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The implementation of the necessary studies to assess the potential for local socioeconomic development must be directly linked to the realization of the valorization of the landscape. On the one hand, by applying the valorization of the landscape, the potential opportunities for increasing the labor potential of the region can be discovered, and on the other hand, this process can lead to a decrease in the income of the local population, attracting a new economically active population. Stimulating the management of the participation of stakeholders in lagging regions in the maintenance and protection of specific elements of the landscape will create an opportunity both to attract external funding and to create a sense of belonging of the local population to the issues related to the management of landscape and environmental protection in the region. On the other hand, research justifying the search for financing opportunities in lagging regions should not focus only on the elements related to the study of the landscape, such as the presence of artificial surfaces, the volume of land cultivation, the number of permanent plantations per unit area, the designated pastures, the presence of heterogeneous agricultural areas, etc. Research should also cover the determination of anthropogenic and social patterns that affect not only the development of the territory, but also determine its potential utility, as well as its socio-economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern approach to the spatial organization of territorial nature protection is designed to ensure the achievement of a system-ecological balance within the framework of the ecological foundations of optimizing nature management and the concept of sustainable ecological and economic development. Networks of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) at the regional level perform the task of preserving mainly zonal ecosystems, combining the capabilities of various categories of protected territories. Volgograd region is located in the South-East of the European part of Russia. The region belongs to intensively developed regions with historically developed agricultural specialization. It is characterized by the high landscape and biological diversity with a low share of natural zonal landscapes in the structure. The main value remains the areas of the steppes in an unchanged or slightly modified state. Therefore, all aspects of the organization and effective functioning of specially protected natural territories, their role in the formation of the regional network and the ecological framework of the territory are very relevant. Territorial nature protection began its development in the Volgograd region in the 80s of the 20th century. As of the beginning of 2020, there are 52 protected areas at the regional level and 1 local level, the list of potential protected areas includes about 25 units. Protected areas of the region are represented by such categories as natural parks, wildlife preserves, natural monuments, protected landscapes and territories that are of special value for the conservation of animals and plants listed in the red book of the Volgograd region. The research considered the main stages of forming the network of specially protected natural territories in the Volgograd region and the factors that influenced its formation. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of the current state and prospects for the development of the network of protected areas, taking into account the functional features of certain categories within the status established by the Federal legislation of the Russian Federation. The research also examines the contribution of certain categories of protected areas and their spatial combinations to ensuring effective protection of landscape and biological diversity, the role in forming the ecological framework of the territory, and maintaining the environmental stability of zonal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is focused on the issue of the economic evaluation of biotope impacts and changes, caused by the revitalization of brownfields, in types of abandoned minning areas. The biotope changes evaluation is often the primary and most valubale benefit of revitalization of this type of brownfield. One way to evaluate the value of biotope changes is using some of known methodologies of biotope evaluation. One of them is called Methodology of biotope revitalization by nature and landscape protection agency, which is under Czech Ministry of Enviroment. This methodology could compare different biotopes and their economic and social values. As the revitalization will change the type of biotope, the social economic value of the biotope will change too. The main objective of the paper is to propose the methodological steps for the evaluation of that biotope changes, primarily using that methodology. With that we could relatively easily compare any changes of biotopes, caused by revitalization of that type of brownfield, which could shown revitalization values more profitable in social economic way. Suggested methodological steps are consequently verified on the case study of the revitalization of the former brown coal mine in the area Most – Ležáky in the northern part of the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gigantic fragmentation of land ownership in Slovakia is a consequence of historical development. The application and compliance of the Hungarian inheritance system principles up to present caused that in Slovakia at the end of the year 2018 was more than 8.4 million property plots, over 4.4 million land owners, 100.7 million co-owner relations. The average number of co-owners per plot is 11.93 and the average number of plots per owner is 22.74. This is a fact which increasingly creates problems that are also causing dissatisfaction in the form of strikes. Farmers are not able to get the land, land purchase is complicated, the land market is stagnating, the current subsidy system is described as non-transparent, it allows to speculate with land, landowners do not always have fair rental contracts Development and landscape protection is complicated due to the demanding land purchase process. The aim of the contribution is to define and to describe basic and derived property characteristics and on their basic to categorize 79 districts of SR through description statistics methods. The contribution will inform the reader about the state of land ownership in the nationwide conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both the United Kingdom as well as Czech Republic have seen increased impacts due to flooding in