Communicative vs. Expert Approach to Evaluation Phase of Conservational Planning

The aim of this research is to disclose general conservational goal into a specific landscape value preferences. The premise of the research is that such knowledge on landscape value system is indispensable when dealing with conservational activities within environmental planning. More precisely, information on diverse landscape value preferences is indispensable at the evaluation phase of the planning process, because of the central question that planning experts are faced with: how much and to what extent is the general social goal - that is to protect landscape - achievable in relation to developmental goals or interests? The study focuses on a riparian type of landscape in the continental Croatia, the rural area of the mouth of Mura River into the Drava River. The public survey and support tool (statistical analyses such as one way ANOVA, Χ 2test and Dunnet T3 test) were used to obtain new knowledge on landscape value preferences, between and among three social groups: permanent users of the space (local population) and potential users of the space (experts and urban population). Such social stratification was based on the assumption that the attitude of man towards nature and consequently the landscape values resulting from that attitude are not determined by intrinsic or inherent qualities of the landscape but by social or group interest in a particular landscape. The survey involved sample of 177 respondents, N=63 in local population group, N=53 in expert group and N=61 in group of urban population. The respondent groups were asked to state their attitudes and preferences towards: (1) man-environment relationship, (2) importance for protection among natural and cultural givens of Croatia, (3) protection antecedence from financial point of view and (4) interest for protection based on their willingness to restrict their own property rights for certain statutory land use decisions. The results have shown that there is consensus on the whole that landscape should be used sustainable. The result of differentiated support for the sustainable development concept for riparian landscape shows that all three respondent groups put preservation of soil potential for agricultural activities higher on their list than preservation of water potential of rivers. Furthermore, all three groups are highly protectionist orientated towards listed natural and cultural givens of Croatia-highest on the list is the protection of the sea ; watercourses follow, while least interest is shown for the swamp protection. The results of the research on preferences of respondent groups concerning the environment and nature protection from financial stand point indicate different order of priorities: all three groups would "spend" most financial means for the preservation of unpolluted subterranean waters. The second on the list is preservation of clean air. Indicators of "protectionist" interest of the respondent groups research on the issue of restricting property rights in situations when it coincides with public interests show that all three groups are ready to accept this principle if and when national parks and water source are concerned. Homogeneousness of the scores between the groups is present in the lowest agreement with this principle where agricultural land property is concerned. The results obtained from this participative approach to landscape evaluation phase resulted in system of landscape values. That opens the possibility of further dialog between the space users and experts in optimisation of decisions regarding land use. From the methodological standpoint, the results support communicative approach to analytical phase of landscape evaluation that leads to the environmentally sound allocation of different human activities. In the Croatian planning practice, and that of local level spatial plans, the planning methodology is based on normative or standardisation approach, rather than on the optimisation.