing on hygrophilous habitats. Currently, most of them are subject to various forms of degeneration related to the lowering of groundwater levels. In some ecosystems, acceleration of natural succession processes is also observed. Due to the high nature, landscape and protection value, especially the location in the Natura 2000 site, the project must take into account water level fluctuations, both in the calendar year and in the long term. It is therefore necessary to monitor its impact on plant communities. Research areas established on eight transects located in the area of modernized or newly created hydrotechnical devices are to serve this purpose.

A “Park to Live” between environmental education and social inclusion through a landsense ecology approach

ABSTRACT A ‘Park to Live’, a social inclusion project with the aim of making socially active a heritage of high natural and landscape value, such as the Regional Natural Park of Lama Balice, located in the city of Bari (Apulia Region, Italy), through the introduction and testing of environmental and green healing activities for the psycho-physical well-being of users with mental illness. The spaces surrounding Villa Framarino, building owned by the Municipality of Bari, lead authority of the Park, have become an ‘open-air’ laboratory to enhance the potential skills and manual and psycho-physical ones of the participants, through agricultural activities as orthotherapy and environmental education experiences with sensory laboratories in a perspective of landsense ecology toward sustainable development. Recent studies on Landsense ecology have highlighted how urban parks not only improve urban ecosystems, but also provide cultural values to city dwellers. The use of perceptual indicators and perception itself increases visitor satisfaction. Furthermore, the more a territory is urbanized, the more citizens prefer natural landscapes. In particular, in a recent paper, the authors highlight the relationships between sustainable development, landsense creation and ecosystem services. This work is based on this approach in order to develop environmental activities; to experiment an innovative networking system for the sustainable development of the territory; to promote a sustainable lifestyle through specific sensorial and relational experiences that increase self-awareness and spread self-responsibility aimed at protecting the natural environment of the Park.

Colletotrichum species causing leaf spot diseases of Liriope cymbidiomorpha (ined.) in China

Liriope cymbidiomorpha (ined.) is an excellent ground-cover plant with high ornamental and landscaping value in China. During 2016 to 2018, the leaf spot symptomatic L. cymbidiomorpha plants were observed in the famous Hangzhou Westlake Scenic Spot of Zhejiang province, China. Two pathogens namely Colletotrichum liriopes and C. gloeosporioides were isolated and identified from symptomatic tissues based on the morphological features as well as sequence-based identification. Pathogenicity test and re-validation of Koch’s postulates showed that the two fungi were cause of diseases on L. cymbidiomorpha plants. To our knowledge, this is the first description of these pathogens causing leaf spot diseases on L. cymbidiomorpha plants in China.

La Barranca del Rio Santiago as Tourist and Eco Touristic Attraction for the Brand Guadalajara Guadalajara, Focused on a National Tourism

The main purpose of this research is to show if the Barranca del Rio Santiago is a tourist attraction and ecotourism should be included in the Guadalajara brand, focused on national tourism. The research is exploratory and descriptive in nature, as it seeks to know if the Rio de Santiago Canyon is an ecotourism and tourist attraction so that it can be included in the Guadalajara brand. The analysis was conducted under a database issued by the state of Jalisco, which is the 2016 Yearbook of the State of Jalisco. SECTUR establishes in the latest competitiveness agenda of tourist destinations in Mexico that Guadalajara has a large number of natural destinations, including the Barranca del Río Santiago, this destination has a high ecological, recreational and landscaping value, which is very little known by the local population, and consequently it can become a new product for the ecotourism sector.

DETERMINANTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY FARMS BREEDING ANIMALS OF CONSERVATIVE BREEDS IN CONDITIONS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

The aim of the research was to determine the role and significance of natural, economic and social conditions influencing the development of family farms keeping animals of conservative breeds in conditions of sustainable agriculture. Family farms are conducive to the sustainable development of agriculture, particularly in farms which keep animals of conservative breeds. These breeds are well adapted to local, often difficult, environmental and climatic conditions, have a high reproductive capacity and high survival rate, and the products obtained from them have a high nutritional value. Conservation breeds are suitable for traditional breeding on family farms that farm in harmony with the natural and social environment. The research was carried out in family farms in south-eastern Poland. Taking into account the functions performed by family farms, especially those of small scale production, and the influence of various factors on their development, an evaluation of changes from a structural, social and environmental point of view was carried out in this study. In order to achieve the assumed objectives, the following research methods were used: indicator method, descriptive method, vertical and horizontal comparative method, cause and effect analysis. Research has shown that conservation breeds are well adapted to local environmental conditions; they can be maintained on poor fodder resources on the basis of permanent grassland, enabling areas of high landscape value to be managed and protected, and their products are of high quality. Family farms with conservative breeds also influence natural and landscape features as well as social and cultural features of a given region.