recent years. Rural flooding is due to intense and heavy rainfall-runoff events. Runoff brings with it soil erosion and sediment transport, so called ‘muddy floods,’ which causes serious onsite and offsite damages in the landscape or even in settlement area and infrastructure. Long-term observation and measurement is crucial step for understanding of complexity of processes involved in the generation of muddy floods and a requirement for and further calibration and validation of predictive models. In addition, such flooding has a significant impact to the agricultural in both countries. There are differences in initial conditions but similarities in consequences, which leads to degradation of sources (soils) and costs in billions EUR each year. Both countries are investing in research and three complementary projects are highlighted here, as examples. The ‘Quantifying the likely magnitude of nature-based flood mitigation effects across large catchments (Q-NFM)’ project funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council is dealing with the question “How much can natural measures reduce flooding at large scales?”. The project includes direct measurement of landscape management effect to inform modelling, which can then be used to assess of flood protection and landscape management methods. Mitigation measures may have a synergistic effect and significantly lower the soil erosion and sediment transport, risk of drought or even floods. Modelling of these risks and scenarios of protection has been one of goals of two projects within Czech Rep. First is called Saxon-Czech flood risk management where soil erosion, sediment transport and scenarios of protection on 150km² catchment is evaluated. Second is called “Erosion losses - increased risk to the inhabitants and water quality” where large scale risk assessment of flash floods was carried out and 150,000 potential risk points identified over area of 79,000 km². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a well-known fact that green spaces play an important role in the life of a modern city. They improve the air quality and conditions of the urban environment, increase its attractiveness, promote preservation of the landscape biodiversity and provide favourable conditions for recreation of the population. However, the issue of streamlining the indicative information about the green areas of cities (town) within the country, including its cartographical visualization and popularization for the population at large, remains relevant. This can be facilitated by creation of an Internet resource for green city areas. The main element of it is the mapping component - geoportal (web map service) of green urban areas where text, graphical and photographical information about green spaces of the city (town) including location, character and mode of their use, are integrated on the web map. The purpose of this article is to highlight the result of our experimental work on creation of an Internet resource for the green spaces of Ukrainian cities (towns). It will be a source of systematized and cartographically visualized indicative information about green areas of cities (towns), including volume, nature and mode of use. This information can be popularized by the Internet. The structure and content of this Internet resource include, apart from geoportal of green urban spaces, such units as "Home", "About us", "Contacts”. The "Home" section, in turn, contains a list of menu items on the site: news, green spaces, latest projects. In general, creation of an Internet resource for green spaces of urban territories will allow us: 1) to systematize information about the green areas of the city/town (inventory data on the plants species composition, their condition, area of planting, etc.), 2) to monitor both the green spaces of various categories and the real-time available green areas, receive information about the address, infrastructure, their vegetation, view photos, lay routes for optimal pick-up to the green zone; 3) to provide uninterrupted access to information for all the interested parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing adequate methods for stocktaking of landscape resources and for assessment of the landscape is a key issue for its proper preservation and shaping, which are determinant actions conditioning sustainable development and spatial order. The need to develop a method for assessing the cultural landscape, adapted to contemporary ways of defining its attractiveness (considering not only aesthetic or utilitarian but also social and emotional aspects), is clearly visible in the context of the dynamics of the cultural landscape transformation of coastal towns. The purpose of this article is to verify the author's method of evaluation taking a holistic approach to the assessment of the cultural landscape, namely combining ecological, social, cultural and spatial aspects. As a basis for the development of assessment criteria, the integration of architecture and landscape was defined as a synergy of factors influencing different layers and this definition was adopted. The developed assessment criteria were used for the evaluation of selected four coastal urban projects in the West Pomerania region. As a result, it is possible to identify elements affecting the disintegration of space, and thus the threats to the cultural landscape and the desired directions of activities for its protection. The proposed method owing to the universal provision of assessment criteria, can be used to strengthen the protection or devise a conceptual plan for the development of an area, not only within the local coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside an increase in the attractiveness of both single-family houses and districts with multi-family houses, land is in a higher demand. It should be an integral part of the process targeted at the development of the housing branch in Poland is the reassignment of agricultural and forest land, which is bound to have a significant impact on land prices. The aim of this paper is to analyze the procedure of land exclusion from agricultural and forest production as one of the stages in the investment and construction process. This subject includes areas such as: construction and environmental protection. Due to the legislation changes in land exclusion from production which have been taking place in the recent years, including current and nonbinding legal provisions, the subject of the study is limited to the comparison of the area of the Polish agricultural and forest land to other European Union countries. In its next phase analyzes the impact of the said legal changes on the amount of building permits obtained for residential buildings and on the agricultural land development. Finally, the problem of land exclusion from production is presented in the light of applicable legal regulations and some solutions are provided to enhance the protection of agricultural and forest land. Upon the studies carried out it can be concluded that the majority of decisions on exclusion of land from production are issued with a view to enable the application process for the building permit relevant to residential buildings, whereby in common use is the Act of law on protection of agricultural and forest land, which exempts from the related fees. It has also been observed that the decisions on exclusion of land from agricultural and forest production do not significantly affect the area of agricultural and forest land. The sheer fact of issuing a decision on exclusion of land from agricultural production does not overlap with the effective exclusion of the particular land from production, whereas the latter is the moment which should indicate the change of land status in the Land and Building Register. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The vineyard landscapes of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato" are the 50° Italian site registered in the UNESCO World Heritage list: study and analysis are aimed at identifying the historical architectural elements of these landscapes through a project of knowledge for their preservation and protection that also allows to analyze the data collected. The survey and the representation of historical buildings are complex processes that requires professionals capable of conducting the analysis, competent operators and expensive tools. With open source programs and applications for mobile devices, however, many important operations and cataloging can now also be realized with limited economic resources: the research of the decorative and architectural medieval elements of this Unesco site was an opportunity to experience these new practices. By creating a database with drawings, images and information, that bring out peculiarities and vocations, we want to foster their knowledge and of the site and the conservation of valuable elements. For data collection on the sites, we will use applications for smartphones and tablets: for 3D speditive modeling and for cataloging and georeferencing photographic tracking image. This setup system also detects paths of knowledge of the territory, creating a sort of open-air virtual museum: the recent title of World Heritage Site, in fact, it has increased the need for systems and facilities for tourist use of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When in 2000, the European Landscape Convention for promoting measures for landscape protection, management and planning, as well as organizing European cooperation in that respect was adopted, it forced an amendment of legislation in the EU member states. Poland adopted the Act of 24th April 2015 amending certain acts to strengthen the measures of landscape protection. The paper analyzes landscape changes caused by the implementation of this Act, particularly with respect to large format advertising which has a significant impact on the urban landscapes. For the study, a linear area of Poznań was selected, which is associated with an important traffic route and adjoining areas performing various urban functions. At the beginning of 2016, a field inventory and terrain sozological mapping were carried out. The results were compared with those collated in 2010. The study specifically takes into account the impact of large format advertising on the city landscape. As a result, a multidimensional assessment of the implementation effects has been developed, and the effects have been classified into groups: landscape-related, economic, organizational and legal. The effects of the implementation of the Act were assessed concerning their influence on the landscape, as well as the landscape users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was the need for a comprehensive assessment of forest plantations, debilitated from recreational pressure and industrial emissions, based on the research of the ecological state of lakes in the woods near the suburban area of the city with a silvicultural point of view. In determining the capacity of a one-day routes for recreational purposes and presentation of measurement results from the influence of recreation use, developed the principle of calculating the load on forest stands along the movement of tourists. The principle involves the use of standard formulas for the analysis of one-day routes. And we have developed a consistent calculation of the maximum capacity for routes traffic . We offer calculation for linear movement in the woods and the determination of allowable recreational loads should be based on the capabilities of selfhealing components of forest biogeocenosis. To substantiate the capacity of the forest trails we used two ways of calculation. First, participants will travel by car and they will have the opportunity to go on a tour for an hour more. Secondly, when vacationers arrive by bus, and the journey time on the route will be reduced by an hour. All of the proposed options allow you to determine the capacity of recreational load on natural forest complexes. And to provide additional information on the state forest landscape. In all cases, a comprehensive assessment will be the basis for prescribing silvicultural and environmental measures. Our methodologically consistent approach to defining capacity for forest objects of mass rest allows you to set the number of visitors to the linear routes of recreational forests. In the organization of forest tourism and excursions it is important to identify not only the load but also to keep it at an acceptable level by periodic calculation with determination of the actual attendance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recreational pressure for regional protected areas is determined by two principal factors: intensity of external anthropogenic impacts and character of geosystem reactions to various recreational impacts which depend on their environmental sustainability. Evaluation of endogenous factors is a priority for regulations of recreational pressure. Landscape-ecological approach was used to allocate the integral indicator of stability estimation of recreational areas. The role and the critical values of landscape and ecological parameters of geosystems of regional protected areas were considered with regard to the natural parks "Scherbakovsky", "Donskoy" and "Eltonsky" in the Volgograd region of Russia. These parks, on the one hand, are characterized by high