Governance Discourses Reflecting Tensions in a Multifunctional Land Use System in Decay; Tradition Versus Modernity in the Portuguese Montado

The montado is a silvo pastoral system, and the dominant land-use in the region of Alentejo (Portugal). It bears high nature, socio-economic, and landscape values, shaping the strong cultural identity of the region. Despite these values, it has been under decay over the last decades, indicating the inefficiency of current governance strategies. In this paper, we argue how three main discourses can be found that underpin different governance strategies in the montado: The heritage discourse, the modern production discourse, and the land stewardship discourse. These discourses frame farmers’ decisions, though not always explicitly. The discourse analysis is grounded on an analysis of the relevant literature and research results from diverse projects, including an analysis of media representation of the montado since the 1990s, participatory observations, and 30 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders. Each of the three discourses identified are characterized in terms of key farming developments and defining elements, their time-scopes, the ways in which they are perceived by society, their measures of success, and underpinning institutions and power mechanisms. We argue that these discourses co-exist today, and this is a cause of increased tensions in montado governance strategies, hindering more effective and sustainable potential alternatives for the system.

МІСЬКІ ПРИРОДООХОРОННІ ТЕРИТОРІЇ: РЕАЛЬНИЙ ЗАХИСТ ЧИ ФОРМАЛЬНЕ СТВОРЕННЯ

The purpose of the study is to identify the expediency and validity of creating a certain category of Nature Reserve Fund (NRF) in the specific conditions of the urban environment in accordance with the functions and criteria established by the current legislation of Ukraine on the example of Partyzans’ka Slava Regional Landscape Park (RLP) in Kyiv. To achieve this goal, the peculiarities of urban protected areas creation in accordance with the criteria and tasks established are considered. Materials and methods. The following research algorithm is applied to determine the conformity of the Partyzans’ka slava RLP (henceforth: Park) territory to the requirements, according to legislative and regulatory documents. A Digital Elevation Model had been developed and after its filtering, a hypsometric map was constructed. Based on the obtained relief morphometric parameters, collected information, analysis of satellite images and field studies, using the GIS software packages, a landscape structure map of the RLP territory was been created. Main research results. A significant inconsistency of the RLP functioning with the existing requirements and its actual transformation into an ordinary shopping and entertainment complex is revealed. The fulfilment of the main functions of the Park for 25 years from the moment of granting the status of a nature conservation institution of local importance is analysed. Unsatisfactory implementation of the legal objectives of RLP creation, including huge disproportions in the allocation of functional zones is established. Unreasonable Park zoning leads, among other things, to illegal construction, land grabbing and deforestation throughout its territory. In addition, the actual absence of a reserved functional zone in no way contributes to the Park’s fulfilment of its tasks as an institution of the NRF of Ukraine. For a quarter of a century, no special administration has been established in the Park. That means that the RLP does not have a statutory management body. As a result of a governing body absence, Project for its territory organization is not updated and approved in the Park. The species diversity of flora and fauna of the Park turned out to be quite poor. Also, none of the typical and rare plant groups included in the Green Book of Ukraine has been discovered on the Park territory. Due to insufficient provision of the conditions for the population organized rest, uncontrolled recreation violated the integrity of the soil and vegetation, and the whole territory of the RLP is heavily littered. Based on the revealed problems of the RLP functioning, a weak perception of the Park status by the society is substantiated, which contributes to the further degradation of natural complexes and makes it inappropriate to keep its territory as a nature protected institution of the NRF of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the study is to carry out landscape analysis and to create a map of the Park territory landscape structure for the first time. The analysis of this map allows refuting the idea of high landscape value within the Park. Practical value. Considering that none of the legal functions of the RLP has been performed for a long time, it is proposed to improve the management quality of this protected area by integrating it into the urban infrastructure. It is justified to review the Park’s conservation status and its transfer from the category of NRF institution to a regular urban culture and recreation park with increased access for visitors in order to ensure their daily contact with nature. At the same time, valuable natural objects, in particular centenary trees, must be preserved and protected. According to the concept of nature and the city organic unity, such a park will contribute to the creation of an urbanized space that is comfortable for residents and safe for the environment.

INFLUENCE OF SELECTED FEATURES OF FORESTS ON FOREST LANDSCAPE AESTHETIC VALUE – EXAMPLE OF SE POLAND

The study was designed to examine the relationship between features of forests and the quality of forest landscapes, and to determine the strength of effect of the features in the aesthetic value of the landscape. The methodology applied to assess forest landscapes took into account the following features: forest site humidity, age of forest, terrain slope, site index of stands, species composition of the tree layer, under-story cover, colour and composition, mosaic-like, as well as horizontal structure of the tree stands. The study was conducted in temperate forests located in Central-Eastern Europe – more precisely – in south-eastern Poland. In the investigated area the dominating tree species are: Pinus sylvestris L., Abies alba Mill., Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus L. They cover 42.2%, 20.8%, 20.4% and 6.5% of the total forest area, respectively. The findings show that nearly 1% of the area of the examined forests within the relevant territory are characterized with very high landscape value, over 67% with high, 31% with medium, and less than 0.5% with low landscape value. A strong relationship occurs between terrain slope vs. aesthetic quality of landscape as well as forest site humidity vs. aesthetic quality of landscape. Weak effect was observed for site index of stands vs. aesthetic quality of landscape, and moderate relationship was identified in the case of the remaining features. The findings show the strength of relationship between the features of forests and the aesthetic quality of landscapes, consequently providing a tool for forest managers to develop attractive forest landscapes in selected areas.