potential and demand for recreation and, on the other hand, their territory representatively reflects zonal spectrum of various types of steppe landscapes, including different variations and combinations. A result of research is represented by a matrix containing typical degradation factors for various types of steppe geosystems, which is based on the list of critical parameters and their combinations that reduce natural resistance to recreational pressure. The result can be used to develop standards for recreational impact in the regional natural parks throughout the steppe zone of Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this work is to determine climate change impacts on the forest landscapes of central part of Small Caucasus. The research is based on the Concept of spatial-temporal analysis and synthesis of landscapes, developed at Tbilisi State University under the guidance of Prof. N. Beruchashvili. In the work mainly are used field materials, gathered in different landscapes of central part of Small Caucasus and, also forestry data, scattered in different scientific and statistical sources, etc. During forwarding, about 300 filed plots were described and analyzed practically in all sorts and kinds of a landscape. The impacts of climate change were valued considering 3 main parameters, such as the change of forest area, the degree of fragmentation of landscapes and the productivity of vegetation. This region, which is not rather well investigated from point of view of climate change, encompasses approximately 5.4 thousand sq km. It is represented by 4 types, 6 sub-types and 9 genera of landscapes. The most area of forests is concentrated in middle-mountain landscapes with prevalence of beech and dark-coniferous species, which occupies roughly 20 % of total area of region. Landscape approach allowed determining modern condition, forest productivity trends and risks of change to climate change of different landscapes. The special place is assign to determining productivity of forest landscapes according to different daily geoconditions, which give possibility to fix quite exactly the resources of phytomass in different landscapes and its dynamics. In this term, a high risk landscapes occupies rather big territory, therewhy reveal its risk to climate change is one of the main scientific result of research. Here are analyzed the mutual interaction between forest valuation parameters and some physiographic factors. On the complex analysis the degree of sensitivity of landscapes was determined. The middle- mountain forests are characterized by low and very low sensitivity, but here are areas with high risk to climate change. The research has allowed allocating two territories, which are offered to give the status of a protected landscape. Conditionally these territories refer to Dzama and Bevretiy areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of exceptionally significant trees in the Czech Republic is defined by special statute "Monumental tree", which is specified by Law of nature and landscape protection. It's also defined as a public interest by law. In past, there have been several attempts to map ancient trees in the Czech Republic. However, this has not yet been implemented in order, to comprehensively and consistently address the whole of the Czech Republic. The aim of this partial study is valuating of ancient trees from landscape value point of view. It is a step for design easily applicable procedure for mapping and valuating of ancient trees. The output is to serve as a basis for further data processing in order to ensure the protection of selected ancient trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The region of Central Spiš in eastern Slovakia (357 km2, 52 000 inhabitans) belongs, according to environmental regionalization of Slovakia from the year 2005, to the eight most environmentally loaded-polluted regions of Slovakia. It is termed as Rudniansko-Gelnická zaťažená oblasť (loaded-polluted area of Rudno-Gelnica). In this area, there were located several important factories focused on mining and quarrying, which had a significant position in the former Czechoslovakia. The mining and quarrying was connected with the mining processing industry, which further processed the mined ore. The industrial factories were the biggest polluters of air and also the polluters of all environmental components (Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sb, As, etc.). Despite the improvement of the technology and various environmental measures, the factories still pollute especially air and soils in the region. The village Rudňany lies in the center of the loaded area. In the cadastral territory of the village, it is possible to find several relics of the former mining and industrial activities (such as tailing impoundment, dumps, landfills). In this environmentally degraded area, there was carried out a detailed geoecological research and mapping at a scale of 1:10 000 for the purpose of the reconstruction of the geoecological conditions and the purpose of determining the extent of anthropogenic influence on the landscape. Comprehensive positional analysis and synthesis at the research point (geographical point, tessera, keysurface) was the basic method used in geoecological research in the cadastral territory of the Rudňany. Cartographic outcome of the geoecological mapping was a geoecological map with surface geoecological units (types) on a relevant taxonomic level - in other words, the primary geoecological map with basic geoecological information about the area linked with geoecological qualitative and quantitative parameters of the individual units in the text. Thus differentiated territory provides us the accurate information about the reconstruction of the geoecological conditions in the detailed scale as well as the extent of the anthropogenic influence on the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the progressive accumulation of environmental issues the preservation of the unique natural landscape reflecting and supporting the richness and diversity of life on the planet is becoming especially important. The landscapes of Russia on the most part of its territory have lost their natural harmony and beauty as a result of human activity. The natural landscapes of Russia must be considered as overall natural and cultural heritage of the country, as national capital, supposed to be an object of special state policy and public attention and support based on the strict scientific foundation. For effective management of landscapes condition some tasks in economic, management, law and scientific fields are proposed to solve